It was a year of both trouble and triumph for Atlanta’s arts scene.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra overcame disagreements between musicians and management to deliver stellar premieres and big-name guest artists. And Roswell mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton became a worldwide phenomenon, becoming the first woman to win both top awards at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.

The High Museum of Art recognized Atlanta’s homegrown talent with “Drawing Inside the Perimeter,” but also gave us a beautiful retrospective on the work of groundbreaking Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

The Atlanta Ballet continued its exploration of contemporary dance with “New Choreographic Voices.” The show’s featured piece involved an interactive, partly improvised portion that shook audiences out of their comfort zone.

Despite the departure of a few local giants, the Atlanta theater community experienced triumphs with surprising musical hits and moving work by emerging playwrights that seem destined for even greater things.

These are just a few of the highlights you’ll find in our round-up of the highlights and occasional lowlights of the Atlanta arts scene in 2013.

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