The Philly Pops at 30: An Ongoing Celebration
01 Jul 2009 -- The year: 1977. The place: Las Vegas. Peter Nero and his new bride, Peggy, were seated in the place of honor. Frank Sinatra raised his glass to the couple and made a toast Nero will never forget: “If you dare to be as happy as Barbara and I are— I’ll break your fingers.”

Sneak Preview: Dessay's First Violetta
30 Jun 2009 -- The Santa Fe Opera opens its summer repertory season in style, with Natalie Dessay performing her first ever Traviata. She officially adds Violetta to her massive repertoire July 3. Here is a sneak peek at the star soprano in rehearsal.

Photo Journal and Recap: Carmen Triumphs (Again) at the Opéra Comique
30 Jun 2009 -- Bizet's famed heroine Carmen returned this June to the place where it all began, in a critically-heralded new production by Adrian Noble. Frank Cadenhead was on hand to experience the staging held at the opulent newly-renovated Opéra Comique.

Met Announces Free Summer Events: Six Outdoor Concerts and Ten HD Screenings
30 Jun 2009 -- The Met will present a variety of free outdoor events this summer.  In addition to a number of concert recitals to be held in all five boroughs, the Opera's Summer HD Festival will screen ten productions of Live in HD on consecutive nights in Lincoln Center Plaza.

A Chat With: Composer Eric Salzman; Jukebox... Plays at Bargemusic
29 Jun 2009 -- The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble will present a double bill of madrigal comedies at Brooklyn’s BARGEMUSIC July 8 and 10. The 1605 La Barca will be followed by Valeria Vasilevski and Eric Salzman's 2008 Jukebox in the Tavern of Love.

Preview: Midsummer Night Swing 2009
29 Jun 2009 -- Midsummer Night Swing returns for its 21st season July 7-25. Giants of Latin, R&B, and other music will have something to offer for Lindy Hoppers, Rock 'n Rollers, Swingers and mambo dancers alike.

"A Monumental Musician": Principal Clarinet Stanley Drucker Plays Final Philharmonic Season
29 Jun 2009 -- The end of the Maazel era on June 27 wasn't the only important departure for the NY Philharmonic this year. At the season's close in September, Principal Clarinet Stanley Drucker will retire, bringing to a close a remarkable 60-year Orchestral tenure.

Music By Moonlight: Wolftrap Summer Season Set for July 9 to August 7
28 Jun 2009 -- The National Symphony Orchestra presents its annual engagement of concerts under the stars at Wolf Trap National Park. This year's lineup ranges from country to classical to Broadway to film to video game music.

Thoroughly Modern Manon
28 Jun 2009 -- Houston Ballet opens its 40 Season this September with Sir Kenneth Macmillan’s epic love story Manon. Joseph Carman details the history of the classic tale and discusses MacMillan's particular process in the creation of his ballet masterwork.

In Character with ABT: Exploring Character Roles in Ballet
27 Jun 2009 -- Harris Green discusses the unique importance of character roles in the ballet repertoire and speaks to various members of American Ballet Theatre about the art of fusing theatrics with dance.

Frederica von Stade to Open Deer Valley Music Festival July 17
26 Jun 2009 -- The annual musical celebration in Park City, Utah, will kick off this year with a performance by opera star Frederica von Stade. The 4-week festival will include musical styles ranging from Mozart to ABBA to country-pop.

Instrument Profile: The Harp
25 Jun 2009 -- The harp, an instrument with a beauty of sound all its own, has been a part of music and culture from antiquity to modern day. Pamela Holloway asks Susan Dederich-Pejovich, principal harpist of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, to explain the details of her instrument.

Maazel Honored By Mayor's Office: June 24 Proclaimed "Maestro Lorin Maazel Day"
25 Jun 2009 -- Following the June 24 performance of his final program as head of the New York Philharmonic, Lorin Maazel received honors from both Orchestra and the Mayor's Office.

20 (PLUS) QUESTIONS WITH: Soprano Natalie Dessay
25 Jun 2009 -- As she prepares to make a much-anticipated role debut as Violetta in La Traviata July 3 in Santa Fe, the affable opera superstar donated her time to answer a few questions for this informal Q&A session.

Tanglewood Musician 150-Mile Relay Run Kicks Off June 29
24 Jun 2009 -- Members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and some family will run the 150 miles between Symphony Hall in Boston and the Main Gate of Tanglewood in Lenox, to mark the beginning of the 2009 festival season.

Memoirs of the Maestro: Departing Maazel Shares Thoughts on NY Philharmonic Tenure
23 Jun 2009 -- With his days as Philharmonic Music Director coming to a close, Lorin Maazel looks back on seven years of music-making and a warm and fruitful partnership with the Orchestra’s musicians. The maestro's tenure ended June 27 with Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand.

