MILAN—Woody Allen said Tuesday as he prepared for his directing debut at Milan’s La Scala opera house that he has “always had a warm and affectionate following in Europe.” Allen was greeted with applause at a news … » Read

The weekend opera world news is an indication of the ongoing struggle for the soul of the art. Should it challenge audiences with new visions or should it keep to the task of presenting opera as a traditional, stable artform?   On Friday, … » Read

On completion of their first seasons as music directors of the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, Jaap van Zweden and Yannick Nézet-Séguin sat for an interview with The New York Times ; it was their first joint … » Read

MILAN--In 2016, the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro opened its annual edition with director Damiano Michieletto’s  new production of La donna del lago. It was lavishly cast : Juan Diego Flórez (Uberto), Michael Spyres … » Read

Ara Guzelimian has resigned from the Juilliard School, after serving for 13 years as provost and dean. His “personal decision” is one of a number of departures, voluntary and otherwise, since  Damian Woetzel took over as … » Read

Jaap van Zweden has left Columbia Artists and joined Lewin International Artists’ Management, where Michael Lewin will represent him worldwide in collaboration with ARSIS Artist Management. Van Zweden only joined Columbia about 18 months … » Read

Ken-David Masur, newly named music director of the Milwaukee Symphony and just finishing his term as associate conductor of the Boston Symphony, is to be the next principal conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, as of 2019-20. He’ll … » Read

Cassie Pilgrim [pictured] is the new principal oboe of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, effective next season. She succeeds Kathryn Greenbank, the new associate principal of the Minnesota Orchestra. She’s a 2018 graduate of the Curtis … » Read

Carlo Rizzi is to succeed Mark Elder as artistic director of Opera Rara; Elder exits next September, Rizzi takes over in June 2020. He first collaborated with the company, which specializes in reviving neglected works, in 2017 when he conducted … » Read

Festspielhaus Baden-Baden’s new executive and artistic management team was completed earlier this week with the announcement of Ursula Koners, 47, as the new CEO, starting next season. Her appointment follows that of Benedikt Stampa the new … » Read