New songs: Jessie Montgomery in conversation

Jessie Montgomery

Abel Selaocoe

By Kurt Gottschalk, 31 March 2026

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“I want a new song / Beautifully sung / About something more”

Bachtrack, 28th January

How is the classical music world changing? Looking back on a dizzying year, we pay particular attention to performers’ international connectedness. Documenting more than 30,000 events, Bachtrack’s statistics provide valuable insight into an unstable world.

Misty Copeland retires from American Ballet Theatre

Bachtrack, 20th October

The trailblazing ballerina Misty Copeland, the first Black female Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre, is stepping back from the company at a star-studded gala in New York City.

A political composer? John Adams revisits Nixon in China

Thomas May, 30th September

Returning to conduct Rome’s Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia this November, John Adams reflects on the situation of music in the US – and why he has so often been labelled a ‘political’ composer.

Film composer Lalo Schifrin dies at the age of 93

Bachtrack, 27th June

The composer of scores for films such as Mission: Impossible, Bullitt, Cool Hand Luke and Dirty Harry has died aged 93.

New York Philharmonic due to perform Ravel world premiere

Bachtrack, 14th February

The early work of Ravel’s, Prélude et danse de Sémiramis, from a partially lost cantata, has not been performed since it was composed in 1902.

Ravinia Festival to undergo sweeping $75m renovation

Bachtrack, 14th February

The longest-running outdoor festival in the US and summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will undergo extensive redevelopment over the next four years.

Kurt Gottschalk

Kurt Gottschalk is a journalist and author based in New York City. His writings on contemporary and classical music, jazz and improvisation have been published in outlets throughout Europe and America and he has two volumes of short fiction to his name. He produced and hosted the Miniature Minotaurs radio programme on WFMU and currently hosts Afternoon New Music on WKCR.