The Annapolis (MD) Opera, nearing 50 years of operation, is in for major change. Both its artistic director and primary stage director have announced their intention to step down as of June 30, 2020. In the former position, Ronald J. Gretz, with … » Read

As of next season, American-Taiwanese conductor Mei-Ann Chen [pictured] is to be the new principal guest conductor of Austria’s Recreation-Grosses Orchester Graz, a 17-year-old ensemble; she has signed a three-year contract, requiring her … » Read

It was a starry roster of “FoF”s (Friends of Frank’s) who gathered last week in Berlin to honor architect Frank Gehry’s 90 th birthday. The primary event was the open-to-the-public concert that filled the 680-seat Pierre … » Read

In April The Shed will become the largest new arts space to open in New York in nearly six decades. Costing more than half a billion dollars, the new performance center on Manhattan’s West Side will feature an opening program shaped … » Read

Irish conductor Peter Shannon has left the Savannah Philharmonic as artistic director and conductor. Local media reports that his resignation was “immediate” as of Feb. 27. Shannon announced last fall that he was leaving but was … » Read

Violinist Daniel Hope will be stepping down at the close of this year’s Savannah (GA) Music Festival, March  28-April 13. He has been serving in the capacity as associate artistic director, overseeing and participating in some of its … » Read

Christopher M. Powell, director of artistic initiatives for the Glimmerglass Festival, is to be executive director of the Pittsburgh Festival Opera as of March 12. PFO has a summer season of four or five operas, including, this year, … » Read

Joseph Flummerfelt, early architect of the Spoleto Festival, longtime Westminster Choir Artistic Director, founder of the New York Choral Artists, died on Friday at the age of 82. The Charleston Post-Courier cites the cause as a stroke. He was … » Read

Among his many music directorships, André Previn took the artistic helm of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from Carlo Maria Giulini in 1985. At first, it seemed a match made in heaven, given all of Previn’s Hollywood film scoring … » Read

Joan Tower, who set the stage for female composers in the U.S., is to receive the Gold Baton in June at the League of American Orchestras' annual conference in Nashville. The League identifies the award as its highest honor. Tower’s Made in … » Read