CINCINNATI – What happens to your fond farewells when your guest of honor is late to the party? The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra had earmarked the end of the current season with a two-week tribute to outgoing Music Director Louis … » Read

The depth of New York City’s cultural offerings can be astounding. In addition to the flagship musical organizations, a plethora of smaller companies regularly present adventurous programs ranging from newly commissioned pieces to works … » Read

Not seen on its stage since 2016, then following a 22-year career hiatus, Kathleen Battle returned to the Metropolitan Opera on May 12, in a concert produced by AMP Worldwide, presenter of Disney-in-concert films and the like. Now age 75, she … » Read

CHICAGO—If someone is to do double duty on a Chicago Symphony concert, it’s probably going to be Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider. The Danish conductor and violinist, 48, has built a career from wielding both bow and baton in the same … » Read

One of the biggest, coolest, most important new music events in New York, the three-day Long Play Festival is a 21st-century universe, the complicated elements of which perhaps can't be fully appreciated until something goes wrong. On the final … » Read

CHICAGO—The first and last time the Chicago Symphony played Samuel Barber’s Toccata Festiva —commissioned to break in a new organ at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music, in 1960—was in 2003, more than 20 years ago. With … » Read

When Simon Rattle became music director of the London Symphony Orchestra in 2017 after 16 years leading the Berlin Philharmonic, the London press welcomed back the U.K.’s foremost conductor with open arms. Yet his tenure at the LSO lasted … » Read

BOSTON—Did any composer ever love Shakespeare more than Berlioz—even Verdi, with his three major operas based on the master's work? Berlioz even went so far as to become infatuated with an actress playing Juliet, and one masterpiece … » Read

LONDON—There was a time it looked like the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Ring Cycle would never be completed. Chief Conductor Vladimir Jurowski polished off Das Rheingold and Die Walküre in 2018 and 2019. Siegfried sneaked in a … » Read

Things didn’t proceed quite as planned for Hilary Hahn’s final concerts with the New York Philharmonic as artist in residence. The orchestra’s change of personnel, due to the scandal, extended to the podium, where future Music … » Read