A gift of $4m from The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation will enable the Interlochen Center for the Arts (ICA) to complete a versatile residential facility—the final element of its 1990 master site plan. Since the 1930s succeeding … » Read

The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) is in the midst of a transformation. The most visible evidence is a new 236-bed, cutting-edge residence and parking complex. The school is also taking steps to reduce its student body, ideally from 430 to … » Read

As a chaser to its standoff with management, the Baltimore Symphony musicians this morning filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against the orchestra, claiming, “Since June 17, 2019, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has failed, and … » Read

After three days of intensive negotiations, Baltimore Symphony management and musicians are at a crossroads. In separate press releases last night, each issued their own version of the situation. Headline from management: "Baltimore Symphony … » Read

While the Metropolitan Opera reports that two of Plácido Domingo’s three scheduled performances as Macbeth are sold out (Sept. 25 and 28), the much ballyhooed one-day  Plácido Domingo Gala HD event last  Saturday … » Read

Is Stuart Murphy [pictured], the English National Opera’s (ENO) chief executive, “cocking a snook at those whose friendly understanding it should be courting”? Telegraph critic Rupert Christiansen thinks so.  In denying … » Read

As The New York Times and other high-profile outlets herald the arrival of Kirill Petrenko as music director of the Berlin Philharmonic as classical music’s Second Coming, one highly knowledgeable,  multi-award-winning critic is not so … » Read

Kansas City Symphony Music Director Michael Stern [pictured] has extended his current contract through the 2022/23 season, after which he intends to step down.  When he does so, he will have been artistic overseer of the orchestra for 18 … » Read

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has a new principal English horn as of this season; he is Kyle Mustain [pictured], formerly in the same position with the Oregon Symphony for eight years. Mustain succeeds Harold Smoliar, who retired at the end … » Read

A brief political protest interrupted the Sept. 6 opening of the San Francisco Opera (SFO) season when two men chanted “Impeach Trump now!” and tossed flyers off the balcony. Michael Petrelis told the San Francisco Chronicle that he … » Read