The 2019 George London Award winners were chosen Friday evening, at the conclusion of three days of auditioning that winnowed down 60 North American contenders to 16 finalists and finally five winners: one soprano; two mezzo sopranos, and two … » Read

American composer John Adams has been awarded the Erasmus Prize by the Dutch Praemium Erasmianum Foundation. The prize, which includes €150,000, goes annually to an entity “that has made an exceptional contribution to the humanities, … » Read

Directing Opera Australia’s annual Handa Opera outdoors, against the backdrop of Sydney Harbor, poses special challenges and opportunities. In a recent interview, Francesca Zambello, director of the Glimmerglass Festival and the Washington … » Read

Maggey Oplinger is to be general director of the Florentine Opera, the Milwaukee, WI, company’s seventh in its 85-year history. She starts March 1, succeeding William Florescu whose sudden departure last May was, the company subsequently … » Read

Dominick Argento, who often referred to himself as "a Minnesota composer," died yesterday in Minneapolis at the age of 91. His death was confirmed by his publisher, Boosey & Hawkes, which reports that he wrote 13 operas, as well as choral and … » Read

In an example of art imitating life, The University of Michigan’s (UM) School of Music, Theater & Dance (SMTD) will be presenting a symposium and performance titled “Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Awareness and Prevention in … » Read

MILAN—At a press conference this week, La Scala announced that it was ramping up its international touring in 2019-20, with 60 performances scheduled in eight nations. Planned are company debuts in India and Saudi Arabia ( La traviata … » Read

The Symphony Orchestra of India launched its first UK tour earlier this week in London, and so far, so good. In his Guardian review, Andrew Clements declared it “already hugely competent.” The orchestra was only formed in 2006, after … » Read

For its first presentation in nearly three decades of the Porgy and Bess , which opens the season on Sept. 23, the Met will hire an all-black chorus, just as it did the first time it mounted the Gershwins’ opera, in 1985. At the time, there … » Read

Two orchestras have recently hired new publicists in key positions. Joining the Boston Symphony Orchestra as senior publicist is Matthew Erikson [pictured].He comes to Boston after serving as publications editor for the San Francisco Opera; … » Read