The Salzburg Festival will honor Riccardo Muti’s 80 th birthday this summer, as well as the 50 th anniversary of his Festival debut. “I’ve gone every year but one since I started in 1971,” he told Musical America when … » Read

James Darrah, artistic director of Omaha’s annual ONE Festival , is to take the same title with Long Beach Opera, another entity known for bold moves and experimentation. Darrah is well known in new opera circles, having directed the world … » Read

American conductor James Gaffigan is the newly named principal guest conductor of Norway’s Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and Opera with immediate effect through the end of next season. He succeeds Han-Na Chang, who was promoted to chief … » Read

For the first time, Russia has tapped a woman as music director of a major arts organization. She is Alevtina Ioffe, 41, taking the position at the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg, effective immediately. She succeeds Alexander Vedernikov, … » Read

In an appointment that makes absolute sense on every level, Gail Samuel, longtime chief overseer of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its assorted tentacles, the most lucrative of which is the Hollywood Bowl, is to be the new president and CEO of … » Read

Paul Ganson, Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) assistant principal bassoon from 1969 to 2004, died on January 2 of complications from a recent heart surgery. He was 79. "Paul’s extraordinary impact on the DSO cannot be overstated… as … » Read

John Kieser has been enlisted by the classical music streaming service Idagio as its “director of partnerships,” which will help open industry doors for the company and expand its reach beyond the 30,000 registered users it currently … » Read

Jay Wahl, producing artistic director for Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for 11 years, is executive director of  the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington, VT, as of January 1. The Flynn, now in its 90 th year, started life … » Read

Opera Australia CEO Rory Jeffes has announced his resignation, though set no specific date. He came to the company in summer of 2017 , having served the previous ten years as managing director of the Sydney Symphony. In an email to staff, … » Read

Zubin Mehta has been released from the hospital in Milan after suffering a bout of “fatigue” during a rehearsal for Salome at La Scala. He has been advised to continue to rest, however. As a result, La Scala Music Director Riccardo … » Read