A chance for the viola – and about time, too
From the Lebrecht Album of the Week: It is nothing short of a scandal that not one concerto for viola and orchestra has broken into the standard concerthall repertoire. There are at least fifty violin […]
Slipped Disc
University fires half of the national string quartet
Victoria University of Wellington has announced the resignation of Helene Pohl and Rolf Gjelsten, first violinist and cellist of the New Zealand String Quartet. The married couple were accused of mismanaging ‘serious and sensitive issues’ […]
Vienna Phil will play woman’s work on New Year’s Day
Riccardo Muti will conduct the annual Strauss fest for the seventh time… so not many surprises. Except for the appearance of Constanze Geiger in the second half. She’s a little-known 19th century composer and singer. […]
Why was this conductor ever accused of bullying?
UK musicians have been greatly heartened by the verdict of a London employment tribunal this week that Mark Shanahan’s dismissal by the National Opera Studio was unfair. Mark had been accused of ‘intimidating, bullying and […]
Ruth Leon recommends… Maggie Smith and Carol Burnett
Maggie Smith and Carol Burnett We have all seen the tributes to Dame Maggie Smith who died last month aged almost 90. Carol Burnett, now 93, is an American comedian, actress, and singer, a grande dame […]
Italy goes to Manchester
Over 40 Italian music organisations are showcasing the country’s live music sector this week at WOMEX, Manchester’s big trade fair. The Italian music industry last year contributed 255 billion euros to the country’s economy. It […]
Ruth Leon recommends… Nayarit Houses – Met Museum
Nayarit Houses – Met Museum Nayarit is a small state in western Mexico between the forested mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Pacific Ocean. Here is Met curator Laura Filloy Nadal taking us […]
The soloist who learned to fly
David Krauss’s latest inrerviewee on Speaking Soundly is the jazz pianist Aaron Diehl, an artist whose roots in Catholic and classical music have fed an phenomenal gift for improvisation. When not playing, he’s flying aircraft. […]
NY boutique is taken over by London agency
Wittenberg Artists agency – four conductors, four soloists – today becomes a subsidiary of the large London agency Intermusica. It will be known as Intermusica New York. Martin Wittenberg will run IM’s NY office with […]
Ruth Leon recommends… A Journey into Lohengrin – San Francisco Opera
A Journey into Lohengrin – San Francisco Opera This splendid film, recommended by my friend Harvey in San Francisco (thank you, Harvey) takes viewers behind the scenes as a musical Everest is readied for the […]
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