Christopher Theofanidis

Robert Spano, music director of the Aspen Music Festival and School, conducts the Aspen Chamber Symphony. He is a fan of the Third Symphony by Aaron Copland. Alex Irvin hide caption

With the presidential election set for Tuesday, we take a look at operas that tackle today's toughest political issues. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

Robert Spano conducts members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, who are currently in a lock out labor dispute. J.D. Scott/Atlanta Symphony Orchestra hide caption

In these times of instability in the recording industry, more and more Symphony Orchestras (like the Cincinnati Symphony, photographed here) are making their own albums. Cincinnati Symphony hide caption

Thomas Hampson (left) stars as Rick Rescorla in the opera Heart of A Soldier, by Christopher Theofanidis, which receives its world premiere Sept. 10 at the San Francisco Opera. Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera hide caption