In many chamber settings, the viola tends to blend into the texture—which made Emma Wernig’s playing all the more striking when I first encountered her last August on opening weekend at Tippet Rise, the remote Montana arts center. … » Read

The Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) has tapped veteran conductor Carl St.Clair as its new music director. The maestro, who debuted with the TPO in 2019, recently concluded his 35-year tenure as music director of the Pacific Symphony, where … » Read

The Houston Symphony has extended the tenure of Music Director Juraj Valcuha , first appointed to the position in 2022, through the 2027–28 season. In a statement, Gary Ginstling, the orchestra’s executive director and CEO, praised … » Read

Beginning with the 2026/2027 season, Elias Grandy will succeed Petr Popelka as chief conductor and artistic director of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. The German-Japanese conductor first collaborated with the ensemble in March 2025, … » Read

Pekka Kuusisto will begin his tenure as chief conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (TMSO) beginning in April 2028 for an initial term of three years. He succeeds Kazushi Ono, in the post since the 2015-16 season, whose contract … » Read

The Curtis Institute of Music has named one of its most illustrious alumna—superstar pianist Yuja Wang—to a new position as “artistic collaborator.” She will not become a piano professor or give weekly studio lessons; the … » Read

The foundation that governs La Fenice, Venice’s famed opera house, has unanimously selected Beatrice Venezi, a pianist and conductor, as the company’s new music director, beginning in October of 2026 for a four-year term. She will … » Read

On the eve of its new season, which launches on Sept. 24, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) announced three new artistic appointments. Sir John Rutter’s decades of composing, conducting, arranging, and recording with the ensemble are … » Read

The National Symphony Orchestra Ireland (NSOI), formerly the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, has named Alexander Shelley to be its next principal conductor starting in fall of 2026, for three seasons. He succeeds Jaime Martin, who stepped … » Read

David C. Stabler, The Oregonian ’s classical music critic and arts reporter for nearly 30 years, died Sept. 17. He was 72. The cause was acute myeloid leukemia, according to his brother.  Stabler was a finalist for the 2003 Pulitzer … » Read