Remembering Alan Rickman as More Than Snape: In the wake of actor Alan Rickman’s death from cancer at the age of 69, many are highlighting his amazing work in film–as Colonel Brandon in “Sense and Sensibility,” Hans Gruber in “Die Hard,” and, of course, as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series. Many have overlooked, however, Rickman’s early work in theater. Having graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Rickman performed in iconic plays ranging from “Romeo and Juliet” to “The Seagull” to “Les liaisons dangereuses,” the last of which earned him his first Tony award nomination. Many reviews of Rickman’s work on stage highlight his memorable voice–a voice now preserved for future generations, thanks to his work in film. As we pay tribute to Alan Rickman, let us not forget his talent as an actor on the stage as well as the big screen!

Please Silence Your Cell Phones…But Turn On Your iPads: In an effort to draw younger crowds, the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is loaning out iPads to select patrons with content coordinated with its performances. Patrons will be able to view sheet music for the pieces being performed, video interviews with musicians, and podcasts about the composers and works themselves. The BSO is the first orchestra to offer audience members use of customized iPads, though several other orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, are also trying to incorporate technology for audience members. In addition to technology incorporation, the BSO is taking other steps to draw younger audiences, including “Casual Fridays,” lower prices, and receptions with cash bars. Other orchestras will certainly be watching to see if the BSO’s efforts to draw in the next generation are successful.

Musicians’ Take on Classical Music on the Small Screen: Amazon Prime’s original series “Mozart in the Jungle” about classical musicians in New York City has received great critical acclaim and enjoyed an ever-growing audience. The show was originally inspired by oboist Blair Tindall’s 2005 memoirs of her professional career in The Big Apple, which tell of drug use and scandal. Laura M. Holson of The New York Times investigated how musicians themselves are receiving the show, described as “a whimsical drama that explores a competitive world.” Like the reviews of Tindall’s book, the reception of the TV show among musicians is mixed. Some see accuracy in the portrayals of orchestra members and musician life, while others write the show off as sensationalized half-truth. Read more musicians’ takes on the show in Holson’s article here.

Classical Music in 2015 by the Numbers: The website Bachtrack has compiled Top 10 lists for numerous aspects of the classical music and performing arts worlds in 2015. This past year Mozart topped the list for most-performed composer, followed by fellow greats Beethoven and Bach. For most-performed concert work, Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5 beat out Handel’s iconic Messiah for first place; the most-performed opera was Verdi’s La traviata, beating out Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro; the most-performed ballet was holiday classic The Nutcracker. To see the remainders of these lists as well as the rankings for busiest conductor, concert orchestra, opera, singer, and dance company, see Bachtrack’s impressive compilation of statistics. A fascinating reflection on the past year in music and dance!