The most amazing cultural events of 2006

Here is a Slate.com feature; here is my response:

In January and February 2006, Lincoln Center presented a festival of
live music called The Passion of Osvaldo Golijov.  Golijov, an
Argentinian Jew, is the first breakthrough composer of the new
millennium.  His Ayre (song cycle), Passion According to St. Mark, and Aindamar (opera) make classical music passionate and popular and theatrical once
again.  In particular, I am amazed that a mix of tango, klezmer music,
gospel, Cuban music, and the classics can bear so many repeated
listenings.  Golijov also reflects the growing role of Latin America in
North American high and popular culture.