John Adams’s works for the theater have typically shaded into oratorio. Nixon in China and The Death of Klinghoffer proceed less as dramatic narratives than as vehicles for librettist Alice Goodman’s poetic musings; similarly, Doctor … » Read

LONDON—Founded in 2012, Zürich-based Il Pomo d’Oro has emerged as one of the leading period-instrument ensembles around. To judge by its healthy discography, it’s also something of a go-to for top-flight singers in the … » Read

It’s an Aix-en-Provence tradition for a major visiting ensemble to perform Bach’s sacred music on Easter Day. They usually opt for one of the great epics; however, this year Easter Festival welcomed regular visitors Les Talens … » Read

LONDON— The Excursions of Mr. Broucek has long been the sleeper among Janácek’s mature stage works, so it was heartening to see the London Symphony Orchestra include it as part of their ongoing series of the composer’s … » Read

The annual semi-staging of a Handel opera by conductor Harry Bicket and the London-based English Concert is a valued Carnegie Hall tradition dating from 2013. Giulio Cesare, on May 4, was the latest installment, one of the composer’s most … » Read

CHICAGO— Nearly 300 miles southwest of Chicago, in St. Louis, stands the only surviving house in which we know, beyond a doubt, Scott Joplin lived. The rest of the ragtime pioneer’s former homes have been razed; this one narrowly … » Read

The two annual festivals of Aix-en-Provence—one for concerts, the other for operas—have no endeavours in common beyond the city whose name they share. Nevertheless, when word of the sudden passing of Pierre Audi , artistic director of … » Read

LOS ANGELES—For the last 15 years or so, L.A.’s merry collective Wild Up has been busy upending conventional notions of “classical” new music. Its latest contribution was a riotous performance of Arthur Russell’s … » Read

ATLANTA—In an earlier era, the Atlanta Opera couldn’t have undertaken a project on the scale of Wagner’s Ring . But under Tomer Zvulun—general and artistic director of 12 years, and the cycle’s director—the … » Read

LONDON—It should come as no surprise that Barrie Kosky's new Royal Ballet and Opera production of Die Walküre should have its roots firmly in the German-domiciled director’s native Australia. The smoldering tree trunks, so … » Read