IPA Source

"A thought experiment – is it possible to imagine a world in which Wagner never existed? What would happen if Bayreuth disappeared with the same magical flourish that made it; what might have happened to music and culture in his absence?"

Imagine a world without Wagner … it’s not easy, but let’s try As the Bayreuth festival turns 150, we look at the composer’s huge and enduring influence, and wonder what might have happened to classical music in his absence?

New research links Handel's organist in Dublin with the Scottish fiddler & composer Charles Macklean.

https://www.planethugill.com/2026/07/new-research-links-handels-organist-in.html

BTW, view our entire collection of Handel texts here:
https://www.ipasource.com/creator/handel-georg-friedrich/

New research links Handel's organist in Dublin with the Scottish fiddler & composer Charles Macklean New research links Handel's organist in Dublin with the Scottish fiddler & composer Charles Macklean

As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, we’re reflecting on how the art form shaped the nation’s cultural landscape. 🇺🇸🎶
American opera history is a wild tale of boom, bust, and reinvention. Over the last two centuries, hundreds of companies have stepped into the spotlight. Some, like the historic New Orleans Opera House (which hosted North American premieres as early as the 1790s), tragically burned to the ground. Others faded away during the Great Depression, while recent decades have seen beloved regional companies adapt, merge, or sadly close their doors forever due to shifting financial tides.
These are the Top 5 oldest opera companies in the U.S. that still function today under their original formation. Talk about incredible longevity and dedication:
• Metropolitan Opera (1883): From its Gilded Age beginnings to a global powerhouse, the Met is now one of the world's largest opera companies. It employs over 2,000 people and commands an annual revenue in the hundreds of millions.
• Cincinnati Opera (1920): Born in a zoo pavilion (yes, really!), this highly respected regional gem evolved into a premier summer festival, now drawing around 20,000 attendees annually to its stunning performances.
• San Francisco Opera (1923): Surviving economic crashes and cultural shifts, SFO stands as one of the largest opera companies in North America, with roughly 450 employees and annual revenues in the tens of millions.
• Chautauqua Opera (1929): The oldest continuously operating summer opera company in North America. It remains a vital, beating heart of the historic Chautauqua Institution.
• Central City Opera (1932): America's fifth-oldest company survived the decline of its Colorado mining-town roots by transforming into a summer festival.