SAN FRANCISCO—Audience members expecting an academic approach to the eponymous composer in the clinically titled The Machaut Project at ODC Theater were quickly disabused. Processing from the back of the house through a descending center … » Read

Last week’s performances of John Adams’s On the Transmigration of Souls at David Geffen Hall marked the first time the New York Philharmonic had offered the piece since its 2002 world premiere. The reasons for its near quarter-century … » Read

LONDON—The world’s greatest classical music festival is no mean boast. Around 300,000 people have attended 86 BBC Proms this year, 72 of them at London’s Royal Albert Hall and 14 at venues across the U.K. All good things come to … » Read

LONDON—While the world holds its breath to see if AI really does wipe out the entire human race within the next decade, it’s worth spending a moment to marvel at what advanced technology can achieve in the realm of the performing … » Read

LONDON—Words like icon and legendary are apt to be overused, but in the case of Martha Argerich they feel entirely justified. This September 5 BBC Prom at London’s Royal Albert Hall saw the Argentinian greeted with the warmest of … » Read

LONDON--A great deal of ink has been spilled this last month on a perennial question: Is the Berlin Philharmonic the world’s greatest orchestra? This September 3 Royal Albert Hall concert, the second of the orchestra’s two BBC Proms … » Read

LONDON—Post-Brexit, the BBC Proms provides the best opportunity to catch an international ensemble with both the Met Orchestra and the Berlin Phil appearing within the space of a week. Sandwiched in between was this August 29 concert by the … » Read

The publication of Defending the Music: Michael Steinberg at the Boston Globe, 1964-1976 has prompted John Adams to reminisce about a music critic who delivered “an almost endless chain of exemplary reviews and essays… witty, now and … » Read

LONDON—The Met Orchestra is typically encountered shrouded in darkness and tackling operatic repertoire old and (increasingly) new. Its annual concert season is a chance for it to spread its wings and explore what for the average symphony … » Read

HOLLYWOOD—Gustavo Dudamel finally arrived at the home stretch of his not-quite-farewell tour as Los Angeles Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director last  weekend, landing at Hollywood Bowl for four wildly-diverse programs. As is … » Read