The renovation and expansion of the venue will take four years longer than originally planned, and the cost, originally projected at under €1 billion, will soar and could double. Critics of the project are now calling for alternatives, saying that even a new building would be less expensive. - Pizzicato
"The bronze bells of the Notre-Dame Cathedral have not pealed together since 2019, when a furious blaze consumed the centuries-old landmark right before the eyes of horrified Parisians. For Paris on Friday, they tolled once again." - The New York Times
John Limbacher’s time as president, which began in 2016, has been marked by balanced budgets, even through the pandemic, which walloped performing arts organizations across the country. This year, he has faced criticism from the orchestra’s musicians. - The Star-Tribune (MPLS)
Of the usable recordings, 44.7% matched the original song’s pitch exactly. Expanding the margin slightly, nearly 69% of recordings were within one semitone of the original pitch. This degree of accuracy is much higher than would be expected by random chance. - Psypost
“The nominations highlight two major releases from the Symphony’s in-house label, SFS Media, marking a high point in a collaboration that is about to come to an end.” - San Francisco Chronicle
Nicky Hopkins has played on more than 250 albums. He’s “a keyboard colossus so dexterous he gained eager employment from nearly every star of note from the classic rock world and beyond” - but rarely, if ever, got paid enough for his music. - The Guardian (UK)
Of course, a lot of us accept “good enough” AI, but … maybe we can make better choices? “An AI-curated set feels like a dessert buffet. It’s all the stuff you love, and it’s great at first, but then it gives you a stomach ache after a while.” - The Verge
“St. Thomas’s leaders warned earlier this year that the church was considering closing the choir school, one of only a few remaining boarding schools for young choristers in the world.” - The New York Times
The project, titled "This Is America," is a collection of 28 works Gandelsman has been commissioning, performing and recording since 2020. He gave the composers each a $5,000 fee and a request to compose a piece responding to the times we're currently living through in the United States. - The New York Times
Art is capable of connecting with the best part of who we are as humans and stimulating the part of us that recognizes the dignity and connection with other humans. - Forbes
The blurring of lines that brought me to the opera voluntarily, willingly and with the same anticipation I bring to theatre suggests there may be a way forward – together. - The Stage
The author of the beloved young adult novel is writing her own libretto, with music by composer Derek Bermel. The work just had its first performance, unstaged, at the University of Michigan; the fully staged world premiere is next July at Glimmerglass Opera in upstate New York. - Chicago Tribune
