Having controversially deaccessioned a classic Rothko (given to it by the artist himself) in order to fund future acquisitions, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is now raiding its collection for another dubious purpose — adorning a new for-profit sports arena. – Lee Rosenbaum

San Diego is not only the eighth largest U.S. city by population, but also among the fastest-growing. And it has a lot to offer in art — and if the current exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art is any indication, it has great ambitions, too. – Judith H. Dobrzynski

During her years in Seattle, trumpeter Samantha Boshnack has become intrigued not only with volcanoes but with the overall seismic behavior that continues to be a major and often disruptive aspect of life on Earth. Seismic Belt combines her musical and scientific interests in a powerful work of chamber music. – Doug Ramsey

Bernstein’s December 1989 concert performances and recording were his answer to the surprisingly numerous Candide-ologists trying to figure out why a show with such sparkling music had never been a commercial success. And they were so eventful, they only just barely happened — as I saw up close. – David Patrick Stearns

David Lang’s music is too pleasurable to be called experimental – it’s the message, not the music, that may make some listeners uncomfortable. – David Patrick Stearns

Some props haul their own metaphors on stage with them. – David Jays

The first two new productions in Garsington Opera’s 30th anniversary season both feature wild parties with lots of on-stage dancing. – Paul Levy

Twyla Tharp revivals bring to mind how we understood her 40 years ago. – Deborah Jowitt

The dazzling, dense, glorious career of the New Orleans musician. – Howard Mandel

Notwithstanding Dede Wilsey’s megadonor status and her 21-year tenure in the board’s top spot, her future value to FAMSF could be compromised by an eyebrow-raising opinion piece published Tuesday by the San Francisco Examiner — “Questions Emerge about Legitimacy of Museum Leadership”. – Lee Rosenbaum

The New York City subway is not, on any given day, the place to hear the music you need. It’s public in the extreme — in one of the world’s most public cities. And yet that’s where music ambushed me, a few months ago … – David Patrick Stearns

Ever tried to get a date by saying, “Hey, wanna go see Chunky in Heat? It’s an opera about a girl and her swimming pool. And it’s got six composers.” – David Patrick Stearns

This year’s Ojai Festival was programmed by soprano Barbara Hannigan and features, among other performers, new-music stars the JACK Quartet. The other day I spoke to Jay Campbell, the group’s cellist. – Scott Timberg

This is the second in a series of posts by guest blogger Milton Moore, a longtime music critic who has covered a wide array of genres. – Scott Timberg

There’s barely a scrap of frivolity in the Rutherford home. The seat of a Tyneside manufacturing family in the 1910s, it’s imposing, substantial, stuffed to the gunwales with heavy furniture – yet you struggle to spot anything that isn’t grimly functional or solid enough to break your toe should you drop it. Whatever else it is, the house of Rutherford is not a house of fun. – David Jays

New York Notes finds Broadbent leading a trio, the setting that brought him to the attention of audiences and critics early in his career. His associations with Woody Herman, John Klemmer and Charlie Haden’s Quartet West were milestones in his progress. This album is another. – Doug Ramsey

Who needs another cover – a jazz cover! – of “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over”? (We do.) – Doug Ramsey

No sooner had I started to idly wonder what’s happening in one of my favorite former hometowns than Terri Hinte sent a message reminding me of a new album by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra — a tribute to one of the city’s most beloved musical heroes, the late Allen Toussaint. – Doug Ramsey

Norman Ogue Mustill (1931-2013), longtime friend and collaborator, was a little-known master collagist. – Jan Herman

The elephants-not-in-the-room at this morning’s press conference celebrating the appointment of Lonnie Bunch III as the Smithsonian Institution’s new secretary were the man currently occupying the Oval Office and conservative members of Congress — politicians not known to be sympathetic towards federal cultural support in general and politically sensitive exhibitions in particular. – Lee Rosenbaum

Chicagoans watched Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and other heroes of the blues on videos at the the fifth Digging Our Roots: Chicago’s Greatest Hits “listening session” this spring. – Howard Mandel

If only they were still with us, two major artists would be celebrating their birthdays this weekend. – Doug Ramsey

“The evening Impressionist/Modern and Contemporary sales at Christie’s this month felt like a bit of a throwback to the old days when more museum-quality works graced the sale catalogues.” – Lee Rosenbaum

The staff gauged the rate at which the postwoman is depositing new releases in the Rifftides mailbox and decided that we should pick up the pace of telling you about some of them. – Doug Ramsey

Rifftides reader Orsolya Bene writes, “Listening to jazz on the radio after finishing chores. “North Of The Sunset,” by Thelonious Monk was just playing. Now, it’s the Denny Zeitlin trio. The radio guy must be channeling you.” – Doug Ramsey

Another subject that ought to be in the book I’ve imagined, one about the history of US orchestras from the 1980s to the present: structural deficits. – Greg Sandow

I’d never had a knife in my life like the new nakiri. It was crackling sharp (though not for long), but something else made it exceptional: the calm ease with which the knife held my hand, as well as the uncanny confidence it gave me. Once the blade came within range of a leek or rolling radish, it knew what to do. – Jeff Weinstein

Here is a real meme, plucked from the Web over the weekend, filled out, and posted solely for your amusement. – Terry Teachout

Denny Zeitlin Solo Piano: Remembering Miles
– Doug Ramsey

It’s time to stop being angry about classical music’s place in the world, and move toward acceptance. – Greg Sandow