Join us at the Brompton Street store for an afternoon of virtuosic and stylish playing.

Watch the video below for an insight into Sunday’s performance:

Internationally acclaimed violinist Pekka Kuusisto and cellist Peter Gregson have collaborated with London-based technologists Reactify and composer Nick Ryan to perform an innovative programme of new works, exploring the interaction of live performers and electronics.

The latest in the Faster Than Sound series present new software goPlay, which intelligently ‘listens’ to the players, allowing them to improvise and interpret the music without the limitations of a soundtrack or strict metronome. The software has been programmed with key elements to enable it to act as a true accompanist.

Watch the video below for a small insight into tomorrow’s highly anticipated event.

Visit the Faster Than Sound website here to find out more and to purchase tickets.

The concert will begin with a talk at 6:30pm, ahead of the 8pm concert.

With over 25 years of experience in the music industry and an extensive range of consultancies to offer, the WildKat PR team are keen to help individuals in areas where they may not have much knowledge and experience, or are perhaps hesitant due to costs, as well as expanding and developing our relationships even further into the music industry. With the free Open Sessions, WildKat PR welcomes you to our offices in Central London through a quick and easy online booking, where you can choose your area of query and the best time for you.

Visit the website here to find out a little more, and to book your slot.

We look forward to meeting you, and helping you wherever we can!

National Portrait Gallery to have choir in residence

The National Portrait Gallery in London is to have a choir in residence – a first for any museum in the UK.

The Times

Late composer Claude Vivier goes underground

Some things are meant to be. One is that the last piece of music Claude Vivier wrote, but never finished, would be played in a disused Tube station.

The Telegraph

Five great classical music scandals

A century since the Rite of Spring caused a riot in Paris, Ivan Hewett picks five other classical and opera scandals.

Classical Music Magazine

Exhibitors’ 70% increase is vote of confidence in Classical:NEXT

Delegate numbers are up 20% for the second outing of Classical:NEXT, the music congress that opens in Vienna on 29 May.

Classic FM

Big audience boost for Classic FM

More than 200,000 new listeners have tuned in to Classic FM in the past three months, according to new radio listening figures published today.

Gramophone

Gramophone Hall of Fame 2013 announced!

We welcome 50 new influential and inspiring individuals to our list of those who have changed classical music

Classical Source

Lufthansa Looks Forward To Celebrating 30 Years Of The Lufthansa Festival Of Baroque Music In 2014

Lufthansa German Airlines has confirmed it looks forward to celebrating 30 years of the Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music in 2014, a momentous year which also marks the 300th anniversary of the Hanoverian succession to the British throne.

The Times

Ariadne ducks the bombs at the Glyndebourne festival

This year’s Glyndebourne opener Ariadne auf Naxos is getting a radical relocation, to a Blitz-time hospital. Director Katharina Thoma tells Tom Service how she drew on the history of the Sussex mansion.

The Telegraph

Guillaume Dufay – Ce Moys de May

The latest in Ivan Hewett’s 50-part series on short works by the world’s greatest composers.

Financial Times

London tightens grip on arts donations

London’s tightening grip on arts philanthropy was laid bare in new research which showed that arts organisations in the capital secured 90 per cent of donations from private individuals.

The Independent

Glyndebourne survived the Second World War by opening its doors to evacuees from east London

The opera venue’s act will be honoured at this year’s festival reports Jessica Duchen.

Classic FM

Biggest ever Stradivarius exhibition hits Oxford

Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum will host the world’s largest exhibition of antique Stradivarius violins in June.

Gramophone

Watch Claudio Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker in a cinema near you

The great Italian maestro returns to Berlin.

Staging of Stockhausen’s helicopter string quartet scores key prize

Royal Philharmonic Society praises rare performance of Mittwoch aus Licht by Birmingham Opera Company

The Telegraph

Singing in English: It’s harder than you think

Rupert Christiansen visits The Association of English Singers and Speakers to explore the many difficulties of singing in English.

The Times

Rossini’s opera, La donna del lago heads a tartan takover at ROH

Not many opera directors would admit that their latest production had been inspired by Mel Gibson’s Braveheart or the preposterous sci-fi fantasy Highlander

The Times of India (via Musical Chairs)

Letter found from Britain’s greatest opera composer’s drawer shows his love for Ravi Shankar

Curators sifting through thousands of objects belonging to Britain’s musical geniuses composer Benjamin Britten and opera singer Peter Pears have stumbled upon an ink written page in their private diaries where the duo recalls their experience of having heard Pandit Ravi Shankar perform live.

BBC News

How does the oldest grand piano sound?

The oldest-surviving English grand piano, one of the first ever made, was built by the piano maker Americus Backers in London in 1772 and has now been returned by English Heritage to the home of its former owner, the Duke of Wellington.

Classical Source

Barbican Launches Beyond Barbican With A Summer Of World-Class Arts Across East London

The Barbican today launches Beyond Barbican with a summer of arts events outside the walls of the Barbican Centre featuring pop-up performances, commissions and collaborations across east London.

Limelight Magazine

Arts proven to combat Alzheimers

New British study proves the benefits of the Arts in treating patients with debilitating mental disease.

Gramophone

Dame Janet Baker hosts the 2013 RPS Awards

Awards for Karabits, Philharmonia and the Heath Quartet

The Telegraph

Suzanne Davidson has enjoyed a long career as a leader of important arts, education, and entertainment institutions.  She is the former President of the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, and before that was Producing Director of Second Stage Theatre.  She came to Second Stage Theatre after producing on- and off- Broadway for her own production company for a number of years.  Her producing career began with the original production of “Evita”, which she oversaw for Robert Stigwood on Broadway and throughout the US and Canada, as Co-Chief Operating Officer for Stigwood Group, Ltd., producer of such classic movies and soundtrack recordings as Saturday Night Fever and Grease.  Ms. Davidson began her career as an associate in the Entertainment department of Paul Weiss, and most recently has been Associate Dean and Vice President of New York Law School.

