Joshua Kosman
@joshuakosman.bsky.social
Retired classical music critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. Co-constructor, Out of Left Field cryptic crossword. pacificaisle.substack.com. He/him
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
I am fourteen going on fifteen
Innocent as a rose
Pedophile pesters, creepy molesters
What do I know of those?
Totally unprepared am I
To face a world of shame
Timid and shy and scared am I
Of things that aren’t my blame
I had a creep, older, not wiser
'Cause Megyn Kelly said I'm fair game
Innocent as a rose
Pedophile pesters, creepy molesters
What do I know of those?
Totally unprepared am I
To face a world of shame
Timid and shy and scared am I
Of things that aren’t my blame
I had a creep, older, not wiser
'Cause Megyn Kelly said I'm fair game
November 15, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I am fourteen going on fifteen
Innocent as a rose
Pedophile pesters, creepy molesters
What do I know of those?
Totally unprepared am I
To face a world of shame
Timid and shy and scared am I
Of things that aren’t my blame
I had a creep, older, not wiser
'Cause Megyn Kelly said I'm fair game
Innocent as a rose
Pedophile pesters, creepy molesters
What do I know of those?
Totally unprepared am I
To face a world of shame
Timid and shy and scared am I
Of things that aren’t my blame
I had a creep, older, not wiser
'Cause Megyn Kelly said I'm fair game
"If this sounds like a laundry list of hyperventilating superlatives, then my work here is largely done."
I went a bit over the top in my review of "The Monkey King," possibly the finest @sfopera.bsky.social commission since "Dead Man Walking."
I went a bit over the top in my review of "The Monkey King," possibly the finest @sfopera.bsky.social commission since "Dead Man Walking."
Review: S.F. Opera’s ‘The Monkey King’ delivers a brilliant fusion of East, West and wow
Composer Huang Ruo and librettist David Henry Hwang’s “The Monkey King” brings Chinese mythology to vivid life in a spectacular San Francisco Opera premiere.
www.sfchronicle.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:33 PM
"If this sounds like a laundry list of hyperventilating superlatives, then my work here is largely done."
I went a bit over the top in my review of "The Monkey King," possibly the finest @sfopera.bsky.social commission since "Dead Man Walking."
I went a bit over the top in my review of "The Monkey King," possibly the finest @sfopera.bsky.social commission since "Dead Man Walking."
monkey king donkey kong is this anything
November 15, 2025 at 3:34 AM
monkey king donkey kong is this anything
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
‘Father’ and ‘dad’ are synonyms.
‘Figure’ and ‘bod’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘father figure’ and a ‘dad bod’ aren’t exactly the same thing…
‘Figure’ and ‘bod’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘father figure’ and a ‘dad bod’ aren’t exactly the same thing…
November 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
‘Father’ and ‘dad’ are synonyms.
‘Figure’ and ‘bod’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘father figure’ and a ‘dad bod’ aren’t exactly the same thing…
‘Figure’ and ‘bod’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘father figure’ and a ‘dad bod’ aren’t exactly the same thing…
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
How much does it cost to become an opera singer? 🤔 From audition costs to costumes to voice lessons to schooling and more, Caitlin Vincent brings you behind the scenes in OPERA WARS. 🎶
Available January 13. https://bit.ly/4lXyK39
Available January 13. https://bit.ly/4lXyK39
November 13, 2025 at 2:33 PM
How much does it cost to become an opera singer? 🤔 From audition costs to costumes to voice lessons to schooling and more, Caitlin Vincent brings you behind the scenes in OPERA WARS. 🎶
Available January 13. https://bit.ly/4lXyK39
Available January 13. https://bit.ly/4lXyK39
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck?
It's the Pope in 1982.
It's the Pope in 1982.
November 13, 2025 at 1:37 AM
What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck?
It's the Pope in 1982.
It's the Pope in 1982.