Chinese Musicians Discuss Upcoming Ancient Paths, Modern Voices
20 Jun 2009 -- China’s hold on the world’s imagination has never been greater than it is today. Carnegie Hall’s fall celebration pays tribute to the nation's influence. Tan Dun, Wu Man, Long Yu and Lang Lang discuss the importance of celebrating the music of their native land.

Photo Journal: Netrebko and Croft Star in San Francisco Traviata
19 Jun 2009 -- The San Francisco Opera welcomes the summer with its anticipated revival of Marta Domingo's 1920's-themed La Traviata, starring Anna Netrebko, Dwayne Croft and Charles Castronovo.

Joseph Calleja is Met's Hoffman; Held Steps in for Pape
17 Jun 2009 -- Joseph Calleja has been tapped to perform the title role in the Met's December staging of Les Contes d’Hoffmann, filling the vacancy left by Rolando Villazón. Additionally, Alan Held replaces René Pape in the four villain roles.

Swan Song: A Fond Farewell to Nina Ananiashvili
10 Jun 2009 -- After 16 years with the Company, Principal Dancer Nina Ananiashvili bids farewell to American Ballet Theatre June 27 with a last performance in her calling-card piece: Swan Lake.

City Opera to Present Three Free River To River Concerts June 25-27
08 Jun 2009 -- New York City Opera will present consecutive nights of free concerts as part of the River To River Festival: The Magic Flute on June 25, La Navarraise on the 26th and Opera on the Pier on the 27th.

Houston Ballet: From Studio to Stage
07 Jun 2009 -- "Intensive" is the operative word at Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy Summer Intensive, where young dancers get a taste of what a career in dance is really like. The Academy is the only six-week program of its kind in the country.

Lorin Maazel: Reflections From the Orchestra
07 Jun 2009 -- As Lorin Maazel enters his final week leading the Philharmonic, the musicians express their admiration for the maestro. Here is what a few orchestra members have said about Mr. Maazel as he leaves for new musical adventures.

Forward Momentum: A New Season for Jazz at Lincoln Center
06 Jun 2009 -- A glance forward to Jazz at Lincoln Center's 23rd season, under the guidance of Wynton Marsalis who is looking to reinvigorate by “providing the best jazz music to uplift people during these challenging times."

Manuel Legris to Helm Vienna State Opera Ballet and School
05 Jun 2009 -- Paris Opéra Ballet star Manuel Legris will take over the ballet leadership at the Vienna State Opera in October 2010.

"Dream" Roles: Balanchine's Midsummer Night’s Dream Returns to NYC Ballet June 16-21
03 Jun 2009 -- The iconic piece returns to the Ballet's repertory June 16. Joseph Carman explores the work, discussing the power of Mendelssohn’s score and talking to company members about their approaches to the choreography and characters.

Instrument Profile: The Trumpet
30 May 2009 -- The trumpet is one of the oldest and most familiar instruments in music, its versatility lending it to all genres of music, most notably classical and jazz. Pamela Holloway asks Ryan Anthony, principal trumpet for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, to explain it in detail, offering up interesting facts you may not know.

Royal Reign: Royal Ballet Visits Kennedy Center Opera House June 25-28
30 May 2009 -- The Royal Ballet returns to the Kennedy Center June 25 with Kenneth MacMillan’s full-length Manon and an ambitious mixed repertory program.

A New Role: Jenifer Ringer Helms NYCB Dancers’ Choice Performance June 14
30 May 2009 -- A 19-year veteran of the company, Principal Dancer Jenifer Ringer takes on a new role as leader of this year’s Dancers’ Choice program. Ringer has managed every detail of the two-hour gala-style June 14 event.

Photo Journal: Plácido Domingo is Cyrano de Bergerac at Théâtre du Châtelet
30 May 2009 -- Domingo, after 50 years on stage, is still leaving his audiences breathless and cheering. This has been the recent case in Paris, where he completes his run in Alfano's Cyrano de Bergerac on May 31.

The Orchestra and the Audience, Making Beautiful Music
29 May 2009 -- At live concerts, performers and listeners join together to form a duet of sorts. New York Philharmonic musicians and audience members share their perspectives on this interplay.

A Multitude of Experiences: The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2009-2010 Season
29 May 2009 -- Journalist Paul J. Horsley profiles the venerable orchestra's busy upcoming season which, under the leadership of Charles Dutoit, will range from Berlioz to Barber to Mozart to Wagner to the Ballets Russes and more.

