Opera singers on occasion are not among the world’s most svelte human beings, especially in the old days. Late in his career Luciano Pavarotti was unable to climb the steps to the top of Castel Sant'Angelo in Franco Zeffirelli’s … » Read

The BBC seemingly has bowed to the wave of public outrage that followed its March announcement of draconian  cuts to its classical music services.   First to go was the plan to eliminate the BBC Singers. Now the broadcasting giant is … » Read

The Boston Symphony Orchestra has come late to the game of season announcements, no doubt due to the recent turmoil among top management. But the offerings are no less substantial than in calmer times. Indeed, Andris Nelsons presides over his … » Read

Success was all but assured at the Metropolitan Opera debut of the opera Champion before the curtain went up. The story of middle-weight boxer Emile Griffith (1938 – 2013) has triumph, tragedy, and extra texture that comes with repressed … » Read

Composer Kaija Saariaho enjoys an enviable reputation. Dozens of international composers recently selected her as the greatest living composer and ranked her 17 th —between Brahms and Haydn—on the list of all-time greats. [Saariaho … » Read

Canada’s Vancouver Island Symphony has chosen Cuban native Cosette Justo Valdé s as its new artistic director, starting in July and succeeding Pierre Simard who left early in 2022. Valdés is also resident conductor of the … » Read

Arts Council England has invited the English National Opera to apply for £24m over three years, beginning in 2024, to support its plans to establish a primary base outside London while continuing to manage and present work at the London … » Read

In a gesture both symbolic and practical, the Berlin Philharmonic today announced its patronage of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. With immediate effect, the alliance is designed to help the two Ukrainian … » Read

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) continues its much-admired artist-led programming next season, its 65 th , in a variety of concert formats and venues, including the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. SPCO is one of four partners that … » Read

Ukrainian conductor Kostiantyn Starovytskyi was killed last week on a combat mission near the city of Kramatorsk. The 40-year-old conductor, who had been a guest maestro at Kyiv Opera and the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra, among others, joined the … » Read