classical

The Australian conductor Jessica Cottis followed her agent Naomi Ives last year when Ives quit IMG to join K D Schmid. Cottis has now walked out on Ives to rejoin IMG. It’s the season of […]

We gather that Juilliard has summarily fired a professor of violin after he was caught in what is said to be ‘a lewd act’. Apart from two witnesses who opened the door of his studio […]

The French army choir did us proud during Keir Starmer’s Armistice Day visit to Paris.   “God save the King” by the choir of the French Army under the Arc de Triomphe Goosebumps, chair de […]

The Dover Quartet, based at Curtis, just saw violist Julianne Lee walk out after less than a year, reverting to her old orchestra job. Now violinist Joel Link, ‘cannot perform due to unforeseen circumstances’. He’s […]

Subscribers have been informed that the US violinist has pulled out of planned performances of the Brahms concerto in January. No reason has been given. Maxim Vengerov will jump in.     The post Just […]

The death has been communicated of Walfrid Kujala, author of The Flutist’s Progress and teacher of many of America’s top players. Kujala joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Fritz Reiner in 1954 as second flute […]

Alexandra Pakhmutova, composer of ‘Nadezhda’ and other Soviet schlaggers, turned 95 last week. Her biggest fan, Vladimir Putin, sent a message. The Bolshoi was packed with acolytes. Yuri Bashmet conducted, just about. Ildar Abdarazakov, Hibla […]

Critic Jennifer Wood attended Riccardo Muti’s festival rollout of Osvaldo Golijov’s long-delayed new work. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra returned this weekend to Symphony Center where Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti presented a commissioned […]

The Christmas market opened this weekend outside Schönbrunn Palace and festive liquors were flowing. Only one thing was missing – a good sing-song of Tannenbaum. The palace management had posted this advisory to professional singers […]

Rejkjavik – Hampstead Theatre  The first half of Rejkjavik doesn’t happen in Rejkjavik at all but in Hull. This is playwright Richard Bean’s home town and he is deeply committed to its history as the home port of […]