All this is thrown together in a stew of chords, arpeggios and short phrases that repeat and go nowhere.

WSJ: Prima Donna | La Traviata | New York City Opera Makes a Case for Its Own Demise | Opera Review by Heidi Waleson

When they practiced the violin on summer evenings, their shrill arpeggios elicited, among neighbors, a mixture of curiosity and envy.

NEWYORKER: A Loaded Gun

Like the time he dreamt he was driving up Interstate 5 in California and was approached by two black stretch limousines, which turned into pianos and blared arpeggios from their windows.

NPR: John Adams: 'Grand' And 'Gnarly' In Concert

Those changes are charted in scenes and production numbers that, one after another, feel as right as they sound (although Johnny O'Neill's gallant attempt to approximate Art Tatum doesn't quite cut the arpeggios).

WSJ: A Performance With Soul

Benevento's assertive interpretation features plenty of bluesy grace notes in his right-hand flights, an unexpected touch of dissonance in the chords, a big build-up aided by the pounding drummer and a surprise appearance by a scatting vocal chorus, as well as a churchy slowdown at the end full of tremolos, stutters and arpeggios.

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