Dominick ArgentoPhoto by Tom Foley, courtesy Boosey & Hawkes

When I think of opera, characters such as Figaro, Iago, Octavian and Mimi come to mind. When I think of musical comedy, songs such as …

Sharon Isbin

On February 26, 2001, Teldec announced New Line, a new series dedicated to the music of living composers and to world-premiere recordings of significant 20th century works. The first releases are scheduled …

Elizabeth SwadosPhoto by Rosalind Lichter

I don’t think those words apply anymore to the creations of this time. “Opera” and “Musical Theater” are terms that come from specific times in history and we need …

Space, Abrams, and Graves CDsdesigned by Matt Schickele

New music baritone Thomas Buckner, founder of the legendary 1750 Arch Records, which released more than fifty creative record albums, recently announced the formation of a new …

Philip GlassPhoto courtesy Annie Ohayon Media Relations

I tend to call things “operas” that are done in opera houses. I sometimes will call a piece “music theater” instead of opera, because the producer of …

The American Composers Orchestra has announced the winners of the tenth annual Whitaker New Music Reading Sessions. The Readings, made possible by a grant from the Helen F. Whitaker Fund, will be held on …

Jack BeesonPhoto by Dietrich Dettmann, courtesy Boosey & Hawkes

Surrounded by Columbia composers, faculty and students, Stephen Sondheim was asked, “Since a couple of your musicals have been performed in opera houses, why don’t …

American Academy of Arts and Letters (seal)

On February 27, 2001, the American Academy of Arts and Letters announced the seventeen recipients of this year’s awards in music, which total $185,000. The winners were …

Stephen SondheimPhoto by Michael Le Poer Trench

The only thing I have to say about the difference between opera and musical theater is that opera is musical theater that takes place in an opera …

The relationship between music and theater has always been controversial – and productive. On one end of the spectrum are pieces in which text is obviously or completely dominant. Though there are no solely text-based …