LENOX, Mass. – “Find something in the music that you can shake hands with,” said John Harbison, longtime Tanglewood Music Center (TMC) faculty member, referring to a specific theme or motif. “When it comes around again, … » Read

Done for the summer, Gustavo Dudamel has handed the podium at the Hollywood Bowl off to a parade of guest conductors. First up was the Finnish maestra Dalia Stasevska, who had originally been slated to debut during the 2020 season erased by the … » Read

With Andris Nelsons done with his podium duties for the summer, Tanglewood welcomed a trio of conductors to the stage on Aug. 5-7. First up was BSO Assistant Conductor Earl Lee in his performance debut with the BSO. Composer Brian Raphael Nabors … » Read

SANTA FE—Since its inception, Santa Fe Opera has avoided Wagner, except for the relatively short Der fliegende Holländer . Curtain times here must wait until sunset for the lighting to work, and it was thought that performing the … » Read

Part I, covering M. Butterfly and Carmen, was posted yesterday. SANTA FE--There are serious opera fans who consider Verdi’s final opera, Falstaff , to be his greatest work. Experiencing it afresh here at Santa Fe in David McVicar’s … » Read

SANTA FE, NM—“Wokeness” doesn’t guarantee artistic success. Santa Fe Opera’s first full season since 2019 includes the premiere of an opera based on M. Butterfly , a Broadway play that used a true story to explore … » Read

LONDON—The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the mainstay of the BBC Proms, covering a wide range of music across the season under a variety of different conductors. It requires a nimble and disciplined approach, and this impressive August 5 … » Read

Following continues Stearns's BOAC review, posted yesterday . The post-minimalist aesthetic has staying power among the Bang on a Can (BOAC) composers, influenced by Dutch minimalist Louis Andriessen, thanks to their ways of applying it on every … » Read

NORTH ADAMS, MA--Any major Bang on a Can event is bound to test what you think music is, what it can say, and even how sound is made. But during the Bang on a Can LOUD Weekend July 28-30 at MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) in … » Read

LONDON--Cognoscenti of Puccini’s less-performed operas have long recognized that Il Tabarro , the opening act of his 1920 trilogy Il Trittico , is one of his most enthralling and advanced scores.  When followed by the emotional … » Read