Composer and singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane presents only light can do that, a 92nd Street Y commission, on Thursday, October 31, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at Buttenwieser Hall at The Arnhold Center, 1395 Lexington Avenue. Tickets start at $45 and are available online.
Kahane returns to 92NY following his sold-out performance last season, performing his first full-band shows in a decade. only light can do that features a dozen-and-a-half new songs accompanied by a string quartet and rhythm section. The collection explores themes ranging from political crises and parenting to public discourse and the challenge of loving one’s enemies, offering audiences a first look at his latest work.
The performance will feature Kahane on voice, piano, guitars, and electronics, joined by Chris Morrissey on bass, Josh Dion on drums, David Bernat and Domenic Salerni on violins, Lauren Spaulding on viola, and Arlen Hlusko on cello.
Kahane’s career spans music, theater, and writing. His 2025/26 season includes collaborations with Roomful of Teeth, Attacca Quartet, and Jeffrey Kahane, conducting debuts with the Santa Fe Pro Music and the San Antonio Philharmonic, and premieres at Carnegie Hall and The 92nd Street Y. Known for blending storytelling with incisive social commentary, Kahane’s works address topics from economic inequality to political tension, with projects like the orchestral oratorio emergency shelter intake form reaching audiences in major U.S. cities and London.
An accomplished theater artist, Kahane has created several off-Broadway and Broadway productions, including Book of Travelers and the score for Kenneth Lonergan’s The Waverly Gallery. His discography includes five singer-songwriter albums, chamber music collaborations, and numerous orchestral projects, reflecting a wide-ranging musical vision.
Kahane also publishes essays on music, culture, and society via his bi-weekly newsletter, Words and Music. He currently resides in Portland, OR, where he serves as creative chair of the Oregon Symphony.
only light can do that runs at 92nd Street Y on October 31, offering audiences an intimate and timely exploration of modern life through music, storytelling, and inventive instrumentation.
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