Music’s power to connect us takes center stage in Tony-winning The Band’s Visit [Video]

The Band’s Visit begins with a mistake. An Egyptian police orchestra is on tour in Israel accidentally books tickets to the tiny, fictional desert town of Bet Hatikva. While “it could be about two sides that don’t get along,” says Chilina Kennedy, who portrays the enigmatic café owner in Bet Hatikva, “the show is not about conflict. It’s about human connection.”

Baltimore Symphony musicians hit management with complaint

BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians have filed a complaint with a federal agency accusing orchestra management of unfair labor practices. News outlets report the charge was filed Tuesday with the National Labor Relations Board. The musicians say the orchestra hasn’t bargained in good faith regarding wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment. A bargaining session between ...

Second City and Lyric Look for the Lighter Side of Wagner with “LONGER! LOUDER! WAGNER!”

The  latest collaboration between Lyric Opera of Chicago and Second City is LONGER! LOUDER! WAGNER!, which runs through Sunday, October 30 at the Civic Opera House. Actor Tim Ryder, who appeared in The Second City Guide to the Opera  (also in collaboration with Lyric), said: “This show tells two stories in parallel: the story of Richard Wagner as he creates the Ring ...

Joan Baez Talks Trump, Taxes, and Dylan

Joan Baez has always said she is an activist first and an artist second. At 75 years old, her priorities have not changed. This fall, Baez is on a tour of major cities throughout the United States to, in part, raise awareness about the nation’s criminal justice system.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association Reports Ticket Sales Up, Deficit Slightly Down

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association announced the results from the 2015-2016 fiscal year at its Annual Meeting, which took place October 26, 2016 at Symphony Center. The organization posted a deficit of $1.1 million, though ticket sales for the CSO Main series hit record highs. The CSOA reported that overall ticket sales were down slightly to $22.2 million from last ...