Prof. Michael O’Brien discusses why we listen to so many of the same songs year after year, the unusual appeal of “Santa Baby,” and why Eartha Kitt’s version is so much better than Madonna’s (or anyone else’s). - The Post and Courier (Charleston)
He is best known for his 25-year run as host of American Public Media’s national classical music program “Performance Today.” Child, who will relocate to Oregon from New York City, stepped down from the show in October. - Inside Radio
His one-act opera "The Judgement of Paris" is set to make its world premiere at Festival Napa Valley at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena on July 18, part of the Wine Country event's 20th anniversary season. - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
Since 2020, well over a dozen novels have taken classical music as their setting. Of course, novels about classical music are nothing new. But what is notable about this recent surge in classical music fiction is that many of these texts center on a scathing critique of the industry itself. - Public Books
Classical music’s survival instincts proved reliable. New leaders of L.A.’s arts institutions are bringing vitality to the region, empowering musicians and giving fans hope and optimism. - Los Angeles Times
Next September, the French contralto-turned-conductor will begin a four-year term as music and artistic director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo in Monaco. She succeeds Kazuki Yamada, music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in the UK. - Moto Perpetuo
During the second intermission of Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk on Wednesday evening, a very weak Chailly was taken to a Milan hospital and the third act was cancelled. The 72-year conductor, who has a history of heart disease, is in his last season as La Scala’s music director. - Gramilano (Milan)
I love to be surprised: to come across premieres and fresh interpretations that upend my expectations and open my mind to new possibilities. When I think about the past year, those are the moments that stuck with me most. - The New York Times
Korea’s classical music market remains chronically constrained. In an ecosystem dominated by private presenters, major international orchestras often need to schedule at least three concerts per visit to break even -- a scale of economics that leaves little room for profit and even less for broad public access. - Korea Herald
More and more, the political noise around the Kennedy Center threatens to overwhelm the music within, and it’s unclear what, if anything, is being done to help. - Washington Post
I acknowledge that it is important to be able to honor great musicians in a very public way but I believe there is a better method for doing so that some prize-giving organizations currently employ. - Nightingale Sonata
“A major new study led by researchers at Monash University (in Melbourne) … found that daily musical engagement correlates with a marked reduction in dementia incidence.” - Limelight (Australia)
This one, which takes place next October, will involve the Hungarian Radio Symphony and Hungarian National Philharmonic and is being organized by Müpa, Budapest’s equivalent of Lincoln Center. - Bachtrack
“Everybody should be selling or licensing their voice and their skills to these companies,” Stewart said. “Otherwise they’re just going to take it anyway.” - The Guardian
