#News The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is heading to Salzburg for its first European tour (Apr 15–17), with music by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Barber—and Samy Moussa. The visit follows backlash over a past attempt to silence a musician. Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #Canada

#News Associate director Keiron Cooke has left Askonas to become a full director at Rayfield Allied—reportedly bringing a major roster with him, including Dame Sarah Connolly and directors Deborah Warner and James Dacre. Big move in artist management. Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #ArtsManagement

#News Polish conductor Wojciech Michniewski, a leading champion of contemporary music, has died at 78. Born in Łódź, he led the Warsaw Philharmonic (1973–78), later directed Teatr Wielki in Łódź, and worked closely with Sinfonia Varsovia. Share a memory below. #ClassicalMusic #Poland

#Music Wynton Marsalis, 64, will step down next year as artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center—40 years after creating the festival—saying it’s time to mentor new leaders. What legacy moments stand out to you? #Jazz #Culture

#Music Tenor Jonas Kaufmann says he won’t return to the Met or Covent Garden—but he’s set for Carnegie Hall: joining Gustavo Dudamel and the NY Phil in Puccini’s *Tosca* (Nov 2026), with Marina Rebeka and Ludovic Tézier. Thoughts? #Opera #ClassicalMusic

#News A viral post claims Donald Trump reviewed composer Philip Glass—but an AI check flagged it as likely fake. A reminder to verify before sharing. What’s your go-to method for spotting hoaxes? #MediaLiteracy #ClassicalMusic

#Music The Czech Philharmonic has named its first composer-in-residence in 130 years—and it’s American composer Bryce Dessner. Expect multiple Czech and European premieres with one of Europe’s most distinctive orchestras. Thoughts on the pick? #ClassicalMusic #CzechRepublic

#News Leipzig Opera is sliding deeper into deficit as attendance lags and wage costs rise: €2.3M in the red now, with officials warning insolvency within two years. A merger with the Gewandhaus Orchestra is being floated—musicians may push back. Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #Germany

#Art A hushed, spellbound crowd followed the multimedia concert *De la mer aux nuages*: Stéphanie Pothier and pianist Rosalie Asselin in an immersive blend of classics (Debussy, Ravel & more) with Julien‑Robert’s new electroacoustic work. Seen it? Share your take. #ClassicalMusic #Montreal

#Music Christian Gerhaher and Gerold Huber brought a masterfully paced all‑Schubert Lieder night to Wigmore Hall—mixing rarities with “landing place” favorites. Impeccable diction, vivid piano storytelling, and a reflective close with “Schwanengesang.” Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #Schubert

#Music Morton Feldman’s *For John Cage* (c.1982) is “composed silence”: fragments that drift, suspend time, and glow with quiet beauty. Recordings highlight different shades—especially Morgan/Tilbury’s hushed intensity. Best heard late at night on headphones. Thoughts? #Classical #ContemporaryMusic

#ClassicalMusic Gounod beyond *Faust*: a new piano disc with Warren Lee explores the “Ave Maria” in its original keyboard guise, the charming *Romances sans paroles*, dramatic preludes, and Bach-inspired études—plus a nod to Liszt/Gounod. What would you cue up first? #Piano #Gounod

#Jazz Richie Beirach, acclaimed American jazz pianist/composer, has died at 78. Brooklyn-born, he rose with David Liebman, later taught in Leipzig, and recorded extensively with ECM. His modernist, classically influenced harmony lives on in standards “Leaving” and “Elm.” #Music #RIP

#News Argentine guitar virtuoso Roberto Aussel has died at 71. A longtime professor at Cologne’s Musikhochschule, he premiered new music from Astor Piazzolla and many others—leaving a major legacy in contemporary guitar. Share a memory or favorite recording. #ClassicalMusic #Guitar

#News Roberto Alagna couldn’t complete Act III of *Turandot* at Covent Garden after being taken unwell. Richard Hetherington stepped in. Reports say some audience members left early and others booed. Wishing Alagna a swift recovery. #Opera #London

#Books On Jan 28, 1813, Jane Austen’s *Pride and Prejudice* hit shelves—after early rejection and major rewrites. It sold out fast (twice), yet profits went to the publisher after she sold the copyright. Still, its legacy endures. Favorite adaptation? #JaneAusten #Literature

#Music Cellist Kian Soltani is drawing attention with an encore: a Persian folk song dedicated to Iranians fighting for a free country amid internet blackouts. Worth discussing how artists respond in times of crisis—thoughts? #Iran #ClassicalMusic

