Concert ‘Daphne’ Etches Beauty, Dramatic Power Of Strauss Opera Rarity
SEATTLE – The assertion by Seattle Opera's first-year general and artistic director James Robinson that Strauss' seldom seen opera is "one of the composer's greatest achievements" was borne out by the quality of this semi-staged production.
Choral Guru Rutter, 80, Celebrates His Birthday In U.S. With Royal Phil
ORLANDO – The concert at Steinmetz Hall, with the British choral director and composer John Rutter leading the orchestra in his own works, was a singular event on the U.S. tour, which will see music director Vasily Petrenko on the podium.
Everything’s Up To Date In Concert ‘Oklahoma!’ As Elan Meets Swing
NEW YORK – A starry cast collaborated with the Orchestra of St. Luke's led by Rob Berman, using Robert Russell Bennett's original orchestrations, in a highly enjoyable, freshly homespun treatment of the evergreen musical at Carnegie Hall.
Well, That’s Just Ducky: Relishing The Absurd In A Wacko, Quacko Opera
BROOKLYN – What to Wear, an avant-garde opera by composer Michael Gordon with a text by Richard Foreman, drew a sold-out crowd ready to revel in having absolutely no idea what was going on. And splash in the middle was this duck.
High-Tide Expectations, But Salonen And LA Phil Only Create A Washout
LOS ANGELES – From the opening work, Sibelius' The Oceanides, the conceptually appealing program fashioned by Esa-Pekka Salonen, newly appointed as the Philharmonic's creative director, suffered from a steady deficit of vitality and flow.
2,700 Insights: CVNA’s Expert Reviews Deliver World Of Music To You
PERSPECTIVE – Since its founding in 2013, Classical Voice North America has posted some 2,700 articles, forming a permanent archive of events worldwide. Here's a sampling of work by 45 writers in 2025 that you might have missed.
Revitalizing Light Falls On Neglected Works Of Romantic Master Hiller
DIGITAL REVIEW – The music of 19th-century German composer Ferdinand Hiller achieved success in his own time only to vanish later. Two symphonies, the early F minor and the mature E minor, have been revived on an impressive CD.
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CVNA MARKS 12TH ANNIVERSARY!
Classical Voice North America has won praise for the quality of its informative reviews, articles, commentary, and occasional podcasts at a time when many newspapers have cut back or eliminated coverage. We explore the richness of the classical music scene: opera productions, leading and regional orchestras, new works and upcoming artists, plus calendar listings. But access is free, so we need your support!
IN THE NEWS: MCANA MEMBERS' PICKS
- A new ‘Petrushka’ is bringing shape-shifting human puppets to Philadelphia - by David Patrick Stearns at Philadelphia Inquirer
- New Man for the Paris Opera - by Ronald Blum via Musical America
- Guerrero, Grant Park Music Festival to explore the meaning of “American music” in nation’s 250th anniversary - by Lawrence A. Johnson at Chicago Classical Review
- Met Opera season broadcast dates - at MetOpera.org
- 120 years of Deutsche Grammophon, Anniversary Edition – at Diabolus in MusicaIn Defense of the Traditional Review – by Richard Brody at The New Yorker
- Boulanger: The celebrated teacher’s early opera is brought back to life - by Andrew Clements at The Guardian
- Emanuel Ax, Artist of the Year - at Musical America
- Jakub Hruša, Conductor of the Year – at Musical America
- Gabriela Lena Frank, Composer of the Year - at Musical America
- Arvo Pärt 'And I Heard a Voice' - Lebrecht Weekly Album of the Year - at MyScena
- Who wrote 'Porgy and Bess'? – by Joe Horowitz at Unanswered Question
- NY Times Advertises for Classical Music Critic - by Norman Lebrecht at SlippeDisc
- From Slurpees to Shostakovich, an abandoned 7-Eleven becomes a home for classical music - by Graham Meyer for WBEZ
- 5 Questions to Composer Corie Rose Soumah - by Sonna Lee Davidson at I Care if You Listen
- Steve Reich picks his top discs - by Steve Reich at Nonesuch
- Santa Fe's New 'Figaro': Perfect Timing - by Thomas May at Musical America
- Ryan Speedo Green triumphs in first outing as Wagner’s god in 'Die Walküre' - by Mike Silverman at Associated Press
- Santa Fe Opera 2025 Season Review: The Fresh in the Familiar - by Heidi Waleson at Wall Street Journal
- To thrive in 2025, Opera Baltimore is willing to try it all — even AI – by Wesley Case at Baltimore Banner
- Innovative, immersive theatre bringing classical music to younger audiences – by Samiar Nefzi at WPLG
- 4 surprising ways to enjoy classical music in Birmingham, including a new performance at the zoo – by Patience Itson at Bham Now
- Oregon’s community, classical music radio stations brace for CPB funding cuts – by Zac Ziegler at KLCC
- Why Bard College’s orchestra performed Mendelssohn at the site of Hitler’s Nuremberg rallies – by Shira Li Bartov at Jewish Telegraphic Agency
- Why Iceland leads the way in reinventing classical music – by Andrew Mellor at Financial Times
- Opera Philadelphia will take over Macy’s and the Wanamaker organ this fall – by Peter Crimmins at WHYY
- A folk opera born from the courtroom: ‘Orange on the Blue Ridge’ returns to Barns of Rose Hill – by C. Max Bachmann at The Winchester Star
Around the US
No Rock In Sight, This Brünnhilde Finds A Spot In Orchestra’s Choir Loft
PORTLAND, Ore. – The effect was impressive and glorious when soprano Christine Goerke took her solitary place behind and above the 88-piece Oregon Symphony led by David Danzmayr for a concert program titled 'Wagner's Greatest Hits."
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Welcome to Classical Voice North America, the online magazine of the Music Critics Association of North America. Since 2013, CVNA has been a vibrant outlet for music criticism, providing expert coverage by members and occasional guest contributors. If you are a writer with experience in classical music, please consider joining MCANA. Together, we will keep music criticism alive and well.
AROUND CANADA
INTERNATIONAL
DISC AND STREAM
Adès Opera, Recycled As Symphony, Headlines A Terse Minnesota CD
DIGITAL REVIEW – In its brief, albeit impressive, debut disc with conductor Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra pairs the 22-minute symphony, drawn from The Exterminating Angel, with the composer's still-shorter Violin Concerto.
GAIL WEIN FOR CLASSICAL GAS
ISSUES IN THE ARTS
Opera As Battleground: Author Sees Lyric Stage In Never-Ending Struggle
PERSPECTIVE – In her new book Opera Wars, Caitlin Vincent takes on issues facing an opera world that she depicts in constant conflict as ego-driven composers, librettists, directors, and singers all endeavor to dominate the stage.
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