Matthias Rädel has been named as the new general manager of the Bayreuth Festival following a meeting of the organization’s administrative board. It concludes an extensive search for the onetime Wagner family concern and was announced … » Read

Roger Norrington, a pioneer of historically informed performance practice, or HIP, has died at his home near Exeter in Devon. He was 91. Over the years he courted controversy for his determined and sometimes dogmatic approach to tempi and his … » Read

The Italian concert that was to have facilitated the European return of controversial Russian conductor Valery Gergiev has been cancelled according to the management of the Reggia di Caserta. The event had been scheduled to take place on July 27 … » Read

LONDON—The Royal Opera House's Saturday night audience was witness to chaotic scenes after a cast member unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage during curtain calls for a revival of Adele Thomas’ bold but somewhat controversial staging … » Read

AIX-EN-PROVENCE—This year’s Aix Festival has attracted plenty of critical attention for its stagings of operatic works, both familiar ( Don Giovanni ) and less-so (Charpentier’s Louise and Cavalli’s La Calisto ). Alongside … » Read

The revered American double bassist Gary Karr died on July 16 after suffering a brain aneurysm. He was 83 and had recently been diagnosed with aggressive and inoperable cancer. Over a 40-year career, Karr was credited with popularizing the bass … » Read

Air Canada is the latest airline to be called out for failing to cater for a classical musician. Amit Peled took to social media after he was refused boarding with his cello despite having paid for his instrument to occupy the seat next to him. … » Read

Isaac Thompson, president and CEO of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra , former managing director of the New York Philharmonic, is to be the new president and CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra. He succeeds Michelle Miller Burns, in the job six years. … » Read

AIX-EN-PROVENCE—While this year’s Aix Festival took place across all three of the city’s opera venues, it was the 77-year-old auditorium set in the courtyard of the Archbishop’s Palace that housed two of its three … » Read

A looming financial crisis has led the Detroit Opera (DO) to cancel its intended season-opening production of Puccini’s The Girl of the Golden West . “This difficult decision was made due to an unforeseen shortfall in production … » Read