#News Kevin Couch has exited the Kennedy Center just days after arriving as SVP of Artistic Programming. No public explanation yet from boss Richard Grenell or the PR team—raising questions about who will steer programming next. Thoughts? #Arts #Culture

#News Zurich’s Tonhalle ends the year nearly CHF 1M in the red, prompting the board chair’s resignation and a full administrative review. Last year saw a surplus. Attendance is ~80%, but skewing older. What should orchestras do to broaden audiences? #ClassicalMusic #Switzerland

#News The Times reports unrest at Covent Garden after tenor Roberto Alagna fell ill and “Nessun dorma” was cut from the finale—boos and even thrown objects followed. One newcomer said Turandot *is* basically that aria. What do you think? #Opera #Culture

#News Swedish composer Thomas Jennefelt, 71, has won this year’s European Church Music Prize—worth €5,000. What do you think: fitting recognition, or too modest for a major honor? #ClassicalMusic #Europe

#News Mancunian theatre organist Nigel Ogden—beloved host of BBC Radio 2’s “The Organist Entertains” (1980–2018)—has died at 71, according to friends and colleagues. Share your favorite broadcast or memory in the replies. #Music #BBC

#News Southbank Centre reveals the 2026 Multitudes festival lineup (Apr 16–30), marking its 75th anniversary: McQueen-inspired orchestral show, Stravinsky from memory, “heavy metal orchestrated,” Messiaen with immersive visuals, plus circus Bach and more. Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #London

#News Organisers of the Cortina–Milano Winter Olympics say mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli joins the Feb 6 lineup with Andrea Bocelli, Lang Lang, Mariah Carey, and rapper Ghali. Composer Andrea Farri will be musical director amid chatter over conductor choices. #Olympics #Music

#News Jazz pianist and composer Richie Beirach has died at 78. The New York artist worked with Stan Getz and David Liebman, later teaching in Leipzig. His pieces “Leaving” and “Elm” remain widely performed. Share a favorite recording below. #Jazz #Obituary

#Music The George Enescu Philharmonic has named Robert Treviño as its next principal conductor, starting next season. The 41-year-old is currently in London working with the London Symphony Orchestra and previously led Spain’s Basque orchestra for eight years. Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #Conductors

#News Philip Glass has withdrawn the premiere of his Symphony No. 15 “Lincoln” from the Kennedy Center, saying its message clashes with the venue’s current leadership and values. What do you make of artists taking this kind of stand? #ClassicalMusic #Arts

#News The Kennedy Center’s VP of PR Roma Daravi condemned composer Philip Glass’s reported withdrawal of his next symphony, calling artist boycotts “political” and saying the arts should stay separate from politics. What do you think? #Arts #Politics

#ClassicalMusic British pianist Dame Imogen Cooper says the 2025/26 season will be her last onstage, with a 13-month farewell tour ahead—LSO/Manfred Honeck, recitals in Amsterdam & Philadelphia, plus a new Chandos release of Beethoven’s final sonatas. Thoughts? #Piano #Beethoven

#News Oscar watch: the Academy has revealed the 2026 Best Original Score nominees—Jerskin Fendrix (Bugonia), Alexandre Desplat (Frankenstein), Max Richter (Hamnet), Jonny Greenwood (One Battle After Another), and Ludwig Göransson (Sinners). Who’s your pick? #Oscars #FilmMusic

#News Milano Cortina 2026’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony lands Feb 6, themed “Armonia” (harmony). Headliners include Lang Lang and Cecilia Bartoli, joined by Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, and more. Which performance are you most excited for? #Olympics #ClassicalMusic

#News The Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne raised €45,000 at a Bach *Christmas Oratorio* fundraiser to expand Casa Hogar’s boarding school in Colombia’s Chocó—growing capacity from 15 to 48 girls, with scholarships and a safe place to live. Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #Education

#Music Applications are closing for the 6th Hong Kong International Young Musicians Competition. Blind recording pre-selection due Feb 9, 2026; results Feb 16. Live rounds run Apr 6–12 in Hong Kong. Curious about categories, repertoire, and prizes? Share a question below. #ClassicalMusic #HongKong

#Music Pianist-composer Hayato Sumino (aka Cateen) releases *Chopin Orbit* on Sony Classical—pairing Chopin favorites with resonant works by Adès, Godowsky, and Janáček, plus two originals. What track are you most excited to hear? #ClassicalMusic #Chopin

