After nearly three decades as general director of Opera North, Richard Mantle has announced he will step down this December. He will leave behind a company much improved by his presence. After postings at English National Opera, Scottish Opera, … » Read

On Sept. 18 New York City Mayor Eric Adams convened the first meeting of the Live Performance Industry Council, a group of 52 representatives from the theater, music, and dance industries; the city’s arenas, cultural institutions, unions, … » Read

Who’s in charge is the question of the moment at the San Carlo Opera House in Naples. Is it Stéphane Lissner, who was dismissed in June after the passage of a law capping tenure for foreign general directors of state-run opera houses … » Read

In a news release on Sept. 19, volunteer leadership of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (KWS) expanded on its decision to cancel the upcoming season, saying that the organization needs to raise $2 million if it is to avoid insolvency. The next … » Read

On Tuesday, Sept. 19, the musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra boarded buses for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, for performances planned on Wednesday and Thursday. But they were not happy campers. “I’m going on … » Read

Beginning with the 2025/26 season, Tomáš Netopil will become the chief conductor and music director of the Prague Symphony Orchestra. He will succeed Tomáš Brauner, in the post since 2020. Currently principal guest … » Read

NEW YORK -- Tenor Stephen Gould, who announced earlier this month that he had been diagnosed with incurable bile duct cancer, has died. He was 61. Gould's agent Stephanie Ammann confirmed the singer died Tuesday in Virginia. No other details were … » Read

The more than 50 members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the third largest in Ontario, received a shock on Sept. 16 when an email message informed them that their 2023-24 season, due to start the next day, was cancelled. "Nobody had any … » Read

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and members of the Chicago Federation of Musicians voted Tuesday to ratify a three-year labor contract that incudes 3 percent annual salary raises. The deal was announced Sunday and replaces a … » Read

Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly , one of opera’s undeniable treasures, has in recent years become a flashpoint for critics due to its stereotyped images of Japan and the male fantasies too readily assigned to Asian women. … » Read