Barenboim's Baton Passes To Muti

* A couple of hours ago, the Tribune reported that the CSO was holding its cards close to the vest, but the announcement just came out that they have in fact hired Ricardo Muti.

* Mozart gets his Saudi Arabian debut in a truly revolutionary concert.

* Dominic Muldowney's new piece isn't crossover.

* Nathaniel Stookey: "every composer you can think of is dead."

* Congratulations to John McDonald, Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Year.

* Rachel Portman's The Little Prince premiered on the West Coast this weekend.

* Kirke Mechem’s opera about John Brown premiered this weekend, too.

* San Diegoans (San Diegans?) get their choice of 5 operas next year: Don Quixote, Peter Grimes, Tosca, Rigoletto, and Madame Butterfly.