LA Times

Long Beach Opera to showcase Duke Ellington, John Adams next season

Long Beach Opera announced Wednesday its 2014 season will include works by Duke Ellington, John Adams and Wynton Marsalis.

The Guardian

Why don’t men join choirs?

Is the choirs, or the blokes? Choir-master and singer Chris Samuel ponders a perennial problem

Peter Grimes on the Beach? Shiver me tenors!

Freezing temperatures, mighty winds, shifting sands … can this attempt to stage Britten’s great opera Peter Grimes on a Suffolk beach possibly succeed?

The Telegraph

Why there’s nothing like a Stradivarius

As an astonishing exhibition brings together 20 of Stradivarius’s most prized violins, guitars and cellos, Ivan Hewett discovers what made their sound so special.

Thatcher and Pinochet turned into opera

Margaret Thatcher’s friendship with ex-Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet turned into an opera due to open in Paris for a five-night run.

Classical Music Magazine

New Britten-Pears archive opens in Aldeburgh

A new archive housing the world’s most comprehensive collection of Benjamin Britten’s work has opened in the grounds of the Red House, Aldeburgh.

Classical Source

Sky Arts To Screen Benjamin Britten’s Death In Venice Live From The English National Opera

Sky Arts commences celebrations of Benjamin Britten’s centenary year with the live television premiere of the revival of Deborah Warner’s acclaimed production of Death in Venice.

NPR, Deceptive Cadence

A Loaded Bible Story, Tweaked For The Opera Stage

Composer Mark Adamo has made beautiful music out of classic books. His Little Women is among the most produced American operas today.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Trompeter für die Frauenkirche

Der Trompeter und Dirigent Ludwig Güttler, in der DDR aufgewachsen, wurde schnell in ganz Deutschland zum gefeierten Solisten. Besonders verdient machte er sich um die Musik der Barockzeit. An diesem Donnerstag wird er siebzig Jahre alt.

Classical Music Magazine

(Written on June 14, 2013 )

The Telegraph

English National Opera must publish an open Annual Report

Rupert Christiansen asks whether English National Opera is being economical with some uncomfortable truths.

The Guardian

Elliott Carter: music of storms and stillness

The American composer Elliott Carter died last year aged 103. As the Aldeburgh festival prepares to stage a posthumous premiere of new work, Mark Haddon celebrates his ‘inhuman’, beautiful music

These New Puritans: Field of Reeds

“You might hear Field of Reeds as a collection of experimental rock songs or as a suite of contemporary classical composition” Available for purchase from 10 June 2013.

The Times

Foghorns on the Tyne, a musical armada

Probably the year’s most distinctive piece of new music will be premiered next week.

Gramophone

Organist Cameron Carpenter signs to Sony Classical

Initial 2014 release to feature transcriptions of classical and modern music

Classic FM

Philadelphia Orchestra play Dvořák on airport runway

Passengers on a delayed flight in China were surprised by a pop-up performance from the Philadelphia Orchestra early this morning.

Der Tagesspiegel

Junger Klassik-Star in der Virtuosen-Falle

Der Klarinettist Andreas Ottensamer ist erst 24, hat es aber schon weit gebracht. Der gebürtige Wiener ist Solist bei den Berliner Philharmonikern und hat gerade ein grandioses Album herausgebracht. Trotzdem könnte er jetzt bei dem Orchester herausfliegen.

Gramophone

(Written on June 10, 2013 )

Aldeburgh Music’s experimental programme, Faster Than Sound, which joins the dots between musical genres and digital art forms, is holding their next event tomorrow evening.

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.

(Written on May 17, 2013 )

Aldeburgh’s experimental series Faster Than Sound joins the dots between musical genres and digital art forms, providing artists with a rare and inspirational space to create and perform.

On November 17^th, composer Richard Baker will collaborate with Brian Duffy and the Modified Toy Orchestra to explore the hidden voices of toys, investigating their potential and what they suggest musically. With the use of toy instruments and electronic toys as the basis for their composition, Baker and Duffy will aim to create a work inspired by the electronic melodies of these modified machines. With help from the Modified Toy Orchestra they will hack in to and manipulate the potential from abandoned children’s toys. This Faster Than Sound residency will create an innovative experience for both participants and audience in this musical adventure.

Do not miss Faster Than Sound at Britten Studio, Snape, on 17^th November 2012 at 8pm, with a pre-event talk at 6:30pm at Jerwood Kiln Studio, Snape.

