Brian Wise

The Metropolitan Opera's decision last week to drop its HD and radio broadcasts of The Death of Klinghoffer continues to draw strong responses.

Cue the inevitable viola jokes. The rare 1719 Stradivarius viola that was expected to sell for more than $45 million in a private sale failed to attract a buyer on Tuesday.

The long-neglected Naumburg Bandshell has undergone a cosmetic cleaning, and the structure's gold leaf inscription, below the edge of the stage, has been given a fresh gilding.

Residents of the Upper West Side, Park Slope and the Maplewood, NJ donated the most instruments during WQXR’s spring Instrument Drive.

A noted American scientist claims that he was beaten up by a pair of "audience vigilantes" for expressing too much enthusiasm during a performance last year of Handel's Messiah.

The Georgian soprano Tamar Iveri has been released from her contract with Opera Australia after an anti-gay rant on her Facebook page provoked an angry backlash.

With the summer driving season here, we've asked several on-the-go classical musicians for their road trip playlists. Our latest comes from the American soprano Jennifer Rowley.

Valery Gergiev tops a new ranking of Russia's highest-paid directors of theaters, museums and circuses, published by the Russian Ministry of Culture.

Some have called the Met's decision to cancel broadcasts of the opera The Death of Klinghoffer sensible; others have said it showed a lack of courage of artistic convictions.

The Temple of Dendur is one of the most popular sites at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a magnet for sketch artists and tourists snapping selfies. Now, it's inspiring a musical theater piece.

The Metropolitan Opera has called off its broadcasts of The Death of Klinghoffer, John Adams and Alice Goodman's landmark 1991 opera, over fears it could "fan global anti-Semitism."

The disclosures might be noncontroversial were it not for the fact that Met management began contract talks with musicians and stagehands last month aimed at cutting expenses.

Following months of public speculation, Lorin Maazel has spoken out in part about his recent health problems and spate of cancellations.

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, the Spanish conductor whose repertoire consisted of nearly 300 works, died on Wednesday in Pamplona, Spain.

This 1896 orchestral work went from relative obscurity to iconic status thanks to Stanley Kubrick's film, "2001: A Space Odyssey." But Kubrick's use of Strauss almost didn't happen.

Aaron Copland's folk opera The Tender Land is a quintessential story of the American heartland. It's also laced with jabs at the McCarthy era, which made initial audiences gasp.

Ray Chen, the rising young violinist (and new owner of a driver's license), has put together an eclectic road trip playlist. It stretches from Mozart and Pärt to Bruno Mars and Young MC.

Rule No. 2: "You should not perspire when conducting. Only the audience should get warm." No. 4: "Never look encouragingly at the brass."

As the 150th birthday of Richard Strauss arrives, our latest podcast considers the composer's activities under the Nazi regime, and how his later works should be judged.

"With deep sorrow I am not able to conduct at my standards and the moment to quit professional matters has come," the Spanish conductor said.