Following a wonderful recital at London’s National Geographic store yesterday, Katherine Bryan is thrilled to announce to release of her second album today. The rising flautist performs concertos by American composer Christopher Rouse and French composer Jacques Ibert, demonstrating her versatility as a artist as well as her virtuosic and astounding technical style. The disc also features Debussy’s Syrinx and Frank Martin’s Ballade.

Katherine is Principal Flute and currently a musician in residence with Royal Scottish National Orchestra, under the baton of Jac van Steen, who she performs with on the CD.

Katherine Bryan plays Flute Concertos by Christopher Rouse and Jacques Ibert can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon.

Keep up to date with news from Katherine through her Facebook, Twitter and regular posts of the WildKat PR blog.

(Written on May 20, 2013 )

(Written on April 19, 2013 )

The Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium presents the ‘Festival a la Française’ this autumn at Flagey, Brussels. Running from 13th-17th November, the Festival boasts an impressive programme by Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel at one of Brussel’s leading cultural venues, celebrating the music of French composers, such as Ravel, Satie, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Franck and Debussy, from the Fin de siecle. The collaboration follows the success of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and Flagey’s Brahms Festival in 2011, and the Chopin Festival in 2010.

With performances from world-renowned artists, such as Augustin Dumay, Gary Hoffman, Jean-Philippe Collard, and Gérard Causse on the 13th November, featuring the Brussels Philharmonic the following day, with the final concert on the 17th November presenting the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, the Choeur Symphonique Octopus , and others to perform Faure’s Requiem, the festival promises to be a delight to all. Masters of Music Chapel along with young soloists in residence will also perform. In addition, a performance featuring excerpts from Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals will be performed on the final day of the festival, to entertain and enchant both classical music newcomers, and with children.

To find out more about the festival, visit the Facebook page here.

The official website of the festival can be found here.

(Written on November 9, 2012 )

This weekend, Graham Rickson published a review on The Arts Desk of William Berger’s new album, Insomnia: A Nocturnal Voyage in Song, a collection of nocturnal Leider reflecting as Graham writes, ‘a sleepless night endured by a man lamenting his lost love’.

Put together by William himself, alongside his coach Nico de Villiers, Graham Rickson comments that although ‘what looks on paper to be an unlikely mixture of songs’ due to the diversity of music composed by Wolf, Gounod, Debussy and Vaughan Williams, the programme ‘makes complete sense in William Berger’s recital disc’ and ‘gains extra poignancy’ after reading William’s previous blog on The Arts Desk.

‘You’ll be beguiled by Berger’s voice and entranced by the more left-field musical choices’, he comments, also marking particular mention to three songs by English composers on the album, deemed ‘pure gold in the hands of Berger, including Warlock’s The Night: ’a stunner, as are two rarely-heard songs by Vaughan Williams and Richard Rodney Bennett’. Earlier in the night’s progression, William’s interpretation of Debussy’s Nuit d’étoiles ‘is sung with selfless delight’ and Raymond Yiu’s recently composed Sonnet ‘melts seamlessly in to the mix, the backward glances enchanting’.

Later in the song cycle, as Morgen marks the end of the night’s turmoil, Rickson emphasizes how the incorporation of a short Gounod piece as one of a couple of encores, works to ‘leave one feeling invigorated’ by William’s superb amalgamation of beautiful and deeply introspective music.

Read the full review here: http://www.theartsdesk.com/classical-music/classical-cds-weekly-gershwin-william-berger-jack-quartet

(Written on September 11, 2012 )

The Washington Post

A countertenor’s journey from busking on the Metro to Carnegie Hall

In the register of both woman and 10-year-old boy, Hisham Breedlove, 29, sings opera in Metro stations. A trained countertenor, he’s been practicing and honing his craft for almost a decade underground. Now, he makes Court House his primary stage. “It has the best acoustics,” says the man who’s tested many a station.

Gramophone

BBC launches Piano Season

Six-week series of television and radio programmes exploring the instrument.

Classic FM

E.L. James: “I used to be in a gospel choir!”

Fifty Shades Of Grey author E.L. James has revealed that she used to be in a gospel choir at an East London launch for the tie-in classical music album.

Voting now open for MIA Awards 2012

The MIA Awards 2012 are now open, ceremony announced for Thursday 22nd November at The Emirates Stadium.

Steve Reich’s Radiohead Inspiration

Composer Steve Reich has told Classic FM how an encounter with Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has inspired his latest composition.

