By today’s standards a 50-year relationship between an orchestra and a  conductor—25 of them as music director—is “an extraordinarily rare one.” One has to hark back to such podium legends as Serge Koussevitzky … » Read

Thomas Coesfeld took over as CEO of the Bertelsmann company last July and is already redefining the company’s strategic outlook. In short order he has: placed the exclusive distribution of BMG’s digital business in the hands of … » Read

Alondra de la Parra has been chosen as artistic director and head of the Orchestra and Choir of the Community of Madrid, beginning in the 2024-25 season and extending for a four-year term. The 43-year-old Mexican succeeds Marzena Diakun, in the … » Read

Simon Rattle is to be the new principal guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, taking the title of “Rafael Kubelik Chair” as of 2024-25 for a five-year term. He and his wife, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, served as the … » Read

Henry Timms, whose leadership as president of Lincoln Center has been controversial among the classical music community, is leaving the position after five years. He is credited with diversifying the staff, which underwent a huge turnover on his … » Read

With its 2024-25 season, Carnegie Hall upholds its reputation for showcasing the best and the brightest of the international classical music scene, while paying homage to other genres and stretching the canon way beyond traditional European … » Read

LONDON—Born in Venice in 1619, Barbara Strozzi was registered as the daughter of Isabella Griega, housekeeper to the academician Giulio Strozzi. That the famous poet and opera librettist went on to adopt her suggests she was his actual … » Read

Toronto's Luminato Festival has gone “Down Under” to find its next artistic director. Olivia Ansell , an accomplished arts leader, director, and performance artist who is current director of the Sydney Festival, will succeed Naomi … » Read

Orchestras in Berlin, Copenhagen, and Busan, Korea, are all undergoing major changes. Sergey Smbatyan made his debut as the new guest conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra on Feb. 5. He is currently also the artistic director and principal … » Read

Robert Spano appears to be the go-to conductor of the day. Just on the heels of being named principal conductor of the Rhode Island Philharmonic last month, with immediate effect, he is to take on the music directorship of the Washington National … » Read