The Metropolitan Opera has extended the contract of its Music Director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, through 2029–30, just as the Philadelphia Orchestra extended his music directorship last February.  Nézet-Séguin, … » Read

For more than 50 years, the brass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) has reigned pre-eminent. But recent developments signal change. First came word that Jay Friedman, principal trombone since 1965, would retire. Although not yet … » 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 Florida Orchestra has been a nomad for its 56-year existence, occupying inadequate office space in St. Petersburg and spreading its seven-month season of concerts among the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Tampa’s Straz Center for … » Read

David Francis is to be the new chief executive of the Three Choirs Festival, an annual event first held in 1715 that rotates among the cathedral cities of Hereford, Worcester, and Gloucester. He succeeds Alexis Paterson, in the position since … » 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

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

The international trombone community is sharing the news of an opening at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the principal chair, currently occupied by the last surviving Fritz Reiner brass appointment, Jay Friedman, hired in 1962 and named … » Read

The musical instrument sellers’ trade organization, National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), has selected Julia Rubio as the new executive director of the NAMM Foundation. She succeeds Mary Luehrsen, who is retiring after 22 years, … » Read

Apple Music Classical is introducing a weekly Classical Top 100 chart that will factor in streams on Classical and Apple Music proper, iTunes, song sales, and Shazam tags (an app that enables the listener to identify a musical selection on the … » Read