Conductor Zubin Mehta took the stage in Tel Aviv on Sunday for an emotional final performance as music director of the Israel Philharmonic, retiring after 50 years with the orchestra. The 83-year-old, who underwent treatment for a cancerous tumor … » Read

Russell Thomas has a problem—of sorts. A tenor who has performed in many of the world’s leading opera houses, he can sing one of the art form’s most demanding roles—Verdi’s Otello. Many tenors cannot, and as a black … » Read

Alicia Alonso, the revered ballerina and choreographer whose nearly 75-year career made her an icon of artistic loyalty to Cuba's socialist system, died October 17 at age 98. Miguel Cabrera, an official at the National Ballet of Cuba founded by … » Read

MILAN — Plácido Domingo will not receive a European cultural award this weekend in Vienna as previously announced. It was the first change in the opera legend’s European schedule since numerous accusations of sexual … » Read

Saturday morning, the Ravinia Festival quietly announced the impending exit of its longtime President and CEO Welz Kauffman. He intends to leave at the end of the 2020 season, after 20 years at the helm. “After much reflection, I’ve … » Read

Opéra de Québec General Artistic Director Grégoire Legendre has announced his intention to retire after 25 years at the helm. He leaves at the end of the 2019-20 season. His hand-picked successor is baritone … » Read

Adrian Jones becomes the new orchestral director of the Staatskapelle Dresden as of January 2020, a capacity in which he’ll be working with Dresden Staatsoper Chief Conductor Christian Thielemann. Jones succeeds Jan Nast, who left Dresden … » Read

Richard Ortner, past president of the Boston Conservatory (now the Boston Conservatory at Berklee) died on October 10 after a battle with cancer. He was 71. In the words of Cathy Young, senior vice president and executive director of the … » Read

Ara Guzelimian, who announced his departure from the Juilliard School as dean and provost last June, is to be the Ojai Festival’s artistic director as of its 75 th season, June 10 to 13, 2021. He succeeds Chad Smith, named to the post 18 … » Read

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC), one of Canada’s most highly regarded professional choirs, has named Anna Kajtar to succeed Cynthia Hawkins as executive director. Kajtar has served in an administrative capacity for a number of arts groups, … » Read