Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho’s Vista had its belated-due-to-the-pandemic world premiere last May at the Helsinki Philharmonic before making the rounds to the Berlin and Oslo philharmonics. Susanna Mälkki conducted them all, so it … » Read

Though Arvo Pärt enjoys mainstream popularity that has only escalated as he has turned 86, the Sunday afternoon retrospective concert at the Metropolitan Museum of Art shows how much this Estonian composer remains an artistic voice as … » Read

LONDON--Never mind the why and wherefore, but HMS Pinafore is the Gilbert and Sullivan opera I find hardest to love. Perhaps it’s because in their next collaboration, the ever-seaworthy Pirates of Penzance , they trod similar ground with … » Read

MILAN--By choosing to unveil a new era at the Bayerische Staatsoper with Shostakovich’s The Nose , Intendent Serge Dorny did not opt for the easy route. The rarely performed opera is far from a guaranteed crowd pleaser, its enormous score … » Read

For those who prefer their orchestral repertoire more on the recent side of the 20 th century than the past, the New York Philharmonic’s program last week was just too enticing to pass up. Add a conductor in her Phil debut and a clarinet … » Read

Tenor Jonas Kaufmann is arguably today’s reigning opera divo—a magnetic performer who looks every bit as good as he sounds. His appearances in the U.S.—rare in recent years due both to the pandemic and some health … » Read

LOS ANGELES – Gustavo Dudamel’s second subscription program since the Los Angeles Philharmonic returned to Walt Disney Concert Hall aimed at two of his main interests – new music and Mahler. It also marked a re-entry … » Read

For his delayed season-opening set of concerts as Philharmonia Baroque’s new music director, Richard Egarr strode decisively into the 19th century. “Schumann’s Reawakened Masterpieces,” as the ensemble’s billing … » Read

The indefatigable John Nelson and the indefinable Michael Spyres continue their musical love affair with Hector Berlioz, a three-way relationship that began in 2016 with Les Troyens and has flourished ever since. The two men’s shared … » Read

SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco Opera’s Fidelio arrived nearly overloaded with expectations. Originally planned as last season’s inaugural production to celebrate the choice of Eun Sun Kim as new music director, the show had to be … » Read