LONDON—The title role in Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia demands exceptional qualities. The heroine has a long scene in which she’s threatened and assaulted, followed almost immediately by one steeped in trauma and … » Read

Arts Access, an editorial partnership between KERA and The Dallas Morning News , has hired multimedia journalist Samantha Guzman as its editor.. Launched in October, the new community journalism effort has embraced the mission of providing … » Read

How old do you have to be to conduct a professional symphony orchestra? This is the trick question. Unlike such more mundane activities like driving (16), voting (18), or drinking (21), writes Joshua Kosman, there is no minimum age requirement … » Read

A year-end fund-raising appeal from the Chicago Opera Theater led to the discovery that industry veteran Henry Fogel is serving as the company’s interim general director while Ashley Magnus is on maternity leave. Fogel, on … » Read

Elayne Jones, a timpanist reputed to be the first Black principal player in a major American orchestra, died on Dec. 17 at her home in California. She was 94. Born on Jan. 30, 1928, in Harlem, Jones was the only child of immigrants from Barbados … » Read

Blake-Anthony Johnson, one of Musical America’s Top Professional s of 2022, joined the Chicago Sinfonietta as president and CEO in 2020 when he was only 29. The Chicago Tribune now has named him Chicagoan of the Year for Classical Music. … » Read

Brooklyn’s much-heralded new music venue National Sawdust (pictured) has announced the departure of its managing director, Brian Berkopec, best known as a financial and business consultant. He is to be succeeded by Ana De Archuleta, who has … » Read

In what on first glance feels like a major loss to the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Alexei Ratmansky will not be renewing his contract as ABT’s artist in residence when it expires next June. His departure coincides with the transition of … » Read

Stanley Drucker, the legendary clarinetist who joined the New York Philharmonic at age 19 in 1948 and didn’t retire until 60 years later, died on December 20 in Vista, CA, outside of San Diego. He was 93. Named principal by Music Director … » Read

City of London Sinfonia (CLS), now its 51 st season, has a new CEO arriving in April 2023. The 40-member chamber orchestra, founded and overseen by Richard Hickox until his death in 2008, performs 75 concerts annually, in a range of venues … » Read