The Guardian

Wagner anniversary revives German debate over controversial composer

New productions, statues and books commemorate Richard Wagner, who still divides Germany 200 years after his birth.

The Times

Life as a page-turner: is this the worst job in music?

“If you do a brilliant job, you’re completely anonymous,” says the pianist Steven Osborne. “If you make one mistake, there’s nothing you can do redeem yourself. Everyone will remember.” But Osborne isn’t talking about his own job.

Classic FM

Scottish Opera unveils huge new 2013/14 season

(Written on May 22, 2013 )

The Telegraph

Pop stars like Damon Albarn finally understand classical music

After decades of risible fusions, artists today like Damon Albarn really know how to mix the old and new.

Gramophone

Cellist wins 2012 BBC Young Musician contest

Fifteen-year old Laura van der Heijden takes the £2000 prize.

David Robertson appointed Sydney Symphony artistic director

Conductor signs up to a five-year term from 2014.

Why so many conducting Finns?

An extraordinary one-off project reveals a lot about a small country’s podium prowess.

ArtsJournal – Slipped Disc

Iran marks Mahler Day 

Press TV, official outlet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has announced a concert tomorrow at Jalil Shahnazi Hall in Tehran for what is described as ‘the 101th death anniversary ceremony’ of Gustav Mahler.

Good man: Leonard Cohen gives away the rest of his prize – to the arts

There were those who muttered when Leonard Cohen won the Glenn Gould prize last year that the poor fellow was going to need the case after being cleaned out by a fraudster.

Singer appointed chief of major opera festival

The  Finnish tenor Jorma Silvasti, 53, is to be the next artistic drector of Savonlinna, a festival that trusts performers to run it more than suits.

(Written on May 16, 2012 )

The Independent

Independent podcast: Naxos 25th anniversary

In just a quarter of a century Naxos has created “a catalogue comprising the largest number of individual works and the widest available repertoire of any classical label since the beginning of the recording era.”

The Guardian

A guide to Harrison Birtwistle’s music

Harrison’s elemental and powerful music feels both ancient and modern.

Classical Music Magazine

BBC Young Musician: the winner

The winner of BBC Young Musician 2012, the final of which was held at the Sage, Gateshead on 13 May and broadcast on Radio 3 and BBC2, is 15-year-old cellist Laura van der Heijden.

Jessica Duchen

There can only be one BBC Young Musician of the year

For every musician whose lifelong public career is launched in the arena of BBC Young Musicians, there are maybe 100 more, at least, who vanish.

The Times

Spira mirabilis: The orchestra where everyone’s in charge

Does an orchestra where all players have an equal say mean a recipe for amity or anarchy?

The NY Times

David Robertson to Lead Sydney Symphony

David Robertson, the music director of the St. Louis Symphony, has taken on a position on the other side of the world, becoming artistic director and chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony in Australia starting in 2014.

Financial Times

To marry the heart and the head

The prolific Catalan musician Jordi Savall talks about grief, memory and building bridges.

ArtsJournal – Slipped disc

Saxon sings out to save Bach ensemble

The theatre in Eisenach, Bach’s birthplace, is under threat of closure. Hundreds gathered to stage a peaceful protest in song.

Gramophone

Miloš: new champion of the classical guitar

A classical guitarist’s debut recording remained at the top of the Specialist Classical Chart for much of the past year. That artist is Miloš Karadaglić – or Miloš as he’s known simply – who was named Gramophone’s Young Artist of the Year at our 2011 Awards.

Venezuelan Rafael Payare wins Malko Competition

32-year-old Venezuelan Rafael Payare won the Malko Competition for Young Conductors in Copenhagen on Saturday in an atmospheric final round broadcast live on Danish radio and television.

(Written on May 15, 2012 )