Accentus’s recording of Mahler’s 9th Symphony has been nominated for Gramophone’s DVD performance of the Year Award. The DVD, featuring the Lucerne Festival Orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado, is available to buy on DVD or Blu-ray from Naxos.
Watch the trailer for the DVD here
(Written on August 15, 2011 )
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association today announced that Associate Conductor Lionel Bringuier, whose current position was to have ended with the 2010/11 season, will continue his relationship with the LA Phil as Resident Conductor. The new appointment, a two-year term, begins with the 2011/12 season.
Bringuier joined the LA Phil as Assistant Conductor in the 2007/08 season, and his contract was continued in the 2009/10 season, when he took on the role of Associate Conductor. He is also currently in his second season as Music Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León in Valladolid, Spain.
Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, who recently announced his own contract extension with the organization through the 2018/19 centennial season of the orchestra, said, “It’s a very exciting time for our Los Angeles Philharmonic family, and to have Lionel continue with us in his new role makes me very happy. He is a wonderful colleague and creative partner.”
President and CEO Deborah Borda added, “We first met Lionel when he was 19, and we knew we’d come across a very special musician. He’s developed into an extraordinary artist, and is now in demand all over the world. In recognition of this, we are delighted that he will continue with us in this specially created new position of Resident Conductor.”
Bringuier stated, “The Los Angeles Philharmonic has allowed me to grow and develop as a musician and it’s a pleasure to extend that relationship in a place that I consider home. I’m also honored to continue to be able to work with Gustavo, and be able to learn from him.”
For more information, please visit Lionel’s new website, or contact WildKat PR or the Los Angeles Philharmonic on 213.972.34222
Lionel Bringuier talks about being the resident conductor of the LA Phil:
(Written on August 2, 2011 )
Faster Than Sound, the pioneering experimental series based at Aldeburgh Music’s facilities in Snape Maltings, Suffolk, brought one of its exciting projects to London last week.
Brainwaves, by Mira Calix and Anna Meredith combines science, visual art and music to explore the connections inspired by the brain and sound.
Visit the BBC News website to watch an interview with the composers as they prepared for the performance at London’s Wilton’s Music Hall last Friday.
The next event in the Faster Than Sound calendar features a specially commissioned work from the award-winning Christian Marclay on October 1st, when he will collaborate with the composer, performer and improviser Steve Beresford and a local brass band.
You can also check out this video of behind the scenes footage from the Brainwaves residency at Aldeburgh Music’s facilities at Snape Maltings.
(Written on August 2, 2011 )
Last year’s performance at Glyndebourne is now available on demand from medici.tv!
See Luca Pisaroni’s dazzling performance as Leporello in ‘Don Giovanni’ online, with a stellar cast including Gerald Finley and Kate Royal, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Glyndebourne Chorus support this outstanding production.
Luca and the rest of the 'Don Giovanni' cast backstage at Glyndebourne in 2010
(Written on August 1, 2011 )
This summer Bass-Baritone Luca Pisaroni has returned to Glyndebourne Festival in their new production of Handel’s Rinaldo. The production, which opened on Saturday, has received fantastic reviews, but it is Luca’s impressive singing which has really wowed critics and audiences alike:
Independent
“Smashing singing from Luca Pisaroni as Argante (what a commanding entrance aria)”.
Daily Telegraph:
“Luca Pisaroni was at the top of his game as the treacherous Argante”.
Financial Times:
“The best of the singers is the bass, Luca Pisaroni, as Argante”.
The Arts Desk:
Music OMH:
“Luca Pisaroni stole the show with his Argante, his first aria a model of Handelian bass style.”
Rinaldo runs at Glyndebourne until 22nd August and the cast will appear at the BBC Proms on August 25th.
For more information, visit Luca’s website and facebook.
Photo credit: Bill Cooper
(Written on July 5, 2011 )
This Saturday, Ruthless Jabiru, an all-Australian chamber orchestra based in the UK, makes its City of London Festival debut in a concert at LSO St Luke’s from 7.30pm.
Led by Australian conductor Kelly Lovelady, this exciting new chamber orchestra is formed of Australian musicians living and working in the UK. Performing works by their esteemed patron, Peter Sculthorpe, as well as Barber and Copland, the ensemble will be joined by Soprano Emma Pearson, making her much-anticipated London debut!
For more information, find the orchestra on Facebook and Twitter, and for tickets, visit City of London Festival’s website.
Programme:
Sculthorpe Small Town
Sculthorpe Shining Island [European premiere]
Sculthorpe Djilile
Barber Knoxville: Summer of 1915
Sculthorpe Second Sonata for Strings
Copland Appalachian Spring
(Written on July 4, 2011 )
We are currently advertising two positions with WildKat PR’s London office. We are looking for an Account Manager with a couple of years’ experience in press or marketing, and a Junior Account Manager – an ideal position for someone who has completed an internship and gained some experience, but is now looking for their first career in classical music.
For both positions it is desirable that applicants speak a second language, ideally German, but this is not essential.
Details of the positions are below. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 13th July and interviews will be held in 19th and 20th July. Please apply by emailing us your CV and covering letter.
Junior Account Manager – WildKat PR, London
A dynamic and forward-thinking classical music PR agency are looking for a Junior Account Manager to join their London team.
