Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

classical music

Victor Urbancic conducts a makeshift orchestra in Reykjavik, Iceland, sometime after World War II. (Courtesy Árni Heimir Ingólfsson via JTA)
August 12, 2026, 4:02 am
How 3 Jewish refugees from the Nazis built Iceland’s classical music scene from scratch
Closed borders and antisemitism made the country’s musical genesis story all the more unlikely, but as a newly translated book shows, perseverance and luck helped make history
By Jenna Gottlieb
Jayson Gillham, in an undated image. (Jayson Gillham website)
July 10, 2026, 4:27 pm
Pianist who said IDF targets reporters loses suit against Melbourne show cancelation
Judge rejects Jayson Gillham’s claim Melbourne Symphony Orchestra took ‘adverse actions’ by nixing 2024 performance, saying he contravened policy against all political statements
By Michael Horovitz
Tom Cohen conducts the youth program of The Jerusalem Orchestra East & West in Tel Aviv, May 2026. (Yaakov Buta via JTA)
May 29, 2026, 11:02 am
In Jerusalem, an Arab-Jewish youth orchestra builds a new ‘East-West’ sound together
After years of war, conductor Tom Cohen says Jerusalem Orchestra East & West offers young musicians from across communities rare source of joy, discipline and hope
By Deborah Danan
San Francisco Symphony conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, who composed 'From the Diary of Anne Frank.' (Spencer Lowell/ courtesy SFS)
April 24, 2026, 6:23 pm
Famed Jewish conductor Michael Tilson Thomas dies at 81
LA-born Tilson Thomas, the scion of Yiddish theater royalty, conducted a wide range of symphonies around the world, including in Israel; died of brain cancer
By Penny Schwartz
A Liturgical Festival concert in Nazareth organized by the city's Polyphony conservatory in December 2022 (Courtesy)
December 18, 2025, 3:44 am
Nazareth’s classical Christmas concerts return home
Polyphony’s Liturgical Festival brings together musical performances by Arabs and Jews
By Jessica Steinberg
Lahav Shani, conductor of the Israel Philharmonic, in an undated photo from circa 2024. (Credit Marco Borggreve)
September 11, 2025, 4:25 am
Belgian festival scraps performance by Munich Philharmonic over Israeli conductor
German, Belgian ministers, Israel Philharmonic criticize decision after Flanders Festival Ghent says it lacked ‘sufficient clarity’ about Lahav Shani’s stance on Israeli government
By AFP and ToI Staff
Taiwanese dancer, choreographer, and teacher Ming-Shen Ku will perform at Jerusalem International Solo Dance Festival 2025, September 1-6, 2025 (Credit: Wei Shen Chen)
August 28, 2025, 7:56 pm
Two Jerusalem cultural festivals bring back global performers
Dancers, choreographers and classical musicians come to the capital in September under shadow of war
By Jessica Steinberg
Leon Botstein, Bard College president and director of its orchestra, leads a concert in Nuremberg, Germany, May 8, 2025. (Anton Doppelbauer via JTA)
July 29, 2025, 4:45 pm
80 years after WWII, Bard orchestra performs Mendelssohn at site of Nuremberg Nazi rallies
Conductor and college president Leon Botstein, son of Holocaust survivors, says concert was not just a commemoration, but a pledge to fight intolerance and uphold democracy
By Shira Li Bartov
Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood, in Beethoven's 9th Symphony, the Ode to Joy, on August 28, 2022. It was Tilson Thomas's last concert with the BSO, where he began his career in 1969, as its assistant conductor and pianist. (Hilary Scott/Courtesy Boston Symphony Orchestra via JTA)
April 25, 2025, 9:37 am
Battling cancer, Jewish conductor Michael Tilson Thomas prepares for his last concert
The scion of Yiddish theater royalty announces a ‘coda’ this weekend to a spectacular career leading orchestras and writing music
By Penny Schwartz
Lucca Züchner as Herbert von Karajan, left, and Helen Schneider as Leonard Bernstein in 'Last Call.' (Maria Baranova)
March 17, 2025, 10:55 pm
A Jewish and an ex-Nazi conductor walk into a bar… and inspire an off-Broadway play
Running through May 4, ‘Last Call’ reimagines a true late-in-life meeting between musical peers and rivals Leonard Bernstein and Herbert von Karajan, providing much food for thought
By Jordan Hoffman
Adam Abeshouse in an undated photo. (Abeshouse Productions via JTA)
October 16, 2024, 12:39 am
Adam Abeshouse, decorated Jewish producer for A-list classical musicians, dies at 63 
Triple-Grammy winning violinist worked with roster of A-list musical artists including Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell and Russia’s St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
Israeli conductor Bar Avni poses during a photo session at the Philharmonie in Paris on March 18, 2024. (Stephane De Sakutin/AFP)
March 22, 2024, 3:12 pm
Israeli conductor Bar Avni wins women’s international competition in Paris
32-year-old beats out 197 competitors from 47 countries to earn the title of ‘La Maestra 2024’
By Andrew M. Rosemarine
Violinist Nabil Abboud Ashkar pushes forward with fifth annual Nazareth's Liturgical Festival, December 14-16, 2023 (Courtesy Yoel Levy)
December 12, 2023, 8:58 am
Nazareth’s Liturgical Festival to go ahead, shorter than usual
Annual Christmas event to be held despite war; music is the basis for an improved, harmonious life, says festival founder
By Jessica Steinberg
A bird sits on a monument of composer Ludwig van Beethoven in Bonn, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
July 21, 2023, 10:46 am
Jewish businessman returns Beethoven skull pieces to Vienna
Paul Kaufmann inherited composer’s 10 skull parts, brought by his family to the US upon fleeing the Nazis
By AFP
Israel's Revolution Orchestra performing at the Sibiu Festival in Romania, June 2023 (Courtesy Daniel Basin)
June 27, 2023, 2:55 pm
Israel’s Revolution Orchestra befriends Iranian theater group
Representatives from each organization speak of friendship and peace at Sibiu Festival in Romania
By Jessica Steinberg
Load More
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.