The latest trifecta of recordings of new American orchestral and instrumental works includes a disc of strikingly immersive music by Steven Mackey played by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. These recordings hail from David Robertson’s … » Read

Writer/critic Richard Freed. January 1; age 93. Central City Opera Artistic Director John Moriarty. January 5; age 91.   Milwaukee Symphony President Susan Loris . January 7; age 52. Soprano/mezzo Maria Ewing. January 9; age 71. … » Read

With a new leadership team now in place and the pandemic in its rear-view mirror, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) is intent on establishing a more substantial national reputation. The driving force behind this ambition is 78-year-old … » Read

The New York Youth Symphony, composed of musicians between the ages of 12 and 22, has suddenly found itself in elite company, joining such world-renowned ensembles as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic as nominees for the … » Read

LONDON—The title role in Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia demands exceptional qualities. The heroine has a long scene in which she’s threatened and assaulted, followed almost immediately by one steeped in trauma and … » Read

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