LONDON—Where to begin with Festen , the explosive new opera by Mark-Anthony Turnage? At the end, perhaps, when a dazed first-night audience staggered to its collective feet to applaud a tour de force? Or the moment in the 100-minute evening … » Read

When Samuel Barber’s Vanessa opened at the Metropolitan Opera in January 1958, it was the first time in more than two decades that the company had premiered an American opera. There were 17 curtain calls, and the New York Times critic … » Read

The Eastman School of Music has added two new faculty members to its Jazz & Contemporary Media (JCM) department, starting next fall. Both are highly credentialed musicians, as band leaders and sidemen. Drummer Otis Brown III [pictured]is to … » Read

This summer Los Angeles-based KUSC and the Bay Area's KDFC, both owned by the University of Southern California, will combine their programming and on-air staffs under the brand name Classical California. The announcers for both stations will be … » Read

LONDON—First staged in 1977, just four years after Death in Venice , Thea Musgrave’s Mary, Queen of Scots has had to wait 48 years for its London premiere. A commission from Scottish Opera, the original Edinburgh production was … » Read

Could Donald Trump pose an existential threat to the survival of the Kennedy Center? “Yes, he can destroy the center and relatively quickly,” a number of arts leaders told Philip Kennicott of the Washington Post . Speaking anonymously … » Read

Teatro Nuovo’s 2025 Bel Canto Festival will feature two performances each of the original 1847 version of Verdi's Macbeth (July 19, 23) and Bellini's La Sonnambula (July 20, 24). The company's renowned period-instrument orchestra will … » Read

The Lancaster Festival, an outdoor ten-day extravaganza of mostly free concerts in Lancaster, OH, has named John Devlin, music director of the Wheeling (WVa) Symphony, to succeed Gary Sheldon as music director. The Festival presented its first … » Read

The Ravinia Festival has launched a major, multiyear renovation of its 36-acre Highland Park site and venues. Major gifts of $10 million from the Hunter Family Foundation and $21 million from The Negaunee Foundation have fueled a $75 million … » Read

Demarre McGill, principal flute of the Seattle Symphony, is to join the Colburn Conservatory and Music Academy next season for two years as professor of flute. He will be succeeding Jim Walker who retires at the end of the current semester after … » Read