Michael Zwiebach

Guest conductor Ruben Valenzuela leads two of the composer’s Advent cantatas and music by a lesser-known 18th-century figure, Christoph Graupner.

Director Francesca Zambello’s durable production thrives on the strength of lead singers Eve-Maud Hubeaux and Jonathan Tetelman.

Connecting Aaron Copland’s Billy the Kid with the music of Black cowboys started Downes on a journey that she’ll share in this concert.

Kedrick Armstrong conducts his first concert as music director, featuring jazz artists with Bay Area ties and Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4.

The new opera may not be aggressively attention-grabbing, but it is rich, evocative, and deeply felt.

A heralded young singer prefers the recital setting to the opera house and is making her mark in art-song repertory.

In a program of concertos and showpiece arias, VoM has two powerhouse soloists in violinist Augusta McKay Lodge and soprano Amanda Forsythe.

Sweeney, who retired as executive director last week, guided the festival to sustainability and furthered its educational mission.

The orchestra concludes its two-year search by naming Kedrick Armstrong to the position.

The cross-cultural chorus, now touring America, shows how to break down barriers and foster empathy in traditionally divided communities.