The Rite of Spring is practically an audience favorite and rioting in concert halls is unthinkable. But is this a good thing? Does classical music need more scandal?

From Atlanta and Minneapolis to Toronto and London, great composers are used to turn away vagrants and troublemakers drawn to bus stations, malls and parking lots.

In recent months, symphony orchestras have returned to the music of J.S. Bach with a vengeance. Are they on the right track or should Bach be the domain of early-music specialists?

For the first time a soundtrack for a video game has been nominated for a Grammy. And concerts of music from "Final Fantasy" and "Halo" are staples of pops concerts. Is it serious music?

With influenza reaching epidemic proportions in the United States — and the common cold not far behind — opera singers are dropping out of productions at an alarming rate.

In this podcast, three music critics review 2012: Anne Midgette, of the Washington Post; Steve Smith, of the New York Times and Time Out New York; and Heidi Waleson, from the Wall Street Journal.

Some WQXR.org readers think Lincoln Center should "tear the hall down and start over." We ask three experts for their views on the planned renovation of Avery Fisher Hall.

What was Superstorm Sandy's larger impact on the arts? What can hard-hit cultural organizations do to recover? In this podcast, three experts discuss what resources are available for artists.

With a growing emphasis on HD-quality realism, what physical skills must an opera singer have to make it today? Is opera becoming too dangerous? Listen to our podcast and take our poll.

On the 80th anniversary of his birth, Gould continues to fascinate, with tribute albums, books and DVDs. How should we consider his impact on the music industry?

Recently, WQXR.org polled listeners on what's needed to help troubled orchestras in several American cities. In this segment, we pose your comments to three experts.

A recent incident involving a checked cello raised new questions of how airlines set rules about which musical instruments are allowed on board.

Classical music organizations throughout Europe have suffered from funding cuts in the wake of the euro crisis. Has the fat lady sung?

As almost anyone with a Facebook account knows, classical music criticism is going from spectator sport to participatory activity. In this podcast, three experts ask whether this helps or hurts classical music.

Recently, a New York orchestra executive argued that audiences at classical music concerts have become stifled by ritual and protocol. Then came the response.

Web sites like Kickstarter are catching on but can they raise the needed funds?

Can a symphony or an opera support political messages and affect change? Or does such music preach to the choir? Three guests debate these questions in this podcast.

New theaters offering cheap tickets are billed as an antidote to soaring ticket prices elsewhere. But can they attract a new audience? Three experts consider pricing models in this podcast.

"Competitions are for horses, not musicians," Béla Bartók famously sneered. Many classical musicians would agree. But even the most high-minded of us finds something compelling about these contests.