In the hall, this concert performance of Strauss's Alpine Symphony, conducted by Charles Dutoit, was by all accounts a triumph. Yet the sound files, in all but the most expensive format, are flat and dull, barely recognizable as the Fabulous Philadelphians. What happened in the translation?...

"Even hardboiled Nagano skeptics, whether inside or outside the orchestra, are probably pleased with the stability that comes with this announcement. Four years after his appointment, Nagano still sells out concerts, in good economic times and bad."...

A selected guide to pop, rock, hip-hop and other music performances in the New York area.

A selected guide to classical music and opera listings in the New York area.

A selected guide to jazz performances in New York City.

This weekend’s All Tomorrow’s Parties music festival in Monticello, N.Y., promises to be hugely loud and, as always, sponsor free.

This week: The country singer Marty Stuart plays live in the studio, and Ben Ratliff discusses Miles Davis's album "Bitches Brew" on its 40th anniversary.

"Nick Franglen is using London Bridge and its human traffic to create a 24-hour piece of music - armed only with a theremin and an espresso machine."...

The rapper, whose given name is Clifford Harris, remains on probation after his release from prison on weapons charges stemming from a 2007 sting operation.

The stars of the Nick Jr. show - which is also popular with children, we're told - rock with the Roots on Jimmy Fallon's show.

Justin Bieber performed his first headlining show at Madison Square Garden with guests including Usher and Miley Cyrus.

New releases from !!!, Tristan Perich, the Eels, Oval, Sufjan Stevens and Jenny Wilson.

"After 18 years and a recent bout of ill-health that kept him off the Washington National Opera podium for more than a year, Heinz Fricke, the music director of WNO and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, has announced his retirement. "...

"The Middle Kingdom may not yet have a Glastonbury or V Festival, but Archie Hamilton's company Splitworks is doing its best to promote a fledgling live music scene."...

The original cast of the revue “Our Sinatra” has reunited to celebrate Ol’ Blue Eyes, at the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel.

Beijing opera’s luster has dimmed since its heyday as China’s most popular theatrical entertainment, and this ancient art forms struggles to attract a modern audience.

The pianist Ian Hobson explored the Beethoven-Schumann link and the musical contrasts of Ignaz Moscheles and Chopin at the Dicapo Opera Theater on Tuesday evening.

Today we will listen to a performance of an unusual instrument, the hurdy-gurdy. It’s a stringed instrument that produces sound via a crank-turned rosined wheel that acts at the bow. Notes are played by a keyboard that presses small wood wedges against the strings to change their pitch. The hurdy-gurdy sound is characterized by several drone strings, creating a sound similar to a violin and the bagpipes.

Jacques-Christophe Naudot, born in 1690, was a French composer, typesetter, and flutist. Most of his compositions were published in Paris between 1726 and 1740, and his most well-known work is the opus 17 No. 5 flute concerto. The poet Denesle wrote a book called “Syrinx, ou l’origine de la flutte”, which was dedicated in part to Naudot and published in 1739. “Babioles” or “baubles”, published about 1750, are duets by Naudot, suitable for hurdy gurdies or bagpipes.

In this performance of Iile Babiole and Menuets I and II, we’ll hear Robert Green playing the hurdy-gurdy.

Duration: 4:33

Among the gimmicks that helped Ms. Perry's new record reach the top of the sales charts? CDs that smell like cotton candy.

A suit brought against companies that offered scalped tickets to Mr. Springsteen's 2009 shows at Giants Stadium before tickets went on sale to the public was dismissed.