Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen comprises more than 15 hours of music. It is little wonder, then, that there have been several efforts to condense the tetralogy into a manageable evening at the opera house. One of the more successful, … » Read

LONDON—When it comes to composer anniversaries, the BBC Proms likes to bring out the big guns. In this case it was Ferruccio Busoni, the centenary of whose death is being celebrated this year. This August 5 performance at London’s … » Read

SUFFOLK, UK—It’s a John Wilson summer in England. The inspirational conductor has been bewilderingly busy since The Merry Widow opened at Glyndebourne in June , and before that run was done he was back in business with his supergroup, … » Read

The program for weekend of July 26-28 at Tanglewood was a highlight of the season, with both the Festival of Contemporary Music and the Serge Koussevitzky 150 th celebration on offer. [See also, Part I and Part II for full coverage]. The matinee … » Read

SANTA FE, NM—The riskiest of the five productions Santa Fe Opera is presenting this season is The Righteous by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Tracy K. Smith. Risky not just in the usual sense that might apply to the unveiling of a … » Read

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill.— Every time the Chicago Symphony’s gift shop sells a piece of Blacknificent 7 merch , or the orchestra trumpets its association with the self-described “composer collective,” it should thank Karen … » Read

The Boston Symphony’s Koussevitzky 150 Celebration Weekend at Tanglewood continued on July 27 with Andris Nelsons conducting Aram Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto with Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist. Koussevitzky was an early admirer of … » Read

LONDON—What makes an enduring piece of contemporary music? It’s an interesting question, and despite the ongoing English heatwave, one that hovered over this July 30 BBC Prom at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Olivier … » Read

On the right weekends, the Tanglewood Festival is perhaps the ultimate summer destination for serious classical music fans. The weekend of July 26-28 the acclaimed Festival of Contemporary Music was in full swing, featuring what was apparently a … » Read

SEATTLE — In this corner of the Pacific Northwest, summer means chamber music—lots of it. Other cities offer continuing orchestral adventures with the hometown band at vacation venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Ravinia, or Tanglewood … » Read