NEW YORK (AP) — Sonya Yoncheva, a soprano at the top of her profession , worries about classical music. “My son, if I ask him, he always says, ‘I want to be like Ronaldo.’ And later, if I ask my girl, she will say, … » Read

As of this writing Daniel Barenboim is still scheduled to conduct New Year’s concerts with the Staatskapelle Berlin, marking his first time on the podium since February, due to illness. The 80-year-old musician is said to have a … » Read

Like every other orchestra leader, Mark Niehaus, the Milwaukee Symphony’s executive director and president, is focused on putting butts in seats, because, he explains, “an empty seat is a completely missed opportunity. We’re not … » Read

Two end-of-year concerts will mark the debut of Taiwanese-American conductor Mei-Ann Chen with the Minnesota Orchestra. She is stepping in at the last moment for Marin Alsop, who is under doctor’s orders not to travel due to illness. The … » Read

The hierarchy of symphony orchestra chairs—principal, associate principal, assistant principal, section player—is more about salary level and degree of responsibility than it is about talent, according to members of the Pittsburgh … » Read

The National Symphony Orchestra ’s CEO Gary Ginstling [pictured] was announced to step into Deborah Borda’s shoes as president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic . Borda will be one difficult act to follow. Mark C. Hanson, who … » Read

Handel’s Messiah has become a holiday classic, much beloved both by professional ensembles and amateur church and community choirs. The December premiere of Handel’s Messiah: The Live Experience , a lavish multimedia show developed by … » Read

Upcoming season highlights in San Francisco, as per the Chronicle ’s prolific music critic, include Joyce DiDonato’s music/theatrical recital Eden , an assemblage of music addressing the climate crisis by Ives, Mahler, Handel, … » Read

SHANGHAI--In China, October 1 and the week following is a time of celebration, honoring the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. This year, the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center had scheduled the world premiere of a new … » Read

How old do you have to be to conduct a professional symphony orchestra? This is the trick question. Unlike such more mundane activities like driving (16), voting (18), or drinking (21), writes Joshua Kosman, there is no minimum age requirement … » Read