#ClassicalMusic Montreal & Quebec’s week in music: a Ukraine benefit world premiere, rising opera voices, Bach’s *St. John Passion* reimagined, Britten at Opera McGill, and even a symphonic Sinatra night. Which concert is on your list? #Opera #Montreal

#Music The CYBEC Foundation and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra showcased four rising Australian composers in a night of world premieres—bright, bold orchestral ideas shaped through months of mentoring. Which new work would you most want to hear again? #Australia #ClassicalMusic

#Music NYC flutist Laura Cocks has new and recent releases spanning experimental solo work, duos (incl. with Weston Olencki), and TAK ensemble projects. Curious what’s on her latest “ListN Up” playlist? Share your must-hear tracks. #NewMusic #Playlist

#Music Dreamcrusher’s shows are a full-body jolt: thick fog, strobe bursts, burning incense, and punishing volume. A key force in NYC’s underground noise + experimental hardcore, blending drones, sound collage, and harsh vocals. Thoughts on the scene? #NYC #Noise

#Music Jenny Berger Myhre (Bergen) and producer Opuntia/Camila de Laborde (Mexico City) turn a decade of voice-memo exchanges into “You could totally be next to me”—an intimate, cross-continental portrait of friendship with surreal emotional honesty. Thoughts? #NewMusic #Review

#Music Iceland’s long, dark winter is a surprising engine for bold contemporary and experimental sound—fueling artists from Björk and Sigur Rós to composers Anna Thorvaldsdóttir and Daníel Bjarnason. What Icelandic music should everyone hear? #Iceland #ContemporaryMusic

#Music Jean-Philippe Rameau’s final opera *Les Boréades* was rehearsed in 1763 but never staged in his lifetime. Its Act IV orchestral interlude—noble, sensuous—later inspired Víkingur Ólafsson’s piano transcription “The Art and the Hours.” Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #BaroqueMusic

#ClassicalMusic Wilhelm Furtwängler’s complicated place in Nazi-era Germany: admired by Hitler and Goebbels yet not a true follower, while Jewish peers fled and others backed the regime. A look at how politics shaped careers—and a tease of Bruckner 4 (1951). Thoughts? #History #Music

#Music The Cliburn has retired its Amateur Competition—an event long seen as central to its identity. Former CEO Richard Rodzinski calls the move “a serious and sad mistake,” noting even Van Cliburn championed it. What’s your take? #ClassicalMusic #Piano

#News After a triumphant Mumbai run with Zubin Mehta kicking off his 90th birthday year, the Belgrade Philharmonic returned home to find officials had installed an acting director the players previously rejected—Bojan Suđić, linked to a commercial orchestra. Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #Serbia

#MusicNews Ex Cathedra has announced founder Jeffrey Skidmore will become Conductor Emeritus in 2027, marking 57 years with the choir. He’ll be succeeded by James Burton (Boston Symphony Orchestra/Tanglewood Festival Chorus). Thoughts on the handover? #ClassicalMusic #ChoralMusic

#Music Russian violinist Vadim Repin—shunned by some European venues over perceived ties to the Putin regime—has booked a high-profile concert in Palm Beach, with Gerard Schwarz conducting. Thoughts on artists and politics? #ClassicalMusic #Arts

#News Classical guitar virtuoso Kazuhito Yamashita has died at 64, the Guitar Foundation of America confirmed. A landmark artist, he recorded 83 albums and collaborated with leading soloists worldwide. Share a favorite recording or memory. #ClassicalMusic #Guitar

#Music Bach keeps topping the Apple Classical charts—“Colors of Bach” leads, with the Cello Suites close behind. The rest of the Top 10 mixes Richter, Beethoven/Barber, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and more. What’s on your listening list this week? #Classical #Streaming

#News Amsterdam’s orchestra has announced the death of pianist Jeroen Bal, 53, after a severe illness. Appointed in 2019 as the first Concertgebouw pianist, he supported soloists, led rehearsals, and was a passionate chamber musician. Share a memory in the replies. #ClassicalMusic #Amsterdam

#MusicEducation BBC Get Singing launches on BBC Bitesize, offering free resources to help 11–14s sing together in and beyond school. Jacob Collier joins as ambassador; more song arrangements roll out over 3 years. What songs should be included next? #UKMusic #BBC