“When I accidentally stumbled into music criticism with an academic penchant for music analysis, my crutches for writing about music were technical and of little use in a newspaper. I had to find a way to simply listen. It gave me new ears, and I was hooked.” - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)
The program, which the mayor said would continue indefinitely, will draw from the pool of unsold tickets, which will be distributed by lottery via the Metropolitan Opera app. The catch: you’re not eligible if you’ve bought Met tickets any time since fall 2018. - The New York Times
“Violinist Elayna Duitman, head of the (musicians’ negotiating) committee, said their pay lags both inflation and the other ‘Big Five’ orchestras in Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Chicago, while upper management is well-compensated. … Their most recent contract extension expired earlier this week.” - Ideastream Public Media (Cleveland)
“The organisation has reported … 8.3 million streams across BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. Proms content generated 65.8 million views across BBC social media platforms. ... The Last Night of the Proms achieved 505,000 live plays, up 12% on 2025’s figure of 450,000, and in total 10.2 million users watched Proms broadcasts on television.” - Gramophone
Money troubles aren’t new to the orchestra, but in the wake of the recent death of longtime benefactor Martha Ingram, “the organization does not have sufficient cash on hand to sustain operations at its current level. The Symphony's executive committee is developing a restructuring plan designed to stabilize the organization.” - Nashville Scene
The TSO closed its 2026 fiscal year with an operating surplus of approximately $34,000, thereby increasing its accumulated surplus to nearly $1 million—putting it in its strongest financial position ever. - Colin's Column
“Artistic planning involves putting together an organization's programming, both in the near term and the long term. Members of the artistic planning staff work with the organization's music director, guest conductors, visiting artists and their agents, as well as the orchestra's finance, marketing and philanthropy departments and donors.” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
“When he was hired to costume back-to-back productions for the Met this season — something no designer has undertaken in decades — Montana Levi Blanco’s survival instincts kicked in. It would be virtually impossible ... to create 800 costumes from scratch given the time, energy and resources needed. So he wouldn’t.” - The New York Times
Attendance at the DOB has been disappointing in recent years; it was time for something different. Aviel Cahn, who became the company’s general director this year, is making major programming changes. His first new staging there is nothing less than Stockhausen’s Mittwoch aus Licht, complete with camel and helicopters. - The New York Times
Located in Battersea Power Station, Apple Music Hall is a state-of-the-art venue “designed to connect artists and fans through bespoke, intimate performances unlike anywhere else,” Apple said in its announcement on Tuesday. - Variety
Fans are paying thousands of dollars not just to see their favorite artists live, but to get closer to the performance and have a more exclusive experience. - The Guardian
“With their new agreement running through September 2, 2030, the NSO musicians will be compensated for the increased amount of local travel as the orchestra is splitting its 2026/27 season across multiple venues during the Kennedy Center’s planned closure.” - The Violin Channel
Louisa Proske: "It was insane and thrilling. … It was like, ‘the director has to assemble a team, and we kind of need the design yesterday.’” - The New York Times
