As Seattle Opera’s inaugural scholar-in-residence, Naomi André occupies a unique position. “Many opera companies have an expert in opera history . . . and some have internal committees that work on issues such as implicit … » Read

The Philly Pops has a new music director and principal conductor in David Charles Abell. He succeeds Todd Ellison who has “abruptly” departed, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, after barely a year in the job. Ellison, a busy … » Read

Stephan Zilias (pictured), Kapellmeister at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, has been appointed general music director of the Hannover State Opera, starting next fall. He succeeds Ivan Repušic, now music director of the Munich Radio Orchestra. … » Read

The Juilliard School has promoted Music Division Director Adam Meyer to the position of provost, succeeding Ara Guzelimian, who announced last year that he would be resigning from the chief academic post. Meyer, who is also deputy dean of the … » Read

Canadian virtuoso Angela Hewitt lost her “best friend” when her one-of-a-kind F278 Fazioli piano was dropped by movers. “I hope my piano will be happy in piano heaven,” she says, describing the handmade instrument as … » Read

The director of a French ballet has been sacked for getting rid of a dancer after she had a baby, the French culture ministry confirmed Friday. Unions had called for Greek-born Yorgos Loukos to go after he lost his appeal over discrimination … » Read

Carlos Kalmar will step down as music director of the Oregon Symphony at the end of the 2020-21 season. He will have been in the job 18 years and is credited with bringing the orchestra to a higher artistic standard than when he arrived. He … » Read

Robert Trevino, music director of the Basque National Orchestra (BNO), had been mulling over a radical idea for years. What would happen, he wondered, if he were to present a concert at which none of the music played was announced beforehand? … » Read

Mirella Freni, an Italian soprano whose uncommon elegance and intensity combined with a sumptuous voice and intelligence to enthrall audiences for a half-century, has died at age 84. Freni died Sunday at her home in Modena, Italy, from a … » Read

Italian conductor Nello Santi, acknowledged master of the Italian opera tradition, died on February 6 at his home in Zurich. He was 88 and had been treated for a blood infection. His death was confirmed by his manager, Robert Lombardo. Born in … » Read