Arts Journal: Overgrown Path

Research identifies Classical music’s unique selling point

Our results help to explain why music is of such high value across all human societies.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

A yearlong Debussy tribute: Same flute solo every day

Flautist Mimi Stillman will record, on video, Debussy’s elusively melodic flute solo Syrinx every day (or close to it) for a year for Debussy’s 150^th birthday.

Classical Music

National Youth Orchestras of Scotland overhauled by new chief exec

The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland has revealed changes to its orchestral structures and age limits that will lead to a greater number of young people being involved in a larger number of courses from the 2013 season.

Lang Lang for BBC’s piano season, Gramophone (BBC/Steve Brown)

(Written on September 6, 2012 )

As summer approaches (very slowly, through all these grey clouds), an air of excitement surrounds the world of classical music: the festival season is here!  Whether at home in the UK or elsewhere in Europe and beyond, there is so much choice for great classical music this summer. In Olympic spirit, London is celebrating itself at the ‘City of London Festival’ from the 24th June to the 27th July, featuring the LSO and acclaimed guitarist John Williams. Also gloriously British, is the ‘Longborough Festival Opera’, which features the famous ‘Sweeney Todd’ performed by the festival’s Young Artist Production; the festival is on now, until the 29th of July.

Whilst Glastonbury’s usual Rock and Roll tenants take a break this year, the ‘Orchestra in a Field’ at Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset, takes place this weekend (30^th June to 1^st July) providing ‘Tchaikovsky to Tubular Bells by way of Opera, Hip Hop and hand bells’ (Classical-music.com) as well as free tickets to those under the age of 13, a great, fun event to introduce children to classical music. Another great event this weekend takes place at the prestigious ‘Wigmore Hall’: you can hear and see the Leipzig String Quartet as well as soloists of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, providing exciting music from Brahms to Beethoven.

Finishing this week is the renowned ‘Istanbul Music Festival’, which has been running for the entire month of June. In its 40^th year, it has featured (a staggering) over 750 artists this year, including the Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and the Chamber Orchestra Vienna-Berlin. It has also commissioned works by the revered composers Giya Kancheli and Fazil Say, which were premiered at the festival.

Even further east is the ‘IV Gabala International Festival‘ of Azerbaijan, taking place from the 25^th of July to the 5^th of August, featuring traditional Chamber music, as well as Mugham – the folk compositions of Azerbaijan, which are now a UNESCO protected cultural heritage.

More centrally in Europe, Austria is hosting some of the world’s finest classical music festivals. The month-long, extraordinary ‘Bregenzer Festspiele‘ (18^th July to the 18^th August), in its breathtaking lake-side location features Opera on the Lake (with its stunning staging), an array of Chamber music, Theatre, and Music and Poetry: a highlight of which is Shostakovich’s ‘Ten Poems on Texts by Revolutionary Poets for mixed chorus op.88’. The renowned ‘Salzburger Festspiele‘ is one of THE summer events, from the 20^th July to the 2^nd September, featuring music and operas, from ‘Ariadne auf Naxos’, to ‘La Boheme’; Whilst August welcomes the ‘Innsbrucker Festwochen der alten Musik‘, from the 8^th to the 26^th, spanning all areas of classical music from Oriental Baroque to Slavonic Dances.

The beautiful landscapes of Italy host the ‘Incontri in Terra di Siena’ in lush Tuscany, where classical music is coupled with contemporary Jazz as well as Olive Oil and Wine tasting (definitely not one to miss!) A highlight is the Borromeo String Quartet playing Bach, Debussy and Schubert on the 22^nd of July. The entire festival is from the 20^th to the 29^th of July.

Whether travelling abroad or staying at home in this important 2012 summer, there are numerous great festivals not be missed, an abundance of which can be found on our ‘July Unmissables’ pinterest page here.

The Famous Staging at Bregenzer Festspiele

(Written on June 28, 2012 )

The Guardian

A guide to Helmut Lachenmann’s music

Ever wondered what a beetle on its back sounds like? Try opening your ears to the virtuosity of Lachenmann’s music.

Jessica Duchen

My first night shift

Full marks to the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment not just for magnificent playing but also for creative thinking; and for their willingness to experiment with the new, as well as resuscitating the old.

LA Times

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Diamond Jubilee royal tribute top charts

Andrew Lloyd Webber has another hit single — this time fit for a queen.

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc

Tel Aviv Wagner concert is cancelled again as hotel pulls down shutters

The ice-break Wagner concert that Tel Aviv University turned down after protests from Holocaust survivors has now been shut out by its substitute venue, the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel.

Famous US orchestra may go part time

It was founded in 1959 as an economic alternative to the Big Beast Five and has flourished ever since as America’s only full-time chamber orchestra. But hard times have hit St Paul, Minnesota, and the orchestra needs to trim $1.5 million off next year’s budget.