On behalf of the Chamber Music Society, Peter Frelinghuysen, Chairman of the Board, commented on the appointment of Ms. Davidson:

As the Chamber Music Society enters an ambitious new phase of growth and innovation, Suzanne Davidson is the ideal person to lead the organization. Her prior experience of leadership at Lincoln Center, and her impressive career-long record of institution building, marketing, and fundraising will be tremendous assets as CMS develops exciting new ways to make chamber music an important part of our everyday culture; grows to meet escalating demand from consistently sold-out concerts; builds a diverse audience of all ages and nationalities; increases its performance schedule at our Lincoln Center home; and expands its presence around the country and abroad.

CMS Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han responded:

The Chamber Music Society could not be more fortunate to welcome Suzanne Davidson as its new Executive Director. Her broad expertise in the performing arts and entertainment, and her passion for chamber music, bring a wealth of exciting new ideas to our partnership.  We are deeply respectful of the leadership position that CMS holds as the Lincoln Center constituent committed to producing and presenting the highest quality chamber music, from classical to new music, with the finest musicians, and together we already have lots of plans to expand the horizons of the art form, artists and audiences.

On accepting the position, Ms. Davidson remarked:

There is nothing more exhilarating than hearing great musicians create uniquely intimate, thrilling musical experiences in the most beautiful living room in the world – Alice Tully Hall, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s home – and in warm and wonderful spaces around the world.  It is a great honor to have this opportunity to join with world-renowned Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, a powerful, dedicated board and growing Global Council, and a wonderful staff, to lead CMS as it heads towards its 50^th Anniversary.  I can’t wait to begin.

The Chamber Music Society is also pleased to announce the signing of a third-term contract for Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han through the 2018-19 season. The extension of their contract affords them the longest tenure since that of founding Artistic Director Charles Wadsworth.

Mr. Finckel and Wu Han renew their contract with CMS at a time characterized by acclaimed levels of artistic excellence, innovation, and box office success.

On signing their new contract, they commented:

As we put pen to paper again, at the gracious invitation of our Board of Directors, we are both thrilled by their faith in our vision, and at the same time humbled by the responsibility of guiding this rapidly evolving organization.  Over the past seven years, CMS has become our artistic home.  Our hard-working, inspired staff, our generous and visionary Board, and the incredible artists coming from all over the world to perform, truly make CMS ‘such stuff as dreams are made on.’ We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue our work for CMS, and we pledge to the task our lasting commitment and deepest dedication.

Tuning in to a Tuscan music festival

Where once gunfire tore apart the Tuscan estate of La Foce – as told in Iris Origo’s memoir War in the Val d’Orcia – now classical music brings people together.

Classic FM

Classic FM scoop Brand Of The Year at Sony Radio Academy Awards

Classic FM has been given the Brand Of The Year award at the 2013 SonyRadio Academy Award, as well as scooping a Silver award in the Best Promotional/Advertising Campaign category.

Legendary rock guitarist cites Paganini, Bach as influences

The Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, known for his extreme technical proficiency, has cited Paganini, Bach and Vivaldi as his main inspirations in his new autobiography.

Gramophone

BBC Proms reports record opening day ticket sales

Over 114,000 tickets are sold for the London summer festival on the first day of booking.

Classical Music Magazine

Hallé goes for matinées in 2013/14

The Hallé’s season plans for 2013/14 at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester include a major switch in scheduling for its most popular series: the ‘Opus One’ concerts.

Planet Hugill

17-19 May: Sacconi Chamber Music Festival

May 17 to 19 sees that Sacconi Chamber Music Festival filling Folkestone with some fine chamber music. The festival is organised by the young Sacconi Quartet, who open on Friday 17 May with a concert of quartets by Haydn, Ireland and Beethoven.

Classical Music Magazine

Cecilia Bartoli sings Bellini’s Norma: exclusive album stream

Listen exclusively to a new period-instrument recording of Bellini’s tragic opera that, with Cecilia Bartoli as the priestess, reveals the heroine as a woman of flesh and blood.

The scratch orchestra of Kinshasa

The members of the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste – the world’s only all-black orchestra – are self-taught and started out playing homemade instruments. Now the band’s founder is to be given a major international accolade.

The Telegraph

Proms booking ‘fiasco’ as BBC announces record-breaking sales

The booking system for this year’s BBC Proms has been condemned as a “fiasco” as customers waited more than four hours for tickets inly to find out touts selling them for £1,250 elsewhere.

The Times

Vladimir Jurowski, the Zen maestro of opera

Emma Pomfret meets Vladimir Jurowski, Glynedebourne’s spellbinding Russian conductor. Just don’t call him a ‘prodigy’.

Gramophone

Operatic stars join forces to record songs of John Denver

Album features such names as Plácido Domingo, Danielle de Niese, René Pape and Thomas Hampson.

The Washington Post (via Arts Journal)

Ballets Russes drove audiences away from modern music? Just the opposite.

The premiere of Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” in 1913 is often cited as a flash point in the divide between new music and its audience. From this point on — so the claim goes — the chasm widened between composers pursuing their own agendas and audiences wishing they could just be left alone to hear Mozart.

The Telegraph

Every fortnight, we publish an interview with the young musicians in our special video blog series. The previous interviews are still available to watch on our YouTube channel.

Watch the video below for an insight into the musical personalities of  the young musicians from one of the most prestigious centres of excellence in Europe.

To keep up to date with Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel news and events, visit their website, Facebook and Twitter, along with the WildKat website for regular blog posts.