BERLIN -- Round 2 in the current match of Daniel Barenboim vs. Israel's Wagnerphobes takes the form here of rounding up opinions both Israeli and German, both pro and con, in the German media today, but only one quotation really zeroes in on le … » Read

GUANGZHOU, China -- English comprehension among the musicians of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra is minimal, but this morning’s guest conductor Klaus Weise has little trouble making his displeasure understood. Rehearsing onstage at the city’s … » Read

BERLIN -- Daniel Barenboim's Wagnerian prank in Jerusalem -- playing the Prelude to “Tristan und Isolde” as an impromptu encore -- may have taken place in Israel, but it has exploded onto the front page of virtually every German newspaper this … » Read

LONDON -- The London Symphony Orchestra has unveiled the site of its new education and performing arts venue in the City of London. The Nicholas Hawksmoor-designed St. Luke’s church, near the orchestra’s base in the Barbican Centre, will be called … » Read

JERUSALEM (AP) -- World-renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim delighted much of his Israeli audience with a piece by Richard Wagner, Adolf Hitler's favorite composer -- but he also provoked a sharp debate that carried on Sunday after the music … » Read

SPOLETO, Italy (AP) -- He got a hug from big Luciano, thanks from the stars, and lots of applause from the public. It seemed only fitting that some of the world's most famous voices would turn up in Spoleto to help celebrate the 90th birthday of … » Read

HAVANA (AP) -- Leonard Bernstein was a 23-year-old vacationing in Key West, Fla., a half century ago when he first heard scratchy Cuban rhythms from a radio that was picking up a station on the island to the south. ``He was infatuated with the … » Read

A Website called the Mutopia Project offers free copies of over 90 classical works whose copyrights have run out. Download “Für Elise” at no charge! One of the software’s creators tells USA Today that he wishes he could include more recent … » Read

GÜTERSLOH, Germany -- Hot on the heels of Norman Lebrecht’s claim [posted on MusicalAmerica.com yesterday] that “BMG has halted classical output and may shut it down altogether,” comes news that the company is planning massive layoffs worldwide, … » Read

LONDON – Norman Lebrecht is predicting doom and gloom (again) for the classical recording industry. In addition to citing Tower Records’ near bankruptcy as the probable final nail in the coffin, he points out that “BMG has halted classical output … » Read