For more information and tickets, visit the website: http://www.fasterthansound.com/

(Written on October 19, 2012 )

The New York Times

Spotlight on Safety for Shows Outdoors

Jim Digby, the tour manager for Linkin Park, knows better than most how dangerous a rock ’n’ roll show can be, after a piece of equipment he was operating came off a faulty overhead track, plummeted toward the floor and killed a young woman standing just a few feet from him. During the past year he has organized a campaign to improve safety at outdoor events.

Gramophone

Britten’s Peter Grimes to be performed on Aldeburgh beach

Special Aldeburgh Festival production celebrates composer’s 100th birthday in 2013.

Classic FM

Hazlewood’s British Paraorchestra appear in Paralympics ceremony

The Paralympic Closing Ceremony featured a performance from Charles Hazlewood’s British Paraorchestra, who played alongside Coldplay.

NPR Music: Deceptive cadence

Atlanta Symphony Locked Out

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its musicians are at an impasse, pushing the musicians to go on strike. The symphony is facing a $20M budget deficit, and it’s seeking millions in concessions from the musicians. Both sides say they want to reach an agreement, but they’ve left the bargaining table putting the orchestra’s 68th season in jeopardy.

Classical Music

Concern over budget cuts as music education hubs launch

Regional music education hubs, the new infrastructure for music education in England prescribed by the government’s National Plan for Music Education, have come into operation.

Limelight magazine

Classical music for September 11: a tribute to the victims

Five American composers respond to the tragedy of 9/11 in different ways.

BBC Music Magazine

BBC announces Britten centenary celebrations

The BBC dedicates 2013 to the life and work of Benjamin Britten.

The New York Times

(Written on September 11, 2012 )

Faster Than Sound, Aldeburgh Music‘s experimental series, will begin 2012 with a very exciting exploration of mathematics, design and music.

‘Symmetry’, curated by mathematician Marcus du Sautoy and Lumin Production’s Joana Seguro, will see du Sautoy collaborate with artist/designer Richard Rhys, continuing their exploration of patterns, to be interpreted by electronic musicians and visual artists’ collective Farmersmanual. Inspired by the symmetrical patterns which dance across the walls of the Alhambra in Granada, the aim is to interweave different perspectives of the theme of symmetry from its appearances in nature to mathematics, art and culture, exploring its movement and dynamism.

Britten Studio, Snape, 7.30pm, Saturday January 21^st 2012

For more information please visit the Aldeburgh Music website (http://www.aldeburgh.co.uk/events/category/21)

To buy tickets please call the Aldeburgh Music Box Office on +44 (0)1728 687110 visit our website www.aldeburgh.co.uk or email boxoffice@aldeburgh.co.uk

See Marcus du Sautoy exploring the mathematics of the patterns of the Alhambra in a TED talk here:

Faster Than Sound is generously supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

(Written on December 15, 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 )

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!

How Manchester inspired far more than Mahler

Norman Lebrecht discusses Mahler’s link with Manchester.

Blooming Spectacular

An article by Hugh Canning about Garsington Opera’s new and improved venue.

Nico Muhly’s tale of Two Boys – don’t expect Facebook – the Opera

Tom Service on ENO’s new opera about the dangers of the internet.

The best way to improve an orchestra? Get rid of the bloke with the baton

Spira Mirabilis perform without a conductor at Aldeburgh this week.

Aldeburgh Festival, Snape Maltings, Suffolk, UK

Reviews by Andrew Clark of Aldeburgh concerts.

Pierre Boulez: Ray of light or Lord of the Dark Side?  Discuss

Michael Church on the ‘ruling tyrant’ of classical music.

Cardiff Singer of the World 2011 begins today

The biannual event attracts contestants from around the world.

New creative team takes shape at Royal Opera as John Fulljames appointed to assist Kaspar Holten

Fulljames takes the role as associate director of Opera from September.

The old days – good or bad?

Mark Wigglesworth asks if past performance should guide the future.

(Written on June 13, 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!

Angelika Kirchschlager – An Austrian great arrives in Britten

Jessica Duchen talks to the opera singer who is setting out to conquer Aldeburgh.

Pianist Lang Lang hits out at ‘Bang Bang’ critics

Some critics consider his performances to be too flashy.

Music for Solaris: the mentoring process

Experimental composers Brian Eno and Ben Frost are working on a joint project in Iceland this weekend.

‘I had to make time for him’: Alfred Brendel on Kit Armstrong

Alfred Brendel has taken on Kit Armstrong as a pupil.

Why we should champion Aristide Cavaille-Col

Andrew Mellor writes about the organ world’s chief engineer.

(Written on June 3, 2011 )