Symphony and opera conductor Sir Charles Mackerras died on Wednesday of cancer at 84 years old. Anne Midgette, Classical Music Critic for The Washington Post, reflects on Mackerras's life and greatest achievements.

Branford Marsalis spoke with Jeff Spurgeon ahead of his performance with the New York Philharmonic in Central Park. Hear his thoughts on working with the Philharmonic and the composers whose music he will be performing and get his take on the difference between the jazz and classical disciplines.

Pianist Lang Lang speaks with Midge Woolsey about the Shanghai Symphony's historic performance in Central Park, what it's like to work in New York and his recording of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2.

This week, the New York Philharmonic is taking the show on the road--or at least to parks around the city--for a series of free concerts. 

Mad About Music host Gilbert Kaplan is a leading international authority on the music of Gustav Mahler. Kaplan created this annotated bibliography of works dedicated to Mahler's life and career.

Soprano Martina Arroyo is among those who will be receiving the National Endowment for the Arts' Opera Honors this fall. WQXR's Midge Woolsey spoke with Arroyo about her career and her lifelong interest in teaching.

WQXR celebrates Gustav Mahler’s 150th birthday with a special, online-only stream. Each day for a week, dive deep into Mahler’s repertoire and discover the creative mind behind some of the twentieth century’s most significant works. July 7 to July 14.

Forget American Idol. It can't compete with the drama that takes place at the Metropolitan Opera's National Council Auditions. WQXR's special broadcast takes you inside the Grand Finals Concert. Listen in on Saturday, June 26 at 4 p.m.

Renée Fleming has a pretty good handle on opera, but what about contemporary rock? As she prepares to release an album of interpretations of songs by artists including Peter Gabriel, Fleming sits down for an exclusive interview with Naomi Lewin.

Summer has not yet officially arrived, but classical music is already decamping from the cities and heading for more bucolic settings. The Ojai Music Festival got an early start under the direction of British composer and conductor George Benjamin. 

On Tuesday, June 15 at Carnegie Hall, Distinguished Concerts International New York presents the New York premiere of Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings, composed and conducted by Eric Whitacre.

Tuesday marks Robert Schumann's 200th birthday. In celebration, WQXR presents "Robert and Clara," a Studio 360 profile of the Schumanns that Naomi Lewin created about THE musical power couple of 19th century Europe.

It’s rare to hear a voice with the depth and power of Stephanie Blythe’s. But it’s even rarer to hear that voice for free.

Allergies, overwork and other assaults on the voice can ruin an operatic career. But a new arsenal of medical techniques is helping singers fight back.

Summer is the time for engagingly mindless action movies, escapist beach novels and grilling in backyards and on rooftops. It's also a time when classical music takes to the great outdoors.

Summer is festival time, even for our hard-working WQXR hosts. Here they reveal a few of their favorite spots for your summer travel planning.

David Garland welcomes baroque orchestra Juilliard415 to the WQXR Studio and speaks with Music Director Monica Huggett about Juilliard's new Historical Performance program, from which Juilliard415 draws its musicians.

Will you be attending any music festivals this summer? Let us know which ones you will be enjoying and share your festival photos.

A night at the opera doesn’t get much more rollicking and unpredictable than György Ligeti's apocalyptic satire Le Grand Macabre. Here is what you need to know if you are attending the New York Philharmonic's performance this week.