Lara St. John was a violin prodigy, winning Canada’s national music competition at age nine and beginning a European tour a year later. Admission to the Curtis Institute of Music as a 14-year-old, where she was to study with the renowned … » Read

The Florentine Opera Company’s chorus master of 40 years, Scott S. Stewart, is stepping down. It’s a move no doubt related to the arrival of  new General Director and CEO Maggey Oplinger last March and her first appointee, … » Read

Seattle Symphony has appointed four new musicians—the first changes under new Music Director Thomas Dausgaard . Eduardo Rios, a Sphinx Competition winner and resident fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is to be first assistant … » Read

Germany’s thriving cultural community is one of the richest and most diverse in Europe. But rumblings from the far-right political party Alternative for Germany [AfD] pose a growing threat to its health. Anti-immigration has been the … » Read

On Aug. 1, the Merola Opera Program will present it’s first-ever commission—the world premiere of If I Were You by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer. Nicole Paiement will conduct and Keturah Stickann direct a production … » Read

Alexander Neef is to succeed Stephane Lissner as director of the Paris Opera starting with the 2021-22 season. The 45-year-old Neefhas been general director of the Canadian Opera Company since June 2008. He became artistic director of the Santa … » Read

Teatro Nuovo followed up its exciting account of Bellini’s La Straniera last week with a memorable presentation the very next evening (July 18) at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater of another bel canto masterpiece, Rossini’s … » Read

For the new production of the Ring in 2020, Bayreuth Festival Director Katharina Wagner is turning to the younger generation, choosing Austrian director Valentin Schwarz [pictured], 32, to stage it and Finnish maestro Pietari Inkinen, 40, to … » Read

Keitaro Harada is to be the new music and artistic director for the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO). He will serve as director designate for the 2019-2020 season, and assume his responsibilities full-time beginning with the 2020-2021 … » Read

Just weeks before exceeding its annual fund goal of $2.5 million, the Cleveland Institute of Music announced the appointment of Constance Skingel [pictured] as its new director of development. She started last week, succeeding Dan Coleman who … » Read