In its U.S. premiere at Spoleto USA, White Box blends dance, music, puppetry, film, and projection to explore the true story of a lost expedition to fly over the North Pole in a gas balloon. Composed by Catherine Graindorge and directed by Sabine Theunissen, who also wrote the libretto. (May 29-31) https://spoletousa.org/events/white-box/
In an event called "Tell Your Story" on May 29 at Spoleto USA, four members of the festival orchestra will pair with Charleston-based entrepreneurs, artists, and activists to create “aural memoirs.” These sonic collages will act as works of creative placemaking distinct to the South Carolina Lowcountry today. https://spoletousa.org/events/tell-your-story/
The Indianapolis Symphony will present the world premiere of James Beckel’s Double Bass Concerto on May 30-31, with ISO Principal Bass Ju-Fang Liu as soloist. This program, conducted by David Danzmayr, also includes A Short Piece for Orchestra by Julia Perry and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. https://www.indianapolissymphony.org/event/tchaikovskys-5th-symphony/
Eugene Opera will present Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters on May 30-31. Dark Sisters follows one woman’s dangerous attempt to escape her life as a member of the FLDS Church (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints). The production features a four-piece chamber orchestra conducted by Andrew Bisantz https://eugeneopera.org/upcoming-productions/dark-sisters/
Pianist Evgeny Kissin is paying tribute to Shostakovich at Carnegie Hall in May. The final program on this topic, on May 31, will be a star-studded soirée featuring the likes of violinist Gidon Kremer, cellist Giedrė Dirvanauskaitė, and singers Susanna Phillips, Sasha Cooke, Brandon Jovanovich, and Alexander Roslavets. https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2025/05/31/Evgeny-Kissin-and-Friends-A-Tribute-to-Shostakovich-0800PM
We usually hear Bach’s orchestral suites programmed one at a time, along with other repertoire. May 31-June 1 is a rare chance to immerse yourself in the genre, when music director Jaime Martín leads the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in all four of the suites. It promises to be a season finale to remember. https://www.laco.org/events/martin-bach/ […]
June 1-8 offers a rare opportunity to hear Wagner’s complete Tristan und Isolde in concert. The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, will host tenor Stuart Skelton and soprano Nina Stemme as the love-torn title characters. https://www.philorch.org/performances/our-season/events-and-tickets/2024-2025-season/verizon-hall/wagners-tristan-and-isolde/
Early-music ensemble L’Arpeggiata calls its Nov. 20 program at Carnegie Hall Wonder Women, which pays homage to colorful characters found in traditional Italian and Latin American songs. The list of short works on offer include composers such as Barbara Strozzi, Francesca Caccini, and Isabella Leonarda. https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2025/11/20/LArpeggiata-0730PM
On June 5-8, Baltimore Symphony music director Jonathon Heyward will lead the orchestra in the world premiere of James Lee III’s Concerto for Orchestra. This is one of a series of concerts and educational programs focusing on the works of Lee, who is a native of Baltimore. Yefim Bronfman takes the stage for Beethoven’s Piano […]
Detroit Symphony music director Jader Bignamini leads a world premiere by Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Abels (known for composing the scores to Jordan Peele’s films Get Out, Us, and Nope) and the Detroit premiere of Leokadiya Kashperova’s lyrical Symphony in B minor. Behzod Abduraimov is the featured guest, playing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. (June 5-7) https://www.dso.org/events-and-tickets/events/24-25-spring/tchaikovskys-piano-concerto
On June 6, the Ojai Festival presents the world premiere of Alex Peh’s arrangement for trio of Terry Riley’s Pulsing Lifters. Peh, along with fellow keyboardist/composers Cory Smythe and Craig Taborn, will also play works by themselves, John Coltrane, and Anna Thorvaldsdottir. https://www.ojaifestival.org/2025-festival-schedule/
The world premiere of Reza Vali’s newest work will occur June 6-8, with Manfred Honeck conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony. Alice Sara Ott will play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, and soprano Lilit Davtyan will be the soprano soloist in Mahler’s Fourth Symphony. https://www.pittsburghsymphony.org/production/92965/beethoven-mahler-plus-world-premiere
The American Symphony Orchestra, under Leon Botstein, will present a rarely performed opera at Carnegie Hall on June 6. Guntram was Richard Strauss’ first opera; the young composer’s mastery of orchestral writing combines with the ethereal melodic arcs that anticipate his later, famous operas. Also featuring the Bard Festival Chorale. https://americansymphony.org/concerts/strauss-guntram/
Members of the Albany Symphony, calling themselves Dogs of Desire, will present an evening of new music on June 6, with David Alan Miller conducting. Featured composers will include Dai Wei, Tanner Porter, Juhi Bansal, JUAKHAN, and Brent Michael Davids. https://www.albanysymphony.com/upcomingconcerts/2025/6/13/dogs-of-desire
