Sarah Larson

1 month ago | newyorker.com | Sarah Larson

Society has changed in monumental ways, the British historian Ruth Goodman observes, since the days “when we used scouring sand and wood ash to do the washing up”—and some of that change was “a direct result of new dishwashing techniques.” Her podcast “The Curious History of Your Home,” produced by the history-focussed Noiser network, examines the seemingly humdrum stuff of domestic life with the aim of uncovering its evolution and significance; “Dish Washing” explores the world-historical...

1 month ago | newyorker.com | Sarah Larson

In March, Judy Collins, the ethereal, blue-eyed folksinging legend, will celebrate her eighty-fifth birthday with a concert at Town Hall and the release of a book. “I tell people that I’m eighty-five and it’s the new twenty-seven,” Collins said on a recent morning. Her hair is now short and white, her vibe eternally beatific.

2 months ago | newyorker.com | Sarah Larson

On a recent snowy afternoon, the soprano Angel Blue travelled from the Metropolitan Opera House to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to visit its Egyptian collection. Blue, who is forty, is statuesque and warmly serene, and she looked elegant in an overcoat, a sparkly sweater, and boots. “I just got out of rehearsal,” she told a companion, in an elevator. “I tried to take off some makeup, but—” An elderly museumgoer wheeled around. “Are you in a show?” she asked.

Jan 7, 2025 | link.newyorker.com | Sarah Larson |Helen Shaw

Shauna LyonGoings On editorAs the air gets crisp and we head indoors, the cultural horizon brings warmth and sustenance. With the holidays around the corner, we’ll soon have a bounty of “Nutcracker”s, “Messiah”s, and “Christmas Carol”s to behold. We’re putting together a complete list of the city’s must-see holiday events, which will be delivered exclusively to subscribers next month.

Dec 7, 2024 | newyorker.com | Sarah Larson

The British realist director Mike Leigh loves the term “character actor,” which he uses often and with zeal. To him, it’s a term of great respect, meaning a performer who’s highly skilled, versatile, creative, smart—qualities especially important for Leigh’s actors, who create his films with him, from plot to dialogue.