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Classical
Deceptive Cadence
German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), painted by Kloeber circa 1805.

The Music And Morality Of Beethoven's Mighty Ninth

Dec 07, 2019
For nearly 200 years, Beethoven's epic Ninth Symphony, with its powerful "Ode to Joy," has inspired millions. Now conductor Marin Alsop takes it on a world tour.
Classical
Music News
Tenor Vittorio Grigolo on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Opera's 50th anniversary gala in 2017 in New York.

Opera Star Vittorio Grigolo Fired By Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera

Dec 05, 2019
His simultaneous dismissal from two of the world's leading opera houses comes after an investigation into allegations of misconduct during a Royal Opera performance in Tokyo.
Classical
Music News
Mariss Jansons at his final concert with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam in 2015.

Famed Conductor Mariss Jansons, 76, Has Died

Dec 02, 2019
One of classical music's most beloved and widely heard conductors died Saturday. Born in secret in Nazi-occupied Latvia, he went on to a stunning international career.
Classical
Deceptive Cadence
Cecilia Bartoli explores ideas of gender fluidity on her new album, devoted to music written for the great castrato singer Farinelli. Bartoli says that, like him, she's always transforming herself on stage.

Powerful Lungs And Long-Spun Lines: Cecilia Bartoli Conjures Farinelli

Nov 28, 2019
On her new album, the restless Italian opera star sings virtuoso music composed for Farinelli, the greatest of the baroque castratos.
Classical
Music News
The Metropolitan Opera's general manager, Peter Gelb, in New York City in 2012.

Met Opera Chief Peter Gelb Renews His Contract Through 2027

Nov 26, 2019
Despite some very public bumps in his tenure, the head of the largest performing arts organization in the U.S. received a five-year extension to his contract.
Classical
Tiny Desk
Igor Levit performs during a Tiny Desk concert, on Oct. 15, 2019. (Mhari Shaw/NPR)

Igor Levit: Tiny Desk Concert

Nov 22, 2019
The insightful pianist offers a Beethoven bonanza, ranging from the mesmerizing pulse of the popular "Moonlight" Sonata to flashes of wry humor and tender beauty.
Classical
Deceptive Cadence
We're guessing that Kanye West's opera at the Hollywood Bowl will have a different vibe than his visit to Paris' Opéra Garnier in 2010.

Kanye West Announces An Opera (Which Isn't As Crazy As It Sounds)

Nov 18, 2019
Before any opera purists start wringing their hands, let's remember that the 400-year-old art form has proven itself terrifically adaptable and resilient.
Classical
Music
tktk

Gabriela Ortiz's 'Yanga' Makes Its Debut With The LA Philharmonic

Nov 11, 2019
One of Mexico's most renowned classical composers, Ortiz's latest work was commissioned by Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and inspired by Mexico's first liberator of slaves.
Classical
Author Interviews
Flutist Eugenia Zukerman sets her struggle with Alzheimer's to verse in her new memoir.

In 'Like Falling Through A Cloud,' Eugenia Zukerman Explores Her Changing Mind

Nov 09, 2019
The classical flutist came back from the hospital after receiving an Alzheimer's diagnosis and felt compelled to write. The result is a stunning memoir that mixes poetry and prose.
Classical
Deceptive Cadence
Caroline Shaw sings her own song, titled "And So."

Caroline Shaw Sings Her Own Song

Nov 07, 2019
What do Gertrude Stein, Billy Joel and Robert Burns have in common? Their words all show up in a new song by Pulitzer-winning composer Caroline Shaw.
Classical
Music News
Trumpeter and composer Nicholas Payton drew controversy in 2011 with his rejection of the word "jazz." Now, he's reimagining black music with a new symphony.

Nicholas Payton Reimagines Musical Tradition With 'Black American Symphony'

Nov 06, 2019
His radical combination of symphonic and popular music comes eight years after a controversial statement about the word "jazz."
Classical
Music Interviews
Anthony Roth Costanzo stars in the title role of the Metropolitan Opera's production of Philip Glass' <em>Akhnaten.</em>

After Nearly Losing His Voice To Cancer, Anthony Roth Costanzo Takes On 'Akhnaten'

Oct 07, 2019
Ten years ago, Costanzo had surgery that threatened to destroy his singing voice. Now the countertenor is starring as a gender-fluid Egyptian pharaoh in a new production by the Metropolitan Opera.
Classical
New Music
Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens Shares Hushed Piano Instrumental 'IV'

Oct 04, 2019
It's the latest release from his forthcoming score to The Decalogue, the artist's latest collaboration with ballet choreographer Justin Peck.
Classical
Music Interviews
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative's <em>Joker</em>.

Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir Finds The Humanity In 'Joker'

Oct 03, 2019
Joker is a psychological character study of a disturbed man who turns violent. To give the comic book villain human depth, composer Hildur Guðnadóttir had to dig deep and empathize with the character.
Classical
Music News
Georgian composer Giya Kancheli, in an undated photo. Kancheli died Wednesday at age 84.

Composer Giya Kancheli, Championed By ECM, Dies At 84

Oct 02, 2019
One of the most prominent composers of the late 20th century has died. Georgia's Giya Kancheli wrote music full of light, shade and an incandescent longing. He was 84 years old.
Classical
Music News
Plácido Domingo at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid in July.

Plácido Domingo Resigns From LA Opera

Oct 02, 2019
The announcement that the opera megastar is stepping down as the company's general director comes in the midst of two formal investigations into accusations of sexual misconduct made by 20 women.
Classical
Music News
Plácido Domingo on stage in July. Domingo was scheduled to perform at New York's Metropolitan Opera on Wednesday but withdrew following accusations of harassment.

Plácido Domingo Out At Metropolitan Opera Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Sep 24, 2019
The opera star, who has been accused by 20 women, was scheduled to perform Verdi's Macbeth starting on Wednesday night. In an email, he told Met staffers that he will never perform there again.
Classical
Music News
Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo, performing on the Italian TV show "Domenica In" in May 2019.

Vittorio Grigolo, A Prominent Tenor, Has Been Suspended For Alleged Misconduct

Sep 24, 2019
The 42-year-old singer was removed from a Royal Opera tour of Japan after alleged sexual misconduct. Grigolo's suspension comes amidst a wider discussion about the subject in the opera world.
Classical
SymphonyCast
Jamie Barton © FayFox

Highlights from the 2019 BBC Proms

Sep 24, 2019

Every summer since 1895, orchestras have performed casual classical concerts, known as Proms concerts, in the heart of London.  The tradition is underway right now.

Classical
Deceptive Cadence
Marin Alsop leads the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. On Monday, management and musicians announced a new one-year contract, ending a bitter labor dispute.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra And Musicians End Contentious Contract Dispute

Sep 24, 2019
The battle between management and musicians, which reached a low point with a June lockout by management, ended Monday with the ratification of a new one-year contract.
Classical
Music News
Opera singer Plácido Domingo performs in Szeged, Hungary, on Aug. 28. In a meeting on Saturday, the Metropolitan Opera's general manager discussed why he has not suspended or investigated Domingo, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by 20 women.

Met Opera Chief: 20 Women's Accusations Against Plácido Domingo 'Not Corroborated'

Sep 23, 2019

In a closed-door meeting with the company's chorus and orchestra, General Manager Peter Gelb argued that the Met has no reason to investigate the famed opera singer or to cancel his performances.

Classical
Deceptive Cadence
Composer Christopher Rouse, photographed in New York City in 2005.

Remembering The 'Fast And Furious' Music Of Christopher Rouse

Sep 23, 2019
Conductor Marin Alsop and composer Nico Muhly recall their friend and colleague who wrote deeply expressive music.
Classical
Music News
Holy Trinity Music School's youth choir and chamber orchestra perform in the Smithsonian's Enid A. Haupt garden in Washington, D.C.

10 Years After Haiti's Earthquake, 'This Music School Will Never Stop'

Sep 22, 2019
Nearly 10 years ago, an earthquake devasted Haiti, destroying a legendary music school. A youth choir and orchestra have been touring the US and hope to rebuild their school in Port-au-Prince.
Classical
Music News
Opera star Plácido Domingo performing in Szeged, Hungary, on Aug. 28.

Met Opera Faces 'One More Catastrophic Crisis' As Employees Must Work With Domingo

Sep 20, 2019
One of opera's most popular and bankable stars is scheduled to sing at New York's famed opera house next week. But a number of Met employees say that they find the situation untenable.
Classical
Deceptive Cadence
Antonin Dvorak predicted that American classical music would draw from African American traditions. A new article wonders why American classical music has remained so white.

Why Is American Classical Music So White?

Sep 20, 2019
Early American composers could have shaken off their European sound and mined the rich trove of African American music. They didn't. And one historian believes we're worse off because of it.

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