A new work by Gabriella Smith, on the theme of climate action, will receive its world premiere June 6-8 with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony. The program also features Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 7, the composer’s final symphony, as well as two of Richard Strauss’s tone poems—Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks. https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2024-25/salonen-sibelius7
The Spoleto USA Chorus + Orchestra will send a longtime leader out in style. On June 7, Joe Miller will conduct Bach’s B minor Mass, saying farewell after 19 years as director of choral activities. https://spoletousa.org/events/spoleto-festival-usa-chorus-orchestra-bachs-mass-in-b-minor/
On June 7, the American Music Festival, an evening hosted by the Albany Symphony, will present the world premiere of Bobby Ge’s Water Music. Global sensations Third Coast Percussion will be on hand to play Clarice Assad’s Percussion Concerto, and Stephen Williamson will solo in Christopher Theofanidis’ Clarinet Concerto. https://www.albanysymphony.com/upcomingconcerts/2025/6/14/american-music-festival-water-music
Joining with an ensemble that includes 2025’s Ojai Festival artistic director, Claire Chase, the JACK Quartet will give the world premiere of Susie Ibarra’s new work for sheng and percussion. Ibarra’s Sky Islands will also receive its West-coast premiere on this June 8 program, which opens with the JACK’s Modern/Medieval, a “renewing” of works from […]
At the Grant Park Festival’s 2025 season opener on June 11, conductor and pianist Andrew Litton will lead the festival orchestra in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. The program also features the vibrant Three Latin American Dances by Gabriela Lena Frank, and Manuel de Falla’s suite from the Three-Cornered Hat. https://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/music/2025-season/2025-rhapsody-in-blue
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of her performing career, pianist Angela Hewitt will perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations on June 11 at the Ravinia Festival. https://www.ravinia.org/events/detail/bach-goldberg-variations
Principal flute Demarre McGill performs the West Coast premiere of Allison Loggins-Hull’s Flute Concerto with the Seattle Symphony on June 12-22. Conductor emeritus Ludovic Morlot will also lead two beloved symphonic works by Ravel: Bolero and Rapsodie espagnole. https://www.seattlesymphony.org/en/concerttickets/calendar/2024-2025/24sub21
The Chamber Orchestra of Europe makes its Bravo! Vail debut on June 19. Led by German conductor Matthias Pintscher, the evening soars with Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring the incomparable pianist Yefim Bronfman. Works by Hadyn and Schubert complete the program. https://www.bravovail.org/performances/orchestral-series/chamber-orchestra-of-europe/bronfman-plays-brahms-piano-concerto-no-1
Notes & Frames: A Film and Music Festival is a three-week initiative by the National Symphony. On June 20-21, the festival culminates in a world premiere by Academy Award®–winning director, composer, and pianist Kris Bowers, who will curate and perform a program of contemporary film music to be conducted by Anthony Parnther. https://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/home/2024-2025/kris-bowers/
Atlanta Opera will present the world premiere of Steele Roots by composer Dave Ragland and librettist Selda Sahin, winners of the 2023 96-Hour Opera Project. The work was inspired by Carrie Steele Logan, a formerly enslaved woman who dedicates her life to caring for orphaned children in Atlanta. Director Tazewell Thompson mentored the winning team […]
A Mass for Women in Bathrooms is a new electronic chamber opera by Irish composer Emma O’Halloran and librettist Naomi Louisa O’Connell examining themes of infertility, reproductive rights and dementia, while reclaiming bodily autonomy for women in a historically violent space. It will be workshopped at Opera Saratoga’s summer festival on June 22 and 27. […]
On June 26, Bravo! Vail presents Sinfónica de Minería for a second year in a special concert, and a Festival first, at Nottingham Park in Avon, Colo. This free event (reservations recommended) will showcase Hispanic and Latin works with the special flare and joy the ensemble is known for. https://www.bravovail.org/performances/community-concerts/communityconcerts-2/sinfonica-de-mineria
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Oregon Bach Festival’s Berwick Academy for Historically Informed Performance, the festival will recreate a benefit concert held by Beethoven in 1800. “Beethoven’s First ‘Akademie’” includes works by the beneficiary himself, along with Mozart, Bach, and Haydn. Jos van Veldhoven leads with Berwick Academy Orchestra. June 27. https://calendar.uoregon.edu/event/beethovens-first-akademie
On June 29 at Caramoor, the Boston Early Music Festival revives their acclaimed pairing of Telemann works in this fully staged production of the opera Pimpione and the cantata Ino. Inspired by the Italian comic intermezzi, Pimpinone approaches social class and seduction with stylish slapstick and evocative humanity. The cantata Ino features a thrilling story drawn from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Paul O’Dette […]
