Squeeze a crystal of manganese oxide hard enough, and it changes from an electrical insulator to a conductive metal. In a report published online this week by the journal Nature Materials, researchers use computational modeling to show why this happens.

Nearly a century ago, Dutch physicist Kamerlingh Onnes discovered that some metals transform into perfect electrical conductors when cooled to temperatures near absolute zero. Once started, their currents of electrons can flow perpetually.

Russian conductor Kirill Petrenko leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in two performances of a program featuring Russian pianist Nikolai Lugansky in Rachmaninoff's towering Piano Concerto No. 3 on Tuesday and Thursday, August 28 and 30, at 8 p.m. at the Hollywood Bowl. Also on the all-Russian program are Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1 and Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (1919).

While Alan Gilbert will be the new music director of the New York Philharmonic orchestra, Riccardo Muti is to be in residence multiple weeks per season.

Wilhelm Furtwängler wrote that "Daniel Barenboim is a phenomenon" when he heard the young piano virtuoso play in the year 1954. Barenboim was born on November 15, 1942 in Buenos Aires as the son of pianists. He received his first piano instruction from his mother, with his father later taking over his musical training.

Mstislav Rostropovich, the ebullient master cellist who fought for the rights of Soviet-era dissidents and later triumphantly played Bach suites below the crumbling Berlin Wall, has died, The Associated Press reported on Friday quoting a statement by Rostropovich's spokeswoman. He was 80.

Renowned French conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier will lead the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and acclaimed pianist Horacio Gutiérrez in Beethoven's Piano Concert No. 5 April 12, 13 and 15 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, and April 14 at the Music Center at Strathmore. The program also features Ralph Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 4 and Berlioz's Roman Carnival Overture. See below for complete program information.

London Symphony Orchestra Presents Stravinsky, Debussy, Prokofiev In One Concert on 29 Mar 2007 7:30 PM. Tickets are £6 £12 £18 £24 £30.