Final Curtain Falls on Beloved Amato Opera Company May 31
29 May 2009 -- After 60 years of presenting affordable and ambitious opera to the denizens of downtown Manhattan, the landmark Amato Opera Company closes its doors for good May 31 with its final production: Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.

Central Park SummerStage Season Opens June 12 with Josh Ritter and the NY Pops
29 May 2009 -- Central Park SummerStage - New York City's eclectic annual festival of free outdoor concerts - kicks off June 12 with a performance by the New York Pops joined by acclaimed singer/songwriter Josh Ritter.

20 (PLUS) QUESTIONS WITH: Harpsichordist and Conductor Christophe Rousset
26 May 2009 -- Christophe Rousset has long been one of the bright lights of the early music and period instruments scene. We catch up with the French-born musician, whose brand new Rameau recording is now available in both CD and digital download formats.

La Sylphide, A Magical Ballet About Impossible Love, Plays Philly Through June 13
26 May 2009 -- The Pennsylvania Ballet will take on Bournonville's La Sylphide, perhaps the oldest ballet in existence. The creative team discusses the work and the particular challenges of mounting such a demanding piece.

Partners With Prokofiev: American Ballet Theatre Kicks Off Celebration June 1
25 May 2009 -- American Ballet Theatre’s All-Prokofiev Celebration, beginning on June 1, will reveal in unprecedented fashion the multi-dimensional range of his dance music and the singular choreographic impulses it has sparked.

Gotta Dance: Wheeldon's Carousel Concludes Houston Run June 7
25 May 2009 -- Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon displays his showman's streak in Carousel (A Dance). The work is one of three featured pieces in Houston Ballet's Of An Era, continuing through June 7.

Nacho Libre: Houston Ballet Dances Nacho Duato’s Jardi Tancat Beginning May 28
24 May 2009 -- Part of the Of An Era program, Houston Ballet's Jardi Tancat marks the company premiere of the 1983 Duato classic set to the music of Spanish singer Maria del Mar Bonet.

"Bolshoi Beauty": Ballet Brings Le Corsaire to Kennedy Center June 16-21
22 May 2009 -- Last seen at the Center in 2007 with Don Quixote and the Possokhov’s Cinderella, Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet returns to the Kennedy Center with Le Corsaire June 16 to begin a new long-term performance cycle.

Pereira to Head Salzburg Festival Starting 2011
22 May 2009 -- Alexander Pereira, currently director of the Zurich Opera, has been named as the new artistic director of the Salzburg Festival. His appointment is effective beginning Oct. 1, 2011.

The Great Bridge to China: An Interview with Lang Lang
19 May 2009 -- This fall, Carnegie Hall's Ancient Paths, Modern Voices will celebrate Chinese culture through a series of over 30 events presented across New York City. World-renowned pianist Lang Lang recently discussed his Chinese roots and the upcoming festival.

"Two Days of Rain": A Visit to the 2009 St. Lucia Jazz Fest
18 May 2009 -- The St. Lucia Jazz Festival is held on one of the Caribbean’s most lush and mountainous islands. This year's lineup included such talents as Amy Winehouse, Chaka Khan and Patti LaBelle. Journalist Robert Hilferty reports from the tropical paradise.

Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Announces 2009-2010 Season
18 May 2009 -- The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony has announced its 2009-2010 lineup. The acclaimed non-professional orchestra will welcome a bevy of guests including Anna Lee, Drew Petersen, Serina Huang and Jon Manasse.

The King of Swing: Benny Goodman Celebrated at Rose Theater May 28-30
17 May 2009 -- They called him “the King of Swing” and with good reason: legendary jazz clarinetist/bandleader Benny Goodman was an ace on the licorice stick.  Fellow players will present a living history of the instrument this month at the Benny Goodman Centennial.

Deborah Voigt Stars in Concert Alceste - with Cole, Kinsella, Yum, Zeller & Collegiate Chorale - May 26
16 May 2009 -- On May 26 the Rose Theatre will play home to a special concert production of Gluck’s Alceste, starring Deborah Voigt and conducted by George Manahan. This is the first time that the piece has been presented in New York in nearly 30 years.

Soundboard: Ute Lemper
15 May 2009 -- German singer Ute Lemper made a name for herself in the worlds of musical theater and cabaret and has built a reputation as an audacious interpreter of the songs of Kurt Weill. She chats with Ben Finane about her present shift in musical focus.

NYC Ballet Dances Romeo + Juliet May 15; Live From Lincoln Center Broadcast May 21
14 May 2009 -- A look at the collaborative process between the New York City Ballet and Live From Lincoln Center, which will broadcast Peter Martins’ Romeo + Juliet far and wide on May 21.

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