The Many Deaths Of Laila Starr is historic. It’s one of the few operas covering South Asian themes. It centers on Laila Starr, the Avatar of Death living as a mortal in Mumbai, India.
It was created by composer Kamala Sankaram, and the librettist, Minita Gandhi via The New Works Initiative at the Minnesota Opera.
Hear how their backgrounds, talents and curiosity shaped The Many Deaths of Laila Starr.
Here are links to:
Now that Gustavo Dudamel is holding the baton for the New York Philharmonic, the classical music community is all atwitter. He says he’s not coming in to make changes, but changes will most likely come.
And on the west coast, from whence he came there’s Dale Hikawa Silverman, a violist and the first Asian American woman at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She tells stories of her 40-year career so far with the orchestra in her documentary DALE.
Here are the links to some stories mentioned in the podcast.
A soothing album as a balm for the ICE infested people of Minneapolis.
This guy likes to play his piano outdoors
These are the links to other items mentioned in the podcast.
We are just days away from the actual 250th birthday of America. The music developed for this event just keeps coming. Perhaps none as expansive as the Declaration Project from pianist Lara Downes. She created it to get various takes from anyone about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This national program will end with a concert at Lincoln Center in New York.
Here are the links to other items mentioned in the podcast.
Composer Chinary Ung has been composing music for 60 plus years. His compositions are heavily affected by his childhood in Cambodia and the deadly events that happened there back in the mid 1970’s. But he says he’s blessed that he was able to come to America in the 1960’s to study the western style of music. Many of his compositions will be performed at the Miller Theater at Columbia University School of the Arts in its Composer Portraits series on March 26th.
Here are the links to the other events mentioned in the podcast.
Castle of our Skins – Two Positions
Misty Copeland on Timothée Chalamet
It took pianist Rebeca Omordia 8 years to create the African Concert Series in London. She was even told that African classical music wasn’t really classical at all, nor would anyone want to listen to it. The series is very popular now. So much so that Wigmore Hall in London has gifted Omordia a residency at the world class venue.
Here are links to events mentioned in the podcast:
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra album Harlem Renaissance
Conductor and Music Director JoAnn Falletta of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has fulfilled a dream. She’s released A Hero’s Life. The album has two pieces, one from Richard Strauss and another that’s a world premiere recording of Behzad Ranjbaran’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. Falletta is also releasing another edition of her book of poetry, Love Letters to Music. This is in addition to the upcoming full length documentary about her nearly 30-year career at the Buffalo Philharmonic.
Here are the links to events mentioned in the podcast.
It’s Primary season. The first one is/was March 3rd, 2026. Find out here when your state is holding its primaries.
When you think of countertenors what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
Randall Scotting, a countertenor, sees himself as a preserver of this unique male voice. He’s releasing the album Divine Impresario to celebrate one of the most popular castrato opera singers of the 17th and 18th centuries. His name is Nicolini.
Cancellations at the Kennedy Center continue even as the building is set to close for renovations.
The San Antonio (Texas) Philharmonic shuts down with hopes of returning someday.
Here are the links mentioned in the podcast for mentoring programs.
League of American Orchestras Applications now open for their Essentials of Orchestra Management program.
The Pegasus Opera Company in London is looking for opera singers.
While we look forlornly at the holiday bills as we head into tax season, there is some joy this January.
The Grammy winning and nominated this year again Jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner is grateful and humble after winning the 300k Gilmore inaugural 2026 Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award.
Donors have nearly flooded the Washington National Opera with funds after the opera company departed the Kennedy Center.
There are still many ways to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many other African American leaders as we head into Black History Month.
And oh my as George Takei would say, there’s a Star Trek version of a Mozart opera.
Here’s a link to the League Of American Orchestras Student Leadership Council.
Which opera team are you on?
“Old” operas versus the “New” operas.
According to the book, Opera Wars by Caitlin Vincent, artistic directors and others at the nation’s opera companies are in conflict with themselves over staging the standard operas from the 18th and 19th centuries or producing those composed in the late 20th and 21st centuries.
There’s a new directory for musical instruments adapted for those would be musicians with disabilities. Other companies and engineers are developing adaptations too.
Apple Music Classical has made a surprising choice for it’s classical album of the year.
