Some of the boldest headlines in the performing arts last year were reverberations from Russian’s war on Ukraine. In addition to bombed-out theaters and silenced performances, artists’ careers, in some cases lives, were destroyed or … » Read

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Prototype Opera Festival. Founded by 2021 MA Artist of the Year Beth Morrison and HERE, an off-off-Broadway venue, and initially bankrolled by the Mellon Foundation, the festival presents, in … » Read

Perhaps it was just a marketing tactic, like a Broadway show posting closing notices to boost ticket sales. Or perhaps there really was a hue and cry that went up when the Philly Pops announced the organization would shut down. Either way, that … » Read

Arts leaders in Houston are cheering the momentum they are enjoying after the pandemic and vowing to keep moving forward. Under General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor, who joined the company a year ago , the Houston Grand Opera attracted … » Read

When Julia Wolfe’s Her Story has its local premiere with the Chicago Symphony this weekend, listeners will recognize not only her distinctive compositional style—hypnotic repetition, propulsive rhythms, and spookily intoned vocal … » Read

The New York Youth Symphony, composed of musicians between the ages of 12 and 22, has suddenly found itself in elite company, joining such world-renowned ensembles as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic as nominees for the … » Read

Like every other orchestra leader, Mark Niehaus, the Milwaukee Symphony’s executive director and president, is focused on putting butts in seats, because, he explains, “an empty seat is a completely missed opportunity. We’re not … » Read

The hierarchy of symphony orchestra chairs—principal, associate principal, assistant principal, section player—is more about salary level and degree of responsibility than it is about talent, according to members of the Pittsburgh … » Read

Handel’s Messiah has become a holiday classic, much beloved both by professional ensembles and amateur church and community choirs. The December premiere of Handel’s Messiah: The Live Experience , a lavish multimedia show developed by … » Read

Upcoming season highlights in San Francisco, as per the Chronicle ’s prolific music critic, include Joyce DiDonato’s music/theatrical recital Eden , an assemblage of music addressing the climate crisis by Ives, Mahler, Handel, … » Read