The state theatre of Kassel, where the young Gustav Mahler learned the conducting ropes, has chosen the Lithuanian Ainars Rubikis as its Generalmusikdirektor. Rubikis, 45, was formerly GMD at the Komische Oper Berlin. The post […]
In one of few Labour setbacks last night, voters in Bristol Central unaseated Thangam Debbonaire, who was destined to be Culture Secretary in Keir Starmer’s new government. Debbonaire, 57, a former orchestral cellist who founded […]
Jean Cocteau’s 135th Birthday Click here to watch This week also marks the 135th birthday of Jean Cocteau, the celebrated French author, playwright, artist and director. Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau (5 July 1889 – […]
The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester has named a successor to Sir Mark Elder as he ends 22 years as international chair of conducting. Elder’s successor is ‘world-renowned conductor Professor Nicolás Pasquet’. Pasquet […]
The plot of Katya Kabanova is devastatingly simple. Older husband goes away on business, telling his loyal young wife to keep her eyes off a fanciable young man. The ivevitable happens. Husband returns. Katya jumps […]
The controversial Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Curentzis ended his last western engagement two weeks ago. Currentzis has maintained a pretence of being independent of the Putin regime. Now, VAN reports that the Russians are welcoming him […]
A year ago, the German violist Tabea Zimmermann ended her appearance with the Israel Philharmonic with a rendition of the Arik Einstein song, Atur Mitzchech. The Hebrew-speaking audience erupted. Last night, we heard, her encore […]
The Cassatt Quartet of New York has recruited Emily Brandenburg in place of Rosemary Nelis, who leaves after two years. The other members are violinists Muneko Otani and Jennifer Leshnower and cellist Gwen Krosnick. The […]
We have been notified of the passing of Marie-Noëlle Damien, a semi-finalist at the Queen Elisabeth Competition who made a couple of recordings for EMI. She was, for many years, a student of Evgeny Malinin. […]
A sound engineer at the BBC for the whole of his salaried life, Dave Silk was a nighttime legend on the Jazz circuit, playing silky bass like a master of old. Dave trained at the […]
