Canadian director François Girard came to prominence at the Metropolitan Opera as the result of a single production,  Parsifal,  in 2013. Primarily known for his work in film, Girard has had little experience in other opera … » Read

LOS ANGELES—Mounting an opera is complicated, and Yuval Sharon’s company The Industry makes it even more so, on purpose. Sweet Land , its latest attempt to push out the walls of the opera house and sprawl into the surrounding … » Read

The San Francisco Symphony’s Esa-Pekka Salonen era hasn’t officially begun. Yet Salonen, who was named the organization’s Music Director Designate last December, has already begun putting his indelible stamp on the orchestra. … » Read

VIENNA – This is a city awash in the Beethoven anniversary. No surprise there, since he lived in 60 locations in the area during his last 35 years and composed some of his biggest works for local music institutions, all nine symphonies … » Read

At first glance, the New York Philharmonic’s program on February 20, conducted by music director Jaap van Zweden looked unusual: A group of contemporary songs, including two by Icelandic singer Björk, sung by Renée Fleming … » Read

When the local critic advises that the best way to experience Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades at Chicago’s Civic Opera House is “simply to close your eyes and listen, for the music-making hardly could have sounded … » Read

There seems to be nothing that the dancers of Companhia De Dança Deborah Colker can’t do. And nothing that Deborah Colker, the artistic director and choreographer behind the Brazilian company, doesn’t ask of them. Though only … » Read

LONDON—Two words caught my ear as the London Coliseum emptied on February 12. “Death wish.” I don’t know who uttered them but it’s pretty clear they were aimed at English National Opera rather than any of the … » Read

The beauty of attending a complete cycle of the Beethoven string quartets is the chance to go on a journey, experiencing “a complete life in music,” as the Danish String Quartet puts it in its lively program note. From February 7-18, … » Read

Forget Beethoven’s 250th birthday, this year’s most inspirational anniversary is the centenary of the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment (“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by … » Read