Kwamé Ryan, a 53-year-old Trinidadian-Canadian, "studied at Cambridge, lives on the edge of Germany’s Black Forest with his husband, hosts a weekly podcast for tips and life hacks, is into yoga, mountain biking and rugby, and guest-conducts orchestras throughout Europe and the U.S." - Yahoo! (The Charlotte Observer)
Opera’s contribution to health and welfare, its ability to improve lives, is a happy by-product. It is not the point. It is not opera’s job to do social work. Yet unfortunately this is where we find ourselves. - The Critic
If Philadelphia Ballet’s fledgling apprenticeship program needed a success story to tout, Na zir McFadden is it. After his ballet post, the Philadelphian landed a plum: assistant conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He’s 23 years old. - Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
"The Italian conductor, whose upbeat energy and artistic acumen have galvanized musicians and audiences since his arrival in 2020, has signed a five-year extension atop his initial six-year deal." - Detroit Free Press
"Although orchestras and opera companies are still struggling to regain and retain their pre-pandemic audiences, 2023 was a year with so much to hear — big performances, exciting premieres and promising signs for the state of the art in the year to come." - Washington Post
George Plasketes, a professor of media studies and popular culture at Auburn University, called the song “almost like comfort food.” Much like “Amazing Grace,” he said, “Silent Night” is one of those tunes that becomes imprinted on every generation, not only because of the lyrics but also the melody. - Washington Post
Ask Montreal composer Sophie Kastner, whose music for Where Parallel Lines Converge "was generated from the type of data NASA scientists usually use to create stunning visual images of deep space." - CBC
"The hologram – which uses projectors and motion capture technology to create a 3D image of Callas – interacts with the audience without speaking directly to us; she motions to conductor Daniel Schlosberg, who motions back. She pauses for applause even after any real applause has died off." - The Guardian
I think the future is versatility—a mixtape. I really believe that if a piece is put next to the right piece, even if it’s Schubert and Taylor Swift… they’ll shine light on each other. I see that working perfectly. - Van
In roughly two years, there've been Tár, Maestro, Chevalier (a biopic of Black composer Joseph Bologne), the documentary American Symphony, and upcoming Callas biopic Maria. "Hollywood doesn’t usually give this much attention to the world of classical music. … The sudden profusion is striking, and not easily explained." - MSN (San Francisco Chronicle)
In its citation, the United Nations cultural agency defined the practice as "a physiologically controlled way of singing that enhances the carrying power of the voice in acoustic spaces such as amphitheatres and churches." - BBC
'There have been times when we have stopped a recording if an artist isn’t prepared' von Bahr's exacting standards have built a 2,750-strong catalogue at the BIS Warehouse - Classical Music UK
A judge approved a stipulation that the organization pay $300,000 it owes musicians for 2022's Christmas show. But this year's holiday program is performed by the No Name Pops, the group formed by the stiffed players, and the Philly Pops still owes the Kimmel Center back rent. - MSN (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
"Something struck me forcibly as I was trying to fulfill the New York Philharmonic’s 9/11 commission: America had no contemporary musical work that could express national trauma. We Americans seem to have a popular song for just about every emotion, but in the immediate aftermath of tragedy only classical music seemed able to fill the void." - New Yorker