The role will involve working with the Director and Account Managers on creative PR campaigns across the classical and contemporary music industries. The successful candidate will undertake a Junior Account Manager role, looking after promotional projects under the supervision of the Senior Account Managers, and liaising with the press and journalists to generate media coverage for clients. The role wil be ideal for someone with approximately 6-months experience as a press or marketing intern, who is looking to further their career in cultural PR.
Key objectives:
- Assisting Account Managers in the co-ordination and execution of international PR campaigns.
- Liaising with press to secure coverage for artists.
- Assisting with the conception of unique, creative campaigns to promote our artists.
- Writing press releases.
- Researching and reporting on new developments in the classical music world.
- Monitoring new online tools which might benefit our artists.
- Creating and maintaining online profiles on behalf of artists.
- Executing the distribution of promotional materials.
- General running of the WildKat PR London office.
Skills required:
The successful candidate will be self-motivated with excellent written and verbal communication skills, a creative mind, and an interest in new media.
Marketing or PR experience is advantageous but not necessary, and a second language (preferably German) is desirable. Good computer skills are vital and a passion for culture, classical music and PR is essential.
Other information:
To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to london@wildkatpr.com. The application deadline is 13th July at 5pm. Interviews will be held on 19th and 20th July.
Account Manager – WildKat PR, London
A dynamic and forward-thinking classical music PR agency are looking for an experienced Account Manager to join their London team.
The role will involve managing and developing creative PR campaigns across the classical and contemporary music industries. You will be responsible for liaising with the press and journalists to generate media coverage for clients, leading promotional projects, working with the Director and other Account Managers on innovative social media campaigns, and overseeing the work of the Junior Account Managers. The role will involve meeting and pitching to potential clients, writing proposals and press releases, artist and journalist liaison, and organising showcase events.
Key Objectives:
- Creating and executing international PR campaigns.
- Liaising with press to secure coverage for artists.
- Creating unique campaigns for artists which utilise new and online media.
- Meeting with potential clients.
- Writing proposals and press releases.
- Hosting and securing artists for Showcase events.
- Co-ordinating press attendance at events.
- Overseeing the distribution of promotional materials.
- Monitoring new developments in the classical music world and online tools.
Skills required:
The successful candidate will have approximately 2 years’ experience in a PR or marketing role, demonstrateable knowledge of UK and international press, and a solid understanding of the process of a successful press campaign.
The successful candidate will be confident and self-motivated with excellent written and verbal communication skills, a creative mind, and an interest in new media. Good computer skills are vital and a second language (preferably German) is desirable. A passion for culture, classical music and PR is essential.
Other information:
To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to london@wildkatpr.com. The application deadline is 13th July at 5pm. Interviews will be held on 19th and 20th July.
(Written on July 1, 2011 )
Every day the WildKat team scan newspapers, websites and blogs for interesting classical music news, and now we’ve decided to publish our lists so that you can get a classical music news summary each day. If you’ve read anything interesting each day that we’ve missed do feel free to comment and let us know!
Robin Ticciati named Glyndebourne Musical Director
Ticciati will take over from Vladimir Jurowski in January 2014.
Your next box set – Glyndebourne: Comedy and Tragedy
Andrew Clements reviews Glyndebourne’s new box set of operas, featuring Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Rachmaninov’s The Miserly Knight.
The Marriage of Figaro and footie
An article by Michael Volpe, the General Manager at Opera Holland Park, and a ‘working-class, tattooed football fan’.
Can the symphony orchestra survive?
Norman Lebrecht says that we need classical music concerts today more than ever, but how it is funded is going to be difficult for the next couple of years.
Alina Ibragimova on life at the Menuhin School
The UK Foreign Office has included Ibragimova in a series of short films called ‘See Britain through my eyes’, in which individuals reflect on their experiences of modern Britain, in celebration of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
(Written on July 1, 2011 )
Kings Place have just launched a fresh new freestyle and vocal contest open to everybody, with the aim of celebrating musical fusion and creative experimentation.
Leading on from Kings Place’s Mozart Unwrapped series, Mozart [un]RAPPED has taken samples from a live Mozart performance from the Aurora Orchestra and invited skillful producers to take on the challenge of remixing Mozart themselves, to create tracks that entrants re-work and add to in order to leave their mark on Mozart.
Participants can freestyle, rap, sing on the tracks using the RJDJ online widget and the RJDJ iPhone/iTouch App – both especially designed for the competition. Artists such as reggae pioneers Black Slate and award-winning Hip Hop duo Herma Puma will participate in the tracks, and will be judging the competition entries at the finale on 24th July at Kings Place.
Submissions deadline: 20th July 2011
Finale event: 24th July 2011
For full information, visit the Kings Place website.
(Written on June 30, 2011 )
Every day the WildKat team scan newspapers, websites and blogs for interesting classical music news, and now we’ve decided to publish our lists so that you can get a classical music news summary each day. If you’ve read anything interesting each day that we’ve missed do feel free to comment and let us know!
Laurent Pelly on ‘Cendrillon’ at the Royal Opera House
Laurent Pelly explains the magic of the French version of Cinderella to to Jasper Rees.
Classical concerts are too sacred for their own good. Only the Proms always gets it right
An article by James Rhodes about classical music’s relevance.
Lehman Collection of original manuscripts on sale for $135m
The collection contains around 200 original scores including works by Debussy and Ravel.
Gramophone Awards 2011: Judging process gets underway
There are now 646 recordings in 15 categories and the Gramophone Awards will take place later this year.
(Written on June 30, 2011 )