New post at On a Pacific Aisle, with thoughts on Alexandre Kantorow , the Poiesis Quartet, and an imminent weekend of musical surfeit.
pacificaisle.substack.com/p/inner-voices
pacificaisle.substack.com/p/inner-voices
Inner voices
When my gut told me to skip last week’s San Francisco Symphony program, maybe I shoulda listened
pacificaisle.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:18 PM
New post at On a Pacific Aisle, with thoughts on Alexandre Kantorow , the Poiesis Quartet, and an imminent weekend of musical surfeit.
pacificaisle.substack.com/p/inner-voices
pacificaisle.substack.com/p/inner-voices
Today years old when I discovered why I can never remember whether "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage" is a piece by Beethoven or Mendelssohn.
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Today years old when I discovered why I can never remember whether "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage" is a piece by Beethoven or Mendelssohn.
It’s official: the SF Opera Ring cycle is coming in summer 2028, the first for music director Eun Sun Kim.
#RTWT
#RTWT
S.F. Opera reveals principal casting, dates for 2028 revival of Wagner’s ‘Ring’ Cycle
San Francisco Opera Music Director Eun Sun Kim shares plans for 2028 “Ring” Cycle, starring Tamara Wilson, Brian Mulligan and Simon O’Neill.
www.sfchronicle.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:16 PM
It’s official: the SF Opera Ring cycle is coming in summer 2028, the first for music director Eun Sun Kim.
#RTWT
#RTWT
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
demanding a famous folk singer write a moving ballad about the time I fell ass first into an ice fishing hole
November 11, 2025 at 2:08 AM
demanding a famous folk singer write a moving ballad about the time I fell ass first into an ice fishing hole
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
After yesterday’s surrender, we’re launching the largest Democratic primary program that we’ve ever run.
We will not back any Senate primary candidate unless they call for Schumer to step down as Minority Leader.
If you’re as pissed as we are, join this campaign to rebuild the Democratic Party. 👇
We will not back any Senate primary candidate unless they call for Schumer to step down as Minority Leader.
If you’re as pissed as we are, join this campaign to rebuild the Democratic Party. 👇
Democratic leaders have failed us again. It's time to get new leaders.
After yet another capitulation by Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats, it's clear we need new leadership capable of mounting a serious opposition to Trump's authoritarian regime. We're launching our la...
www.indivisible2026.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
After yesterday’s surrender, we’re launching the largest Democratic primary program that we’ve ever run.
We will not back any Senate primary candidate unless they call for Schumer to step down as Minority Leader.
If you’re as pissed as we are, join this campaign to rebuild the Democratic Party. 👇
We will not back any Senate primary candidate unless they call for Schumer to step down as Minority Leader.
If you’re as pissed as we are, join this campaign to rebuild the Democratic Party. 👇
Solution: SNACK BAR
Fire: SACK
engulfs: going around
rear of train: N
except for: BAR
concession stand: definition
New puzzle and clue on Thursday!
Fire: SACK
engulfs: going around
rear of train: N
except for: BAR
concession stand: definition
New puzzle and clue on Thursday!
Fire engulfs rear of train, except for the concession stand (5,3)
In our latest Out of Left Field cryptic crossword, sent to subscribers this morning, @hpicciotto.bsky.social and I explore an improbable railway disaster.
www.patreon.com/posts/puzzle...
In our latest Out of Left Field cryptic crossword, sent to subscribers this morning, @hpicciotto.bsky.social and I explore an improbable railway disaster.
www.patreon.com/posts/puzzle...
November 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Solution: SNACK BAR
Fire: SACK
engulfs: going around
rear of train: N
except for: BAR
concession stand: definition
New puzzle and clue on Thursday!
Fire: SACK
engulfs: going around
rear of train: N
except for: BAR
concession stand: definition
New puzzle and clue on Thursday!
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
The Democrat party that caved tonight is not the one we elected Tuesday. These are the collaborators still scrambling to cling to the old ways. We will get rid of them.
November 10, 2025 at 3:00 AM
The Democrat party that caved tonight is not the one we elected Tuesday. These are the collaborators still scrambling to cling to the old ways. We will get rid of them.
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
November 10, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
This is an entirely uncontroversial view in international law and usually taught in 101.
November 9, 2025 at 7:42 AM
This is an entirely uncontroversial view in international law and usually taught in 101.
