Soprano Angela Meade Wins Beverly Sills Artist Award .

Metropolitan Opera grant is worth $50,000.

Stanford Concerto Orchestration To Be Premiered.

Violin concerto no. 2 will be heard for the first time with orchestra at Durham Cathedral.

The Telegraph

Alan Lomax Collection Goes Online.

17,000 free tracks will go online in February, the material collected by America’s great musicologist.

BBC News

Choral Work Seeks Record-Breaking Bass Singer.

A record company has begun a worldwide search for the singer who can sing a note so low that it is thought never to have been sung before.

The Guardian

What The Music Industry Needs To Do With The Classical Renaissance.

Boundaries are being broken across the music world. The industry can capitalise on it if it embraces the spirit of change, writes Max Hole.

LA Times

Pacific Symphony Season To Star Lang Lang And Honor Ellington.

Guest pianists Lang Lang and Andre Watts will highlight the Pacific Symphony’s 2012-13 season at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa.

Philip Glass, 75, Has An ITunes Hit With His Ninth Symphony.

Reached by phone two days after the premiere, Glass admitted, “Everyone is afraid to do a Ninth Symphony. It’s not that it killed off Beethoven, Schubert, Mahler … but it is a funny kind of jinx that people think about.”

‘Sesame Street’ Sets Gustavo Dudamel Episode For Monday.

“G” is for Gustavo Dudamel, and “M” is for Monday, when the conductor will appear on PBS’ “Sesame Street.”

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/02/sesame-street-sets-gustavo-dudamel-appearance-for-monday.html

You can read Thomas’ interview in the current issue of Classical Music Magazine and buy the recording, A Constant Obsession, from Resonus Classics.

Stepping away from contemporary repertoire, Thomas makes his Opera Holland Park debut this summer, conducting their new production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte.

Poland’s ‘Mozart Of Poetry’ Dies.

Poland’s 1996 Nobel Prize-winning poet Wisława Szymborska, whose simple words and playful verse plucked threads of irony and empathy out of life, has died. She was 88.

ArtsJournal: Slipped Disc

Hungarian Conductor Urges European MPs To Exclude His Racist Government.

The conductor Adam Fischer has joined the chorus of cultural opinion demanding the isolation of Victor Orban’s government.

Gramophone

RPS and Britten-Pears Foundation Commission Six New Works.

2013 marks the Royal Philharmonic Society’s bicentenary and Britten’s centenary.

Telegraph

Andreas Scholl: From Bach To Depeche Mode.

Countertenor Andreas Scholl talks to Adam Sweeting about his new CD of Bach cantatas – and his passion for Eighties electropop.

The Guardian

Why Do So Many Musicians Avoid Their Own Recordings?

Almost every performer or composer I’ve met cannot stomach hearing their own recordings – even when they’re the best you could ever hope to hear. Why not? Tom Service writes.

The New Yorker

The Last Don: Remembering the Conductor of “Soul Train”.

Don Cornelius, who died earlier today, apparently by suicide (early reports say “self-inflicted gunshot wound”), was one of the giants of American music, though he never played a note.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/02/thesoul-train-departs.html

Robert Maycock Has Died.

The arts journalist Robert Maycock died in a car crash last week. He was the second editor of Classical Music magazine, editing the title from September 1977 to June 1986, before moving to the Independent.

LA Times

Dudamel, Salonen To Appear In Philharmonic Society’s New Season.

The current and former music directors of the Los Angeles Philharmonic will be among the prominent classical personalities to appear in the next season of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

The Guardian

David Lynch’s Musical Magic.

David Lynch deploys music in his movies to devastating effect. Ahead of a retrospective, the Guardian picks his best statements in sound.

Audience’s Flock To ‘Difficult’ Contemporary Classical Music.

The Southbank, Barbican, ENO and BBC4 are catering for the new-found appetite for sonic adventure.

Gramophone

The Sage Gateshead Launches Digital Project To Reach Wider Audiences.

Classical music streamed to regional venues in the North East of England.

Telegraph

Sergei Polunin Loses His Right To Work In The UK.

Sergei Polunin, the gifted dancer who stunned the arts world by quitting the Royal Ballet last week has had his UK work permit revoked, it has been reported.

What Do You Listen To When You’re Sad?

Apparently 70 per cent of men and 90 per cent of women cry at a sad piece of music, according to a survey. What music is indisputably sad?

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/lucyjones/100060182/what-do-you-listen-to-when-youre-sad/

How An Opera House In France Is Turning Darkness Into Light.

Michael White on Lyon Opera.

Messiaen And His Birds: The Best Animal Species To Inspire Music?

Lucy Jones on the obsession and almost spiritual reverance in Messiaen that led to the creation of some of his greatest pieces of music.

A Book About Music That Strikes A Chord.

It’s not easy turning sonantas into sentences, but sharp writing can produce a magical spark, writes Jonathan Biss.

LA Times

Grant Gershon Named Resident Conductor Of LA Opera.

Grant Gershon will be expanding his duties at Los Angeles Opera when he takes on the position of resident conductor starting July 1, the company announced on Monday.

The Guardian

Bellini. I Just Don’t Get It, Norma Or No Norma…

I need help. What is there apart from empty rumty-tum, trivial jollity – well, and the odd good tune – in Bellini’s bel canto operas? Tom Service writes.

New Yorker

Seven Decades Of Desert Island Discs.

A celebration on the birthday of the Radio 4 castaway show.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/01/seven-decades-of-desert-island-discs.html

Six Of The Best Young Opera Singers.

First it was the policeman who seemed to get younger every year. Then it was the conductors. Now it’s the opera singers, writes Jessica Duchen.

The Guardian

Alice Goodman: The Furore That Finished Me.

Two decades ago, Alice Goodman wrote the libretto to The Death of Klinghoffer, an opera about a Jewish American murdered by Palestinian terrorists. It ended her career. Does she have any regrets?

Gramophone

Conductor Paavo Berglund Dies At 82

Born April 14th, 1929; died January 25th, 2012.

The Independent

‘These people have never sung an opera in their lives’.

Baritone launches attack on lowbrow music industry and performers of classical ‘greatest hits’.

New York Times

Not Everyone’s In Tune Over Precious Violins.

The value of valuable violins.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/sunday-review/the-value-of-valuable-violins.html?ref=classicalmusic

My Favourite Records: Alec Baldwin.

The eminent actor and New York Philharmonic announcer lists his favourite music.

Washington Post via the LA Times

La Scala Manager Says 7-Year Streak Of Balanced Budget Difficult To Hold In 2012.

La Scala general manager Stephane Lissner’s first goal when he arrived at the renowned opera house in 2005 was to balance the budget, which he did that year and every year since. This year could be different, he warned Tuesday.

The Independent

Sir Thomas Allen Is Still Fresh, Four Decades On.

Thomas Allen talks about his role as ‘Don Alfonso’ to Michael Church.

The Guardian

Jonathan Harvey: Touching The Void.

Jonathan Harvey’s music has always contained visions of the beyond. As he faces death himself, he talks to Tom Service.

Gramophone

Nicholas Daniel To Receive Queen’s Medal For Music.

Oboist and conductor is the seventh winner of the award.

Must We Witness Denmark’s Great Operatic Decline?

Tough Decisions Face The Royal Danish Opera But It Doesn’t Have To End In Tragedy.

Telegraph

The Opera Novice.

Until last year Sameer Rahim had little interest in classical music – but now he is hooked on opera. In a new column he offers a novice-eye’s view of this seemingly forbidding but truly magical art form.

New York Times

Carnegie Hall’s 2012-13 Season Includes A Latin American Festival.

An Arab-Israeli orchestra, a Latin American festival and the crowning ensemble of Venezuela’s music program aimed at helping the poor will be major presences at Carnegie Hall next season, examples of the growing urge to make classical music socially relevant.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/arts/music/gustavo-dudamel-part-of-carnegie-halls-2012-13-season.html?_r=1&ref=classicalmusic

Sing Or Swim.

…a game for ruthless music-lovers.

Introducing New Music 20 x 12 – Part Of The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Hear an excerpt from the first of 20 new works – Howard Skempton’s Five Rings Triples.

The Independent 

Independent Classical Podcast: Julian Lloyd Webber.

Julian Lloyd Webber and his new recording, ‘Evening Songs’.

The Telegraph

Tales Of Hoffman: The Elusive Alchemy That Animates An Opera.

Richard Jones, the director and designer of the Coliseum-bound ‘Tales of Hoffmann’ talks to Rupert Christiansen.

‘Do Not Touch Me’: The Wisdom Of Anglican Thresholds.

Stephen Hough on Evensong.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/stephenhough/100059899/do-not-touch-me-the-wisdom-of-anglican-threshholds/

Obituary: Dilys Elwyn-Edwards, Composer.

Born August 19th, 1918, died January 13th, 2012.

Warner And Hrusa Quit Royal Danish Opera.

Artistic director steps down; conductor withdraws.

The Mezzo Rita Gorr Has Died Aged 85.

Born February 18th, 1926, died January 22nd, 2012.

The New Yorker

Another Victory For Another Victory For Cliché: The Best Original Scores Weren’t Nominated.

Sasha Frere-Jones considers film score snubs.

Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music Blog

Sergei Polunin Jumps Ship.

The Royal Ballet has put out a statement saying that Sergei Polunin has resigned with immediate effect.

Detroit Free Press via LA Times

DSO Takes Moderate Approach For 2012-2013 Season.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, still reeling from last season’s strike, has announced its 2012-13 season.

LA Times

Tchaikovsky Finalist Nigel Armstrong To Play With LA Chamber Orchestra.

Violinist Nigel Armstrong, who won fourth prize in last year’s 14th International Tchaikovsky Competition, will make his debut with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra this weekend.

Tod Machover Reveals Music’s Holistic Powers.

It turns out that not only are our ears in excellent shape, but also, 60 years later, we are finally finding encouraging confirmation that music is good for you, all of you. Music may even be our most holistic art form.

Hollywood Bowl 2012: ‘The Producers’, Juanes, ‘Rigoletto’, Liza.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/01/hollywood-bowl-2012-the-producers-juanes-rigoletto-liza-minnelli.html

Soloist Lukas Kmit Hits Right Note On Phone Intrusion.

Slovakian viola player Lukas Kmit reacted coolly when a mobile phone interrupted his recital at the Orthodox Synagogue in Presov, in Slovakia.

Independent

How Debussy Keys Into Japan.

In 1862 Claude Debussy was born in Paris: the biggest musical celebrations of 2012 will mark his 150th anniversary.

The Telegraph

Should Alfie Boe Be Knocking The Business That Made Him?

Rupert Christiansen is disappointed that singer Alfie Boe is showing ingratitude to his operatic roots.

Gramophone

From Darkness To Light: Music From A Prison Cell.

Mark-Anthony Turnage joins prisoners to create new work for the Cultural Olympiad.

The Guardian

Anthony Hopkins: ‘I’ve Never Really Been Close To Anyone’.

The actor on composing music, walking out on dictatorial film directors and why he moved to the US.

The Rest Is Noise: Southbank Festival To Celebrate Contemporary Classical Music.

London’s Southbank Centre to host year-long festival inspired by Alex Ross’s study of 20th-century classical music.

Tom Service On Death In Classical Music.

I can hear tubas. Am I about to die?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2012/jan/22/critics-notebook-tom-service