Two recent podium events are reminders that a night at the symphony can sometimes offer more than just great music. On Oct. 19, a performance by the Idaho Falls Symphony came to an abrupt halt when it became apparent that maestro Thomas Heuser … » Read

Richard Brunel, director of the Centre Dramatique national de Valence, is to be the new general director of the Opéra National de Lyon, effective September 1, 2021. The 47-year-old theater director has been with the Centre Dramatique since … » Read

Orange County’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts—a multi-venue complex that is home to the Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Pacific Chorale—has named Casey Reitz, current executive director of New … » Read

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