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
This is it goddammit.
November 9, 2025 at 4:24 AM
This is it goddammit.
“What you get is a piece making the various more or less bovine noises of studious grey-lady impartiality, with the labor of anything resembling ‘appraisal’ surgically excised.
Others have recommended this brilliant essay; I’m helping spread the word.
Others have recommended this brilliant essay; I’m helping spread the word.
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:33 PM
“What you get is a piece making the various more or less bovine noises of studious grey-lady impartiality, with the labor of anything resembling ‘appraisal’ surgically excised.
Others have recommended this brilliant essay; I’m helping spread the word.
Others have recommended this brilliant essay; I’m helping spread the word.
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
Fire engulfs rear of train, except for the concession stand (5,3)
In our latest Out of Left Field cryptic crossword, sent to subscribers this morning, @hpicciotto.bsky.social and I explore an improbable railway disaster.
www.patreon.com/posts/puzzle...
In our latest Out of Left Field cryptic crossword, sent to subscribers this morning, @hpicciotto.bsky.social and I explore an improbable railway disaster.
www.patreon.com/posts/puzzle...
November 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Fire engulfs rear of train, except for the concession stand (5,3)
In our latest Out of Left Field cryptic crossword, sent to subscribers this morning, @hpicciotto.bsky.social and I explore an improbable railway disaster.
www.patreon.com/posts/puzzle...
In our latest Out of Left Field cryptic crossword, sent to subscribers this morning, @hpicciotto.bsky.social and I explore an improbable railway disaster.
www.patreon.com/posts/puzzle...
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
Creating this masterpiece must have been a Herculean task.🫡 @emmatolk
November 6, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Creating this masterpiece must have been a Herculean task.🫡 @emmatolk
Some opera news (as we used to say):
Conductor James Gaffigan has been named as the next music director for Houston Grand Opera. He succeeds Patrick Summers for the 27-28 season. Excited to see what he’ll bring back to the post.
www.primoartists.com/news/james-g...
Conductor James Gaffigan has been named as the next music director for Houston Grand Opera. He succeeds Patrick Summers for the 27-28 season. Excited to see what he’ll bring back to the post.
www.primoartists.com/news/james-g...
James Gaffigan named Music Director of Houston Grand Opera — Primo Artists
Houston Grand Opera Names James Gaffigan as Next Music Director
In his first titled role with an American institution, globally celebrated conductor will assume position in the 2027-28 season
HOUSTO...
www.primoartists.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Some opera news (as we used to say):
Conductor James Gaffigan has been named as the next music director for Houston Grand Opera. He succeeds Patrick Summers for the 27-28 season. Excited to see what he’ll bring back to the post.
www.primoartists.com/news/james-g...
Conductor James Gaffigan has been named as the next music director for Houston Grand Opera. He succeeds Patrick Summers for the 27-28 season. Excited to see what he’ll bring back to the post.
www.primoartists.com/news/james-g...
New post at On a Pacific Aisle, with thoughts on Stereophonic, Nobuyuki Tsujii, and Beethoven's Fifth.
pacificaisle.substack.com/p/minority-r...
pacificaisle.substack.com/p/minority-r...
Minority report
Scowling to myself in theaters and concert halls while everyone else has a good time
pacificaisle.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 PM
New post at On a Pacific Aisle, with thoughts on Stereophonic, Nobuyuki Tsujii, and Beethoven's Fifth.
pacificaisle.substack.com/p/minority-r...
pacificaisle.substack.com/p/minority-r...
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
Mamdani going so hard for trans right and winning is some juicy proof that every dem that abandoned us didn’t do it for politically advantageous reasons. They did it because they’re transphobes and they will lose for it
November 5, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Mamdani going so hard for trans right and winning is some juicy proof that every dem that abandoned us didn’t do it for politically advantageous reasons. They did it because they’re transphobes and they will lose for it
Reposted by Joshua Kosman
roses are red
big laughs are hearty
big laughs are hearty
November 5, 2025 at 2:58 AM
roses are red
big laughs are hearty
big laughs are hearty