The composer who walked out on Ricordi
The iconic opera publisher lacks the cachet it acquired in the Verdi-Puccini era, but it’s a still a force to be reckoned with. For the past 18 years it has been part of the Universal […]
classical music
Musicians who look like their pets: (1) Stravinsky and his cats
There’s a famous 1947 Cartier-Bresson photograph of Igor plus Puss which we can’t reproduce. The composer was feline in so many ways. And he composed The Owl and the Pussycat, a forerunner to theLloyd Webber […]
Song, the Secret of Eternity: Leeds Lieder Festival returns with its boldest & most colourful programme yet, celebrating its 20th anniversary
With the theme of Song, the Secret of Eternity, Leeds Lieder Festival returns from 5 to 12 April 2025 with a celebration of its 20th anniversary. Festival director Joseph Middleton describes it as “Our boldest […]
A channel to facilitate communication between the professional music world and the society more in general: Fidelio Orchestra’s 2025 season
Fidelio Orchestra Founded in 2019 with the aim of creating opportunities for young musicians to get high standard orchestral experience and to collaborate with outstanding soloists, the the Fidelio Orchestra aims to bring together people […]
Sadness as Rotterdam’s American violist dies
Friends have been sharing news of the death today of Mary O’Reilly, a retired member of the violin and viola sections of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Before Rotterdam, Mary was 2nd concertmaster and principal 2nd […]
John Adams’ new concerto lands gently and with grace
First reviews of Adams’ third concerto for piano and orchestra are warmly receptive. Gabe Meline on KQED: … After opening with cascading notes on harp and celeste reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann’s Vertigo score, Thursday’s world premiere at […]
On Sir Simon’s 70th, an amateur describes playing for him
Today’s the day Sir Simon Rattle blows out 70 candles. Among many tributes, we have selected this beautiful article by Ariane Todes, former editor of Strad magazine, describing what it was like to play in […]
Jonas Kaufmann mourns chief patron, 44
The tenor has commented on the death of Klemens Haselsteiner, son of the founder of the Erl Festival, of which he is artistic director. Klemens Haselsteiner died of an unsuspected aneurysm. Kaufmann writes: The […]
A Dudamel pal launches new Sistema branch
The Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare, an El Sistema alumnus who is very friendly with Gustavo Dudamel, has started a Sistema initiative in Montreal, where he is music director of the symphony orchestra. El Sistema is […]
Just in: Israel Phil renews Lahav to 2032
The Israel Philharmonic this morning signed Lahav Shani for a second five-year term as music director, taking him to the 2031-2032 season. Shani, 36, lives in Berlin, close to his mentor Daniel Barenboim. He is […]
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