The Independent

Sole bidder in the frame as decision on HMV’s fate draws near

The future of HMV, the failed entertainment chain, is likely to be decided over the coming days.

Classic FM

Music for Archbishop’s Enthronement revealed

Bach, Tallis, Tippett, Walton and more feature in the programme for the Enthronement service for the new Archbishop Of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Huffington Post

Together, Science and Art Can Provide Answers in Search for Truth

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of UCF this year, we are reminded that the core benefit of an upper-level education is the opportunity to pursue and obtain insight and knowledge over blindness and ignorance.

Gramophone

LSO announces second free concert in London’s Trafalgar Square

BMW LSO Open Air Classics event focuses on works by Berlioz

Classical Music Magazine

Winners announced for the inaugural Music Teacher Awards

On 20 March 2013 the winners were announced for the first ever Music Teacher Awards for Excellence.

Music Week

Stuart Galbraith joins Association of Independent Festivals

Kilimanjaro Live CEO Stuart Galbraith has joined the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) as a board member.

Gramophone

(Written on March 22, 2013 )

Now in its second year, the Music@Malling Festival, founded and directed by conductor Thomas Kemp, celebrates the work of living composers alongside the classical greats who inspired them. This year’s Festival will mark the 200th anniversary of Dickens’ birth, evoking the recitals which Dickens himself would often host, with a performance by Jonathan McGovern, Matthew Sharp and Chamber Domaine.

This year sees the world-premiere of Judith Bingham’s Waning Moon as well as a selection of the composer’s other works and music by Huw Watkins. Alongside this will be music by some of Dickens’ favourite composers: Mendelssohn, Mozart and Chopin.

For further details, the full programme and to buy tickets, please visit the Music@Malling Festival website.

(Written on September 7, 2012 )

The Telegraph

Interview with composer Heiner Goebbels

Heiner Goebbels has transformed Henry Thoreau’s ideas into music for the UK premier of Walden as part of the London 2012 festival.

The Guardian

Glyndebourne and Figaro: a perfect marriage

The son of the festival’s founder and Glyndebourne’s first Susanna looks forward to a new production of Mozart’s great comic opera.

Neville Roberts obituary

Originally a tenor player, Neville answered an ad for bass trombonists and Sir John – always JB to his musicians – heard his audition and engaged him on a three-month trial.

BBC Music Magazine

BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers’ Competition winners announced

The three winners of this year’s BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers’ Competition have been announced.

The Independent

Bernard Haitink: A meastro passes on his baton to the next generation

It’s tough to make it as a conductor – so when 20 young stars where asked to perform for the great Bernard Haitlink, the pressure was on.

LA Times

A 4-D ‘concert’ at a London museum 

At Science Museum, an interactive digital installation co-developed by Esa-Pekka Salonen lets visitors conduct and step inside a virtual orchestra.

Hollywood Bowl opens with the queens of country and funk

Reba McEntire and Chaka Khan, both divas by virtue and of their talent, were inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame at this season’s opening night concert Friday.

Gramophone

Gearing up for the Aldeburgh World Orchestra

Aldeburgh Music launches remote learning learning technology.

Dudamel and Sounds Venezuela at the Southbank

Four days of events began Saturday.

Jessica Duchen

Brigitte Engerer, 1952-2012

Tributes have been pouring in following the death of the French pianist Brigitte Engerer at the age of 59.

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc

US orchestra chief quits after just three month

Lee Williamson started work as executive director of the Delaware Symphony in March. Now she has asked to be released from her contract with immediate effect.

The Times

Six of the best opera villains

If an opera is not a comedy or filled with people who wish to destroy their own lives (mostly as a result of failed love), then a villain is needed for the opera to end in the appropriately awful way.

My space: Gus Christie

The Glyndebourne boss talks about living on the grounds where the festival – founded by his grandfather – takes place.

(Written on June 25, 2012 )

The Telegraph

Milos Karadaglic: a guitar lesson from the classical maestro

A latecomer to the classical guitar, Adam Sweeting seeks inspiration from Milos Karadaglic, one of the best players in the world.

Classical Music Magazine

BBCSSO gets permanent leader, after long search, in Laura Samuel

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra has appointed Laura Samuel as its new leader.

John Ireland in Chelsea festival runs 21-25 June

The English composer John Ireland lived in Chelsea for more than 50 years and died in a converted windmill in Sussex in June 1962.

Gramophone

The accidental birth of ATMA Classique

Because Johanne Goyette couldn’t make a living on the ondes Martenot.

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc

Khatchaturian prize split between Russian and Japanese

The Japanese violinist Ayako Tanabe shared first prize with the Russian Pavel Milyukov. The grand prix went to another Russian, Fedor Roudine.

BBC Music Magazine

Music increases children’s empathy 

New research suggests importance of playing music together.

The Guardian

Portrait of the artist: Edward Gardner, conductor

In the interview, Edward Gardner points out: ‘Orchestras are going to become more female – boys aren’t learning instruments’.

(Written on June 14, 2012 )

For this year’s Spitalfields Music Summer Festival, Andrew Staples, with his company Vignette Productions, will be presenting a new staging of two trailblazing oratorios on the theme of Sacrifice.

‘Sacrifices’ sees Vignette collaborate with La Nuova Musica and their conductor David Bates for concerts on 14th and 15th June. It is focusing on two early oratorios: Carissimi’s Jephte and Charpