Admirers of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony often marvel that the composer was deaf when he composed it between 1822 and 1824—or so history would have us believe. But as celebrations of the 250 th anniversary of the icon’s birth are … » Read

Since she finished in Hamburg where she headed up the Staatsoper and Philharmonic from 2005 to 2015, Simone Young has become an increasingly sought-after guest on the international circuit. From 2022, the Australian-born conductor will take up … » Read

Gaining admission to an elite conservatory is a key step toward success; in itself, it represents a considerable achievement. Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music, for example, accepted just four percent of applicants in the fall of … » Read

It’s rare to chat with a singer for an hour without them once raising the subject of “the voice.” John Brancy may not be your typical singer, but diffidence certainly isn’t holding back the 31-year-old New Jersey-born … » Read

A niece of Aretha Franklin said she's quitting as representative of the late singer's estate, citing a rift in the family  since handwritten wills were discovered  last year. "Given my aunt's love of family and desire for privacy, this … » Read

Peter Serkin, who made his Philadelphia Orchestra debut at age 14, performing Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos, K. 365, with his famous father, Rudolf Serkin, died on February 1 at his home in Red Hook, NY, of pancreatic cancer. He was 72. … » Read

PARIS (AFP)--Sir Simon Rattle still can't believe that what he calls the "terrible mistake" of Brexit is actually happening. Britain's biggest classical music star returned from the Berlin Philharmonic to lead the London Symphony Orchestra, his … » Read

Seven months before the expiration of their current contract, next September, the musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra have ratified a new, three-year pact,  ensuring that all is in order for the arrival of the orchestra’s new … » Read

NEW YORK — More than 70 composers from Monteverdi to Glass have written operas inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, but that didn't deter Matthew Aucoin from adding his name to the list. “I think musicians love the idea that … » Read

If Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival has left its namesake behind to plunge into the 21st century, the Great Performers series remains pretty much a bastion of the old school—plenty of Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and yes, Mozart, … » Read