The Guardian

Olivier awards 2013 – full nominations

The complete list of nominees for this year’s Olivier awards, celebrating the best of British theatre, dance and opera

The Telegraph

Alfie Boe interview: “Why make everything a fairy tale? Life’s not like that”

Alfie Boe’s bare-knuckle approach to opera has won him many powerful friends and enemies. Is he too vocal for his own good? He talks to Craig McLean

Classical Music Magazine

Setting the stage for northern opera | Young Opera Venture

‘Opera in the north of England goes underappreciated,’ says soprano and singing teacher Jane Anthony – providing the motivation for her to launch her own opera company, Young Opera Venture (YOV).

Gramophone

Tenor Bryan Hymel receives Beverly Sills Artist Award

Annual Metropolitan Opera grant for American singers is worth $50,000

Digital Journal

The Audience Prize — The new classical music performance and original works competition where the audience votes the winners

Digital Journalist Vlad Bourceanu has launched The Audience Prize – the online classical music performance YouTube video competition where the audience is jury and votes the winner.

Music Week

BBC, PPL and PRS among 12 companies set to offer services to Copyright Hub

Twelve organisations have already signed up to offer services to the Copyright Hub, which received £150,000-worth of initial Government funding earlier today.

Music Industry News Network

Mezmurizing Moon Entertainment Presents MusicBizDocs.com

Signing that major deal can take away your creative control.

The Guardian

(Written on March 27, 2013 )

The Guardian

It’s a man’s world… but why is sexism ingrained in the arts?

Once again, the top jobs at two major British cultural institutions, the BBC and the Royal Opera House, have gone to male appointees

The Telegraph

Poulenc: a composer who deserves greater recognition

Fifty years after his death, Poulenc deserves a better anniversary showing, says Ivan Hewett

The New York Times

A Bridge for Two Bicentenary Rivals

Wagner and Verdi are destined to be linked forever, however awkwardly, since they were both born in 1813: Wagner in Leipzig, Germany, on May 22; Verdi in little Roncole, Italy, in the Duchy of Parma, on Oct. 9 or 10.

Gramophone

UNESCO names Tan Dun a Goodwill Ambassador

Chinese composer recognised for his efforts to promote intercultural dialogue through music

Deceptive Cadence

Marches Madness: Mahler’s Twisted Nursery Rhyme

It’s Marches Madness! Throughout this month, we’re posting some of our favorite marches — from the concert hall, opera stage and parade ground.

New Scientist

Electronic violin turns laser signals into music

THE sound of a violin bow across strings can be exquisite. But bowing well is hard to master. Now that smooth grace is encapsulated in a new kind of electronic instrument.

Music Industry News Network

Kelstone, A New Musical Instrument

The essence of the Kelstone is that the hands lie on top of the strings, giving the player enormous new possibilities for harmony and expression

Music Industry News Network

(Written on March 25, 2013 )

Classic FM

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa set for Downton Abbey appearance

The fourth season of Downton Abbey will feature a cameo appearance from Kiwi soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa

Gramophone

Tenebrae to release Alexander Levine’s The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

Chamber choir Tenebrae will give the UK premiere of Alexander Levine’s The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom directed by Nigel Short in the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great, London this Thursday, March 7

The Guardian

New BBC director general Tony Hall: ‘It’s about setting the conditions whereby artists flourish’

Tony Hall started working for the BBC 40 years ago, but left when he failed to get the director general’s job. Now, more than a decade later, he’s got it

The Huffington Post (via musicalchairs.info)

Doing More About Diversity in America’s Orchestras

I have been reflecting on diversity and orchestras lately, prompted by some work we are doing at theLeague of American Orchestras and my recent participation in SphinxCon 2013 in Detroit, which examined diversity, inclusion and equity in the arts

PR Newswire (via musicalchairs.info)

Carnegie Hall Announces Musicians Selected For First National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America 

Carnegie Hall today announced the names of the 120 exceptional young musicians from across America who have been specially selected to come together from June 30 through July 23, 2013 to create the first NYO-USA

The Epoch Times (via musicalchairs.info)

Armando Trovajoli Dies: ‘Voice of Rome’ Composer Dies at 95

Armando Trovajoli dies: The Italian film composer for hundreds of films, Armando Trovajoli, described as the “the voice of Rome,” died recently

Gramophone

(Written on March 5, 2013 )

The Independent

English National Opera’s beards smell “like wet dog”

…and The Barber of Seville requires 28 of them

The Guardian

The Rest Is Noise festival: the third instalment – Paris

The Southbank Centre’s head of classical music introduces the third part of the Rest Is Noise season – with the action switching to Paris and the worlds of Josephine Baker and Stravinsky

Helen Boaden offered BBC audio and music job

Bob Shennan had been favourite to take the post, but director of news is being lined up for role under new DG Lord Hall

The Guardian Music Blog

Guardian launches Tracks of the Week music service with Rough Trade stores

Want six new music tracks handpicked by the folk at Rough Trade and the Guardian landing in your inbox each week? Better still, for the service’s first month, everything is free if you sign up now

Classical Music Magazine

Michael Brewer found guilty of sexual abuse of former pupil who committed suicide during trial

Mike Brewer, former director of music at Chetham’s School of Music and a founder of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, has today been convicted of sexual abuse at Manchester Crown Court.

Gramophone

London celebrates Richard Wagner’s bicentenary with ‘Wagner 200’

2013 festival, running from May to December, features many of the city’s leading cultural institutions

Classic FM

Thomas Newman’s Skyfall wins BAFTA for Original Music

Composer Thomas Newman has been awarded the BAFTA Film Award for Original Music, beating competition from John Williams, Dario Marianelli and others.

NPR Deceptive Cadence

Remembering Pioneering American Conductor, Poet And Anime Inspiration James DePreist

Pioneering American conductor, National Medal of Arts winner and poet James DePreist died early this morning in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 76 years old.

Limelight Magazine

Julie Andrews to tour Australia

The legendary performer will appear on stage with an old pal from the Sound of Music.

Music Week

Could Amazon sell secondhand digital music?

A patent for re-selling digital content has been granted to online retailer Amazon.

British artists claim one in seven US artist album sales in 2012

British artists secured 13.7% of US artist album sales last year, helped on by the success of acts such as One Direction, Adele and Mumford & Sons.

The Independent

(Written on February 11, 2013 )

The Times

Soprano Barbara Hannigan: pitch perfect 

Why this Canadian soprano is setting the opera world on fire with her extraordinary vocal range and joyous precision

Classical Music Magazine

Welsh rights dispute: BBC and PRS accused of price fixing

Dafydd Roberts asks ‘whether the BBC-PRS agreement is price fixing’ as Welsh musicians’ dispute with PRS rumbles on.

BBC News

BBC plans Bollywood-style live opera for Bradford

A live Bollywood-style production of the opera Carmen is to be produced by the BBC in Bradford.

Wired

Coding project aims to deepen the experience of streaming classical music

A Sheffield based media company has created a prototype web project that tells the story behind classical music using a combination of HTML 5 and Javascript.

Slipped Disc

Richard Wagner museum is reopened by Jewish band

Germany’s oldest Richard Wagner museum, dating back to 1907, is in a hunting lodge in Graupa, 20km east of Dresden.

Breaking: Sacked oboist wins appeal. Welsh Opera faces huge bill

Sandy Johnston, the oboist sacked by Welsh National Opera, has succeeded in the Employment Appeal Tribunal against an earlier ruling on his dismissal.

The Guardian

Arts Council considers opera shakeup as ENO posts £2.2m loss

English National Opera falls into red after losing £1.3m funding and filling only 71% of seats

Despite HMV’s inability to make high street music retailing pay, some independent record shops are seeing increased sales

Music Industry News Network

Pop Still On Top As British Music Buying Tastes Revealed

Classical, Hip Hop and Reggae all made gains in 2012. Big sellers including Andre Rieu’s Magic Of The Movies and Andrea Bocelli’s Opera helped Classical claim a four-year share high in 2012 of 3.7%.

BBC News

(Written on January 17, 2013 )

This morning, David Green will be appearing on Midweek to discuss his grandfather – Ignatz Waghalter.

(Written on December 12, 2012 )

Gramophone

Aldeburgh Music announces details of year-long Britten centenary celebrations

Special events pay tribute to the British composer and Aldeburgh Music founder

The Guardian

Jocelyn Pook: inspired by mental illness

‘Working on this piece I realised that the notion of hearing voices naturally lends itself to musical ideas and exploration’

Daily Mail

‘There’s pressure to show more flesh’: Soprano Laura Wright says classical music world wants to add wow factor by using risque outfits

Her stunning voice saw her hand-picked by The Queen to record a song.

The Telegraph

Pippa Middleton, the BBC and Lance Armstrong head up list of this year’s opera sinners

BBC executives, Pippa Middleton, and Sally Bercow are to be named as the sinners of the year the public would be glad to see the back of in the English National Opera’s production of the Mikado.

Carmen: It ain’t over till the nude lady sings

A lusty new production of ‘Carmen’ by Calixto Bieito embraces the growing trend for red-hot opera

Limelight Magazine

Peter Maxwell Davies talks “spooky” opera, Australian wine

Sydney Chamber Opera stages haunting work The Lighthouse by Master of the Queen’s Music.

Classic FM

Tallis Scholars announce 40th anniversary world tour

John Brunning talked Whitacre, Tallis, and 50 Shades of Grey with Tallis Scholars director Peter Phillips as the renowned choir prepare for their 40th anniversary world tour.

Alaska Public (found on Musical Chairs)

Inmate Orchestra Gets Ready for Concert

The all-female Hiland Mountain Orchestra is rehearsing for its annual concert in December.  The string ensemble has gained national recognition for being the first women’s prison inmate orchestra in the nation.

Classic FM

(Written on November 26, 2012 )

Classical Music Magazine

Lord Hall, Royal Opera House chief exec, appointed BBC director general

Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House since 2001, has been appointed director general of the BBC. He will take over the role in March.

Gramophone

Reviving the reputation of Francesco Geminiani

Recording champions 18th-century composer best known for violin method book

Classic FM

Classical music listening habits unveiled in new survey

Listening habits for classical music have been surveyed by the Philharmonia, and reveal that listening in the car is on the up.

Only Boys Aloud to appear on X Factor results show

The Welsh choral sensation Only Boys Aloud are to make their X Factor performance debut on Sunday December 8th, on the results show.

Music Industries Association Awards 2012 announced

The best instruments, music shops and music technology software were honoured last night at the Music Industry Association awards.

The Guardian

Benjamin Britten inspires new work ahead of centenary celebrations

Music and arts festival set up by the composer will host operas and plays by Mark Ravenhill and Conor Mitchell among others

The Jewish Chronicle

John Axelrod: The ex-rock talent scout who’s trying to save classical music

People must be persuaded back into the concert hall, or orchestras will cease to exist, says the acclaimed conductor

Opera Now

New Thai opera company celebrates Britten centenary

A new Thai opera company is gearing up to celebrate Benjamin Britten’s birth centenary with the country’s first ever performances ofA Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Slipped Disc

A London orchestra mourns one of its own

The Philharmonia has announced the death of Justin Jones, first violinist since 1979 and later its archivist.

Classic FM

(Written on November 23, 2012 )

Gramophone

Non-stop Beethoven at Berlin’s Konzerthaus

A 12-hour Beethoven marathon welcomes Iván Fischer as chief conductor of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin

Classic FM

Nigel Kennedy UK tour dates confirmed for spring 2013

Nigel Kennedy has confirmed plans to tour the UK in April and May 2013.

Slipped Disc

Barenboim, 70 tomorrow, launches music academy for the Middle East

He has raised 20 million Euros from the German Bundestag and another 8.5  million from private donors.

Just in: Last chords tonight for South Africa’s failing orchestra

The Johannesburg Philharmonic gives its last concert tonight before closure. It has been placed under bankruptcy protection and is emitting airy talk of reorganization.

A famous quartet is silenced by a musical thief. Your help is urgently required

We’ve just had a call from the organisers of the Brodsky Quartet’s 40th anniversary tour of Holland.

Daily Mail

Classic FM goes to war on Radio 3 ‘copycats’: Station accuses BBC of stealing string of ideas following rival network’s revamp

Global Radio Network accuses BBC of trying to steal Classic FM listeners

Daily Express

Opera Chief is name in the frame to be new BBC boss

LORD Patten has wasted no time in searching for a new BBC boss. He is believed to have sounded out Royal Opera House chief Tony Hall.

Opera Now

Don’t miss the spectacular 2013 Verona Festival centenary season

For opera lovers, the Arena di Verona offers the most dramatic setting for a truly memorable evening.

Berliner Morgenpost via Slipped Disc

(Written on November 15, 2012 )

The Independent

Classic FM

Mice capable of singing, scientific study says

Mice are capable of manipulating their vocal pitch depending on their setting and any surrounding mouse friends, a new study confirms.

Piano scores turned into dazzling visualisations

Piano works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Mozart, Liszt and more have been turned into incredible visualisations

Gramophone

(Written on October 12, 2012 )