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

Dramaturge and music journalist Tobias Wolff [pictured] , managing director of the International Handel Festival in Göttingen, has been appointed Intendant of the Leipzig Opera (est. 1693), the third oldest opera house in Europe. According … » Read

Amid great fanfare over the “data-driven mission” she has “deployed” at the California Symphony Orchestra over the last five years, “catapulting the [orchestra] onto the national stage” and “redefining … » Read

At a news conference in Seoul earlier this week, Osmo Vänskä, who becomes the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s music director next January, discussed his plans for the orchestra: One is to secure a dedicated hall for the ensemble, … » Read

As its enters its 54th season, the Eugene (OR) Symphony will have a new concertmaster. Jenny Estrin , a member of the violin section since 2014, has been acting in that capacity in 2018-19, as well as undergoing an official audition and a trial … » Read

Mariss Jansons has been advised by doctors to take a three-month “regenerative” break. The 76-year old conductor has been forced to cancel his summer concerts and tour with the Bavarian Radio Symphony, of which he is chief conductor. … » Read

ROME -- Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, known for his politically charged contemporary works, will try his hand at opera by directing Turandot , which is set in his homeland. The Rome Opera said on Friday Ai will direct Giacomo Puccini’s work and … » Read

MILAN—In May of 2018, La Scala announced with great fanfare that it had teamed up with mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli to mount three Handel operas, starting next fall with a new, Robert Carsen production of Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto. … » Read

Michael Tilson Thomas’s representatives have delivered a happy missive to the media: "Michael Tilson Thomas had a successful heart operation at the Cleveland Clinic and is recovering well. The doctors have called the procedures a complete … » Read