As the White House continues to fan the flames of divisiveness, the Kennedy Center has dimmed its lights for nine days in honor of the last nine minutes of George Floyd’s life. It is one of many solidarity statements among cultural groups … » Read

VIENNA-- After 90 days of closure, the Vienna Staatsoper will re-open on June 8 for 14 concerts.  Audiences will be limited to 100 and required to wear masks prior to taking their seats.  The House on the Ring hasn’t been closed … » Read

About 54 million Americans sing in choruses. Any one of them wanting to know whether it’s safe to continue doing so amid the pandemic will receive little clear direction from the scientific community. Early evidence suggested that singing … » Read

Last week the Vienna and Berlin philharmonics both announced upcoming summer performances, along with the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Leipzig Gewandhaus. The Salzburg Festival has a 30-day event planned for August, and the Lucerne Festival is … » Read

As people of a certain age can attest, a drive-in theater can provide the opportunity for some of life’s most uplifting moments. But in the opinion of the prominent Czech theater critic Marie Reslova, it is not the place for live theater. … » Read

What do you do after you have just finished playing one of the longest piano pieces in existence—Eric Satie’s Vexations ? If you’re Igor Levit, you sleep for a few hours and then get together with friends to search out even … » Read

MILAN -- It has been a disastrous couple of years for Turin's Teatro Regio. In April 2018, superintendent Walter Vergnano resigned after 19 years to reveal a black hole of €1.7m for the previous year. Mayor Chiara Appendino, also president … » Read

It was inevitable: “Given the enormous organizational complexity of the Met’s schedule, we have no choice but to cancel our fall season,” General Manager Peter Gelb said in a statement issued today. The season will begin instead … » Read

From a turntable concerto to a Beethoven quartet cycle, the spring release schedule brings albums made largely before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered most recording studios and concert halls. Below are a few recent and upcoming highlights. May … » Read

Deserted by tourists, a hotel in Vienna gave itself a temporary one-night-only makeover, turning itself into an outdoor concert hall. The guest bedrooms, which have stood empty during the coronavirus lockdown, were transformed into opera boxes … » Read