Opera Sacra, an opera company in Buffalo, NY is closing down after 40 years. The company, based at a church, presented operas having some sort of religious theme.

A local report can be read here.

I just discovered this article, but found it very interesting.  We talk a lot about period performance these days, but that discussion is mostly focused on performing on period instruments.  For pianists, at least, the method of playing in the 19th century was completely different than the way we play today.  

An article about playing the piano as they did in the 19th century can be found here.

Many have been concerned about the future of classical music for some time.  Will new audiences come? How do we bring new audiences to the greatest music ever written?  Pianist and writer Anna Goldsworthy has an interesting and thoughtful view from down under.

Her essay can be found here.

Placido Domingo was conducting a dress rehearsal of Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera when he began to experience pain and vomiting. He was taken to the hospital, and is scheduled to have gallbladder surgery in a few days.

The Los Angeles Times has a full report here.

A long time ago, in a place far, far away, John Williams composed the score to a travelogue touting the scenic beauty of Newfoundland.  In 1952, Williams was assigned to a US Air Force base there, was active with the base band, and was commissioned to write the score for the film.

All the details--and the video--can be found here.

Steven Brubaker, a cellist with the Tucson Symphony, went missing over 4 months ago without a trace.  He has now been found, but questions remain regarding where he has been and the circumstances around his disappearance.

You can access a local report here, and additional information here.

Star Trek--specifically, the television show from the '60s--was only on TV for a short time, but there's little doubt that the show had a lasting impact on American culture.  To celebrate 50 years of Star Trek, a multimedia show with live, full orchestra will be touring the US and Canada.

From the web site for the program:

Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage brings five decades of Star Trek to concert halls for the first time in this galaxy or any other. 
This lavish production includes an impressive live symphony orchestra & international solo instruments. People of all ages and backgrounds will experience the franchise’s groundbreaking and wildly popular musical achievements while the most iconic Star Trek film and TV footage is simultaneously beamed in high definition to a 40-foot wide screen.

You can learn more about the tour by clicking here.

Composer Peter Maxwell Davies was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia in 2013, being given only six weeks to live.  He managed to beat the disease--for a while--but is now suffering a recurrence of the disease.

He spoke to the Daily Mail in an article you can read here.

I've done a little page turning over the years--the most notable occasion was when I turned for Samuel Sanders as he accompanied Rostropovich--and the process isn't always smooth.  Typically the page turner is in the background, mostly unnoticed by the audience.  But during a recent concert by Christian Tetzlaff and Lars Vogt, the page turner saved the day.

You can watch the video here.

Conductor Dennis Russell Davies--standing on his podium about a half-hour before a concert--twisted his knee, requiring surgery.  He was set to conduct the Symphony no. 4 of Bruckner.

And a young, promising woman conductor has died at the age of 27.

You can read about Davies here. 

And you can read about Zaeth Ritter Arenas here.