JDCMB 

Director Sergio Morabito talks about THAT PRODUCTION of Rusalka

The Wieler-Morabito production of Rusalka at Covent Garden has proved a lot more controversial in terms of critical response than The Death of Klinghoffer at ENO.

NY Times 

Royal Shakespeare Company Bringing Dahl’s ‘Matilda the Musical’ to Broadway

The Royal Shakespeare Company announced on Tuesday that its production of “Matilda the Musical” will open on Broadway in early 2013.

Red Holloway, Swinger of the Sax, Dies at 84

‘His powerful, brassy notes and chunky vibrato swung, regardless of the genre.’

The Guardian 

Backstage at rehearsals for Aida at the Royal Albert Hall

Sarah Lee was allowed backstage access to photograph final rehearsals.

BBC Music Mag 

Listen to the DVD BBC Music Magazine Awards podcast

Learn more about the three recordings nominated in the DVD category

Gramophone 

Philips engineer Onno Scholze has died

The man behind the sound of many magnificent recordings

Russian soprano Julia Lezhneva signs to Decca Classics

First album released in February 2013

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/russian-soprano-julia-lezhneva-signs-to-decca-classics

(Written on February 29, 2012 )

NY Times 

What Happens in Vegas Will Also Happen at the Met Next Season

Look for Vegas flash at the Metropolitan Opera next season.

Kay Davis, Coloratura, Soared in Wordless Songs, Dies at 91

“She was a classically trained coloratura,” Phil Schaap.

Kurt Masur Withdraws From Performances With Boston Symphony Orchestra

The conductor Kurt Masur, 84 and increasingly frail, has withdrawn from performances of Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis” with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

JDCMB

Cats and mermaids take over Covent Garden

Jessica Duchen went to have a sneak peek behind the scenes at the Royal Opera House the other week, where they were rehearsing Rusalka 

The Guardian

Why Oramo is great news for the BBCSO

Conductor Sakari Oramo will raise the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s game and put a smile on their faces, writes Fiona Maddocks.

BBC Music Magazine 

Colin Murray

The TV and radio sports presenter gets ready to make his conducting debut with the BBC Philharmonic.

LA Times 

Lorin Levee, principal clarinetist with L.A. Phil, dies at 61

Lorin Levee, the principal clarinetist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has died at age 61, the orchestra announced Thursday.

 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/02/lorin-levee-principal-clarinetist-with-la-philharmonic-dies-at-62.html

(Written on February 24, 2012 )

Gramophone

A Composer’s conduct 

Should a conductor follow a composer’s manuscript or his recordings when interpreting a work?

BBC Radio 3 presents eight-day Schubert marathon

Station to broadcast 200 hours of music to mark the composer’s 215th birthday

LA Times 

Even Dudamel is wowed by huge Mahler Eighth rehearsal in Caracas

This is going to be big.

NY Times 

Fighting Poverty, Armed With Violins

“From the time they start playing and performing for others, they feel they are proud of what they are doing,” Mr. Méndez said.

The Telegraph 

Erwin Schrott on ‘Don Giovanni’: electrifying Don prepares to switch off 

Erwin Schrott talks to Rupert Christiansen about his return to Covent Garden and his pin-up image .

The Guardian 

Thelma: an opera world premiere

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s opera Thelma is getting its very belated premiere this week. In 2012, the centenary of his death, will Croydon’s most famous musical son finally get the recognition that has so long been denied him?

Musical lives cut short isn’t just a rock’n'roll phenomenon

The pop world is this week mourning Whitney Houston’s early death, but talented musicians have long lived too fast and died too young

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/tomserviceblog/2012/feb/15/musical-life-cut-short-phenomenon

(Written on February 16, 2012 )