Once upon a time, Helen of Sparta was carried off to Troy. Or was she? Euripides, writing in 412 BC, called that out as “fake news.” Taking his cue from Herodotus, the radical Athenian tragedian ran with a set of “alternative … » Read

The hue and cry in response to  Constantine Orbelian’s firing as director of Armenia’s national opera theater--a.k.a. the Alexander Spendiarian National Opera and Ballet Theater—appears to have subsided, momentarily. … » Read

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The Hungarian State Opera has asked the nearly all-white cast for its production of Porgy and Bess to self-identify as African American. The Hungarian performers were asked to sign a statement declaring that … » Read

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has cancelled all of its presentations from April 10-23, due to the musicians’ strike. The players have rejected the CSO’s “last, best, and final” offer . Cancelled or postponed productions … » Read

Conductor Gerard Schwarz has been named distinguished professor of music, conducting, and orchestral studies at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. Schwarz, New York based, is conductor laureate of the Seattle Symphony, emeritus … » Read

Russian theater and film director Kirill Serebrennikov, under house arrest largely for his outspoken views since August 2017, was unexpectedly released on April 8. The Moscow City Court’s ruling freed Serebrennikov and two of his … » Read

As the U.K. staggers toward its exit from the European Union, the impact of its departure is becoming ever clearer for the music industry. Travel between Europe and Britain will become cumbersome, impacting individual musicians and symphony … » Read

Chicago Symphony musicians Monday night rejected the "last, best, and final" offer made by management. Negotiations had picked up again last Friday and continued through the weekend, this time with a mediator, but apparently to no avail. The … » Read

BERLIN—In this festival-loving capital, MaerzMusik: Festival for Issues about Time has become a magnet for new music enthusiasts. The ten-day series of events (held from March 22-31 this year) is presented under the aegis of the Berliner … » Read

Multidisciplinary collaborations can be hit and miss, especially when you are aiming for nothing short of a Wagnerian Gesamtkunstwerk (that’s a “total,” or “universal artwork”). On the other hand, risk is a commodity … » Read