Over the last 50 years as a public relations professional in the music business, people have asked me, “When are you going to write THE BOOK?” My answer remained consistent, “NEVER!” Lesson learned: never say never, … » Read

Pianist Russell Sherman died on September 30 at his home in Lexington, MA. He was 93. Mr. Sherman was born in New York and made his Town Hall debut in 1945. After spending time in New York's contemporary music circles, a move to California and … » Read

As the Philadelphia Orchestra players tough it out, loudly rejecting management’s new contract offers but—so far—playing on amid the grumbling, the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony have come to terms with their bosses. … » Read

BALTIMORE—The upbeat vibes surrounding the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s new music director, Jonathon Heyward, were reinforced in an engaging America-centric program that launched the season’s first subscription concerts. … » Read

On Friday, Sept. 29, the Philadelphia Musicians’ Union Local 77 filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board accusing POKC (Philadelphia Orchestra Kimmel Center Inc.) of unfair labor practices. “The union filed these … » Read

CHICAGO—After more than a decade attending Haymarket Opera Company’s seasons of Baroque opera, I’ve finally figured out why the ensemble’s productions are so delightful. The idea struck me after Friday night’s … » Read

The good fairies generously allotted the skills required to succeed as a conductor to Stephanie Childress . Or so it occurred to me while recently seeing this 24-year-old phenomenon in action leading a spirited, remarkably poised account of … » Read

Upon first blush, the appointment of Christian Thielemann to succeed Daniel Barenboim as music director at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden beginning with the 2024-25 season seemed a good fit. One of the great interpreters of Wagner, Bruckner, and … » Read

Early in the opera Dead Man Walking , based on Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir of counseling death-row inmates, the protagonist’s car gets stopped for speeding. Sister Helen is racing to cover the 150 miles between her New Orleans … » Read

Scott Altman, current president and CEO of the Cincinnati Ballet, onetime opera singer and opera company executive, is to be the new president and CEO of the Los Angeles Master Chorale as of January 2. He succeeds Jean Davidson, who exited in … » Read