When a singer at the Metropolitan Opera forgets a line, they turn to one of five full-time prompters, individuals who serve as safety nets and who possess unheralded and truly hidden talents.

Contemplative, soothing, generically religious music is making a comeback. Just as Lincoln Center presents a White Light festival of spiritual music, here are some notable new recordings in soulful styles.

We asked and you delivered. Over 600 listeners responded to our question: which piece of music are you grateful for? Read some of the responses.

Several arts executives make a new list of the top-paid CEOs running America's non-profit organizations.

German violinist Christian Tetzlaff chats with Jeff Spurgeon about his new Carnegie Hall Perspectives series, about his modern violin and his surprising tastes in pop music.

The rising young British conductor tells us about the primal power of Orff’s Carmina Burana, the youth movement on podiums and why a TV commercial for after-shave turned him on to classical music.

As Operatic October continues, we revisit a classic episode of The Vocal Scene featuring Beverly Sills. In this 1992 program, the former New York City Opera director and soprano revisits her memorable recordings.

A Quiet Place, Leonard Bernstein’s 1983 opera about marriage and family dysfunction is finally getting its New York premiere. But will audiences come around to its themes?

New York City Opera opens its fall season with the New York premiere of A Quiet Place, Leonard Bernstein's opera about an estranged family that is reunited after the death of the mother in a car crash. While reception was decidedly mixed at its Houston premiere in 1983, director Christopher Alden believes the time has come to give the opera a fresh hearing.

The Russian pianist Yulianna Avdeeva became the first woman in 45 years to win the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw.

Classical-music organizations can't get enough of social media right now. From the Top, the public radio show, and an upcoming orchestra festival are the latest to turn to Internet crowd-sourcing.

Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers has purchased a 1697 Stradivarius for $3.6 million, the highest price on record for any musical instrument sold at auction. She explains why it was love at first sound.

A violinist from East London has made his way into the Guinness Book of Records for the fastest performance of Flight of the Bumblebee.

In this 1983 appearance on The Vocal Scene, the great mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens talks with George Jellinek about her unlikely rise to fame, her major roles, and some of her classic recordings.

Bed bugs have developed a more refined taste. On Thursday they made their Metropolitan Opera House debut following an outbreak at Lincoln Center's adjacent David H. Koch Theater last week.

Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King has been appropriated for film soundtracks, TV commercials, video games, and heavy metal bands. It's returning to the spotlight - and with an unlikely twist.

Get a free download of Joan Sutherland singing the "Mad Scene" from Lucia di Lammermoor. Plus, share your reflections and stories.

Google is once again bringing its mighty influence to the performing arts, announcing the return of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday. Michael Tilson Thomas will conduct.

Over a career that spanned more than 40 years, Joan Sutherland is being remembered as one of the last singers who truly earned the title prima donna. Share your stories and reflections about Dame Sutherland and her career.