American-Asian composer, RIP
The San Francisco Chronicle carries an obituary for Mark Izu, a composer and bassist who was a central figure in the Asian American arts movement. Mark, who died of colon cancer, was 70. He curated […]
classical music
Small fuss over minor cut on Radio 3
The BBC has decided to abolish Drama on 3, a regular slot for radio plays. The broadcaster cites financial pressures and claims, rightly, that listeners turn to Radio 3 for classical music, not drama – […]
Just in: Jonas Kaufmann goes it alone
In a sign he is winding down his future availability for opera engagements, the German tenor has announced an end to his career-long representation by the New York firm of Zemsky/Green. Kaufmann’s personal manager Bruce […]
German soprano, RIP
The Saxon soprano Barbara Hoene has died, aged 80. She spent 36 years as a soloist of the Semper Oper in Dresden, where she was appointed Kammersängerin, She married the violinist Klaus Hoene and retired […]
Big birthday cheque for Sir Simon Rattle
He’s not 70 til Sunday but the Big Berthas of German industry this morning awarded him the 2025 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. He will receive 250,000 Euros. Three composers – the Iranian Canadian Ashkan […]
A highly effective synthesis: James Joyce’s The Dead in a dramatised reading from Niamh Cusack with music from The Fourth Choir that underscored the emotional drama
The Dead – Niamh Cusack, The Fourth Choir, Jamie Powe – Wilton’s Music Hall (Photo: Kathleen Holman) The Dead: James Joyce, Sarah MacDonald, Rhona Clarke, Robert Parsons, Bellini, Aine Mallon, Joanna Marsh, Samuel Barber, Healey […]
Bach’s B minor Mass from Basel
This release celebrates 25 years of La Cetra Basel. deferred to as “greatest musical masterpiece of all time,” in the 19th century, Bach’s Mass in B minor remains.toweing msterpiece. As conductor Andrea Marcon says, “It […]
Dawn raid: Sony swoops on Supraphon
Sidelined in the last round of label takeovers which saw Universal acquire Hypperion, Apple buy Bis and Klaus Heymann take over Chandos, slow-moving Sony Classical has just bought the venerable Czech label Supraphon. This is […]
Record biz mourns inspiring leader
Classical recording people have been sharing memories of Bill Holland, former CEO of Universal Classics and Jazz, who died at the end of the year, aged 81. Bill started out sweeping floors in an Oxford […]
Cancer claims guitar legend, 57
The Spanish classical guitarist José Luis de la Paz has died of a rapid cancer in Miami. He had lived in the US for the past decade. José accompanied and composed for leading flamenco dancers.. […]
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