The motion picture Tár is silent as to whether its protagonist has conducted both the Berlin and the Vienna philharmonics, but in real life only one woman enjoys that distinction—62-year-old Australian maestro Simone Young. The chief … » Read

Theater and opera director Mary Birnbaum is to be the new general and artistic director of Opera Saratoga, whose origins date back some 60 years (it was previously known as Lake George Opera). She succeeds Larry Edelson, who announced in May that … » Read

Flutist Tara Helen O’Connor , a highly credentialled performer and pedagogue, has been appointed visiting associate professor, adjunct, at the Yale School of Music, effective next fall. A contemporary music champion, she has premiered … » Read

CHICAGO—It had to happen sometime. Like rules, records are meant to be broken. For 39 years, Georg Solti held the record for the most Grammy wins. At the 1984 Grammy ceremonies, he won four awards, putting his total at 23, well ahead of … » Read

Assembling an orchestra of Ukrainian musicians from within and without that war-torn country and arranging its 12-concert tour of six nations in a matter of weeks is no mean feat. Donagh Collins, CEO of Askonas Holt, managed the feat and was … » Read

Gustavo Dudamel’s decision to leave the Los Angeles Philharmonic for New York represents the departure of much more than a exceptionally talented maestro. Since his arrival in LA as music director in 2009, he has become a larger-than-life … » Read

David Lockington, music director of the Pasadena Symphony Association from 2013 until he was fired in 2021 for refusing to be vaccinated on religious grounds, has sued his former employer. His suit alleges wrongful termination, religious … » Read

British composer and conductor Sir George Benjamin (Musical America’s  2014 Composer of the Year) has been awarded the Ernst von Siemens (EvS) Music Prize for a lifetime of service to music. The award carries a €250,000 ($268,000) … » Read

NEW YORK (AP) — Burt Bacharach , the singularly gifted and popular composer who delighted millions with the quirky arrangements and unforgettable melodies of “Walk on By,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” and dozens … » Read

On Sunday, Feb. 5, Joseph Tancredi’s afternoon plans took a dramatic turn after a 12:30 telephone call. On the line was Grant Loehnig, head of the music staff at Opera Philadelphia, who was searching desperately for a tenor to replace a … » Read