In a famous 1917 essay “The Sahara of the Bozart,” the acid-tongued critic H. L. Mencken dismissed the South’s cultural life as “an awe-inspiring blank.” One can only wonder what he would make of the decision by a … » Read

James Jorden, founder and editor extraordinaire of Parterre Box: The Queer Opera Zine , aka Parterre.com, perhaps the most read opera website in the business, has died. He was 69. Information as to the cause is not immediately available; he was … » Read

Five new musicians join the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for the 2023-24 season, its last under music director Louis Langrée [pictured]. These are in addition to the 11 new players added this past January, bringing Langrée’s … » Read

In a vote last week, the musicians of the Cleveland Orchestra, members of Local 4 of the American Federation of Musicians, ratified a new agreement extending through the 2025-2026 seasons. The new contract calls for three annual increases in … » Read

Joining podium-endowed symphony orchestras from Alabama to Detroit, Wichita, and Chicago, the St. Louis Symphony has enlisted the aid of its most generous donors to endow its music director position. The post currently occupied by Stéphane … » Read

CHICAGO—During his 13 years as Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director, Riccardo Muti and the orchestra have visited Carnegie Hall often, in 2011, 2012 (when they opened the season), 2015, 2018 and 2019. Tomorrow night will be their … » Read

Students at the Cleveland Institute of Music have won their campaign against CIM Orchestral Studies Director and Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar. Two weeks after their sit-in to protest investigation results that cleared him of selected … » Read

Sue Elliott is to be general director and CEO of the Calgary Opera as of November 20 th , 2023. She succeeds Heather Kitchen, who is retiring after five years in the job and 40 in arts administration. Elliott arrives to the 50-year-old opera … » Read

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