Home

The wave of Asian interest and excellence in classical music is giving the art form a global lift, which translates into new audiences, something classical music is always seeking…

Gustavo Dudamel announced his resignation as music director of the Paris Opéra on Thursday, a surprise decision two seasons into a six-year contract scheduled to run through the 2026-27 season.

One half-empty, one sold-out

Leonard Bernstein talks about Nadia Boulanger in this 1977 Bruno Monsaingeon documentary.

Irish violin-maker Padraig O’Dubhlaoidh has developed the first ever Vegan Society certified violin. The instrument has all the qualities of a classic Italian violin, but is entirely free of animal products.

His nine symphonies, five piano concertos, and sixteen string quartets – boasted a few significant Jewish episodes, including one composition based on a Jewish melody and another on the work of a Jewish poet.

For Tsujii, it’s a process governed by extremely careful listening and, as he described it in 2017, “sensing what’s around me.” 

A spontaneous reaction to a classical music performance went viral and led to a search for the boy responsible for the heartwarming moment.

Hollywood has always tried to do too much with their adaptations of ‘The Nutcracker,’ without seemingly understanding why people go to the stage versions each and every year: the music and the dancing.

Review of Santa Fe Opera’s 2023 summer season - The Flying Dutchman, Orfeo, Rusalka, Pelléas et Mélisande

The naturalistic and abstract visual elements coalesce organically and effortlessly into the musical fabric to make this Götterdämmerung an unforgettable theatrical experience

Dido, the incomparable Susan Graham, as always she was in splendid voice and is as queenly a queen as can be imagined. 

The SF Jazz Center was well transformed into a tennis court with Howard Cossell, (played by Mark Hernandez) the well-known sportscaster in a box way up high.  He represented ABC’s Wide World of Sports, to tie the two pieces together.

The staging was quite spectacular and varied…There were several memorable symbols that changed dramatically with the expert lighting design of Pablo Santiago.

Tonight’s conductor, Eun Sun Kim, an up-and-coming young (39) Korean. She will be the first Asian music director of a major U.S. opera company and the first female music director in San Francisco.

There are various children’s activities in conjunction with the opera, including a gingerbread scavenger hunt!

Armenian soprano Lianna Haroutounian, making her role debut and a splendid one, too. She has a soaring voice and can reflect the various emotions and situations that Manon must go through.

The singers made a very good ensemble both vocally and visually. The title role was sung by American bass-baritone Michael Sumuel.

The evening sparkled throughout and there seemed a remarkable sense of ensemble performance...it was a night to remember.

The boyish baritone John Chest in the title role. He was very credible as the naive young sailor, singing and acting the part extremely well.

The stage at the opera house was set with the ship from the fall production of Billy Budd and directed by Merola apprentice stage director Greg Eldridge.

The part of the child was sung by the vibrant and utterly charming mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, who can sing up a storm and did an excellent portrayal of a ‘mechant’ (naughty boy).