Orchestra arrested at London Gatwick Airport

The opening concert of this year’s Spitalfields Festival almost had to be cancelled last night because of the over-zealous Border Agency officials at Gatwick, and possibly lax ones in Holland.

Gramophone

Jason Vieaux launches online Classical Guitar School

Guitarist Jason Vieaux launches an online Classical Guitar School on June 14, the first of its kind for the instrument.

The Times

A burst of opera takes library users by surprise

Standing on top of a carousel of large-print books, a lovestruck librarian is singing her heart out to her suitor, a gawky young fellow who for years has admired her from afar.

Musical suicide? The opera about a London bomb plot

By presenting Edward Rushton’s Babur in London the company seems determined to be not just provocative but incendiary.

(Written on June 12, 2012 )

We are very excited to welcome the wonderful Baritone William Berger to our artist roster. William will be performing with La Nuova Musica at Kings Place this June in his L’Orfeo debut. He is also performing the role of Alcandro in Garsington Opera’s production of L’Olimpiade this June.

In September William will be releasing his debut recital disc Insomnia: A Nocturnal Voyage on Delphian Records. The programme for the recital was devised by William for the 2011 Lucerne Festival and describes an imaginary voyage through a restless night, with music by Mozart, Debussy, Fauré, Wolf, Vaughan Williams, Liszt and Strauss.

To keep up to date with William’s work, visit his facebook page.

(Written on April 27, 2012 )

The Independent

An inventive addition to the Proms: Wallace promises a grand day out

Multi-talented Wallace is turning his hand to composing, with a new commission for this year’s Proms.

The Guardian

Proms 2012 celebrates best of Britain – youth, royalty, and Wallace & Gromit

Festival’s 118th season also features Barenboim’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra’s Beethoven cycle and marks Delius, Debussy and John Cage anniversaries.

The Times

São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra debuts at the Proms

São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra amazes audience with their new maestro, the American conductor Marin Alsop.

Commentary: Richard Morrison’s view of the Proms 2012

With an emphasis on youth and visits from three of Europe’s greatest orchestras, the Proms should more than hold its own against the Olympics.

Classical Music Magazine

New Sam letter is conciliatory after ‘divisive and unhelpful’ furore

A further open letter has been sent in the ongoing public debate over the current and future work of contemporary music organisation Sound and Music (SAM).

Norman Lebrecht

Wow! My Fair Lady at the BBC Proms

With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, this summer promises to be unlike any other, and as such the Proms is delighted to be part of the London 2012 Festival.

The political maestro they just can’t fire

We’ve been receiving further messages of discontent from South Korea about the conductor Shinik Hahm, who is now taking legal action against seven players in the KBS Symphony Orchestra for supposedly blackening his character.

Eminent cellist ends his playing career

Heinrich Schiff has pulled out of a festival in Southwest Germany, saying he no longer wants to play cello.

(Written on April 20, 2012 )

New York Times

Met Opera To Broadcast ‘Ring’ Cycle In Movie Theaters In May

The Metropolitan Opera has announced that concurrent with its final live presentation of the Robert Lepage production of Wagner’s “Ring des Nibelungen” this spring (May 5-12), it will begin broadcasting the complete “Ring” cycle to movie theaters around the world.

LA Times

LA Phil Concerts With Dudamel, Salonen, Others Will Air On KUSC

A new series of broadcasts featuring the Los Angeles Philharmonic in concert will be heard on classical music station KUSC-FM (91.5) beginning this weekend.

The Times

John Eliot Gardiner’s Bach Cycle Finds Donor

Wanted: 2,500 Bach lovers, each with 20 quid to spare. Previous experience of philanthropy not essential.

Independent

Glyndebourne Opera Is A Head In The Race

The new Glyndeboure opera, Gold Run, conducted by James Redwood, is about the Paralympic Games.

Gramophone

A Rap From The Podium

Few Conductors Speak Directly To Their Audiences, But When They Do Is It Informative And Engaging Or Downright Annoying?

Guardian

We Should Celebrate Debussy By Assessing His Real Legacy

In this anniversary year, forget the concept of Debussy the musical impressionist. I want to celebrate Debussy the sonic explorer.

The Rest Is Noise

MTT’s Smoothie

In a Rest Is Noise exclusive, Alex Ross reveals to an anxiously waiting world the contents of the smoothie that Michael Tilson Thomas prepared onstage at Carnegie Hall the other night, during a rendition of Song Books and other works by John Cage.

http://www.therestisnoise.com/2012/03/mtts-smoothie.html

(Written on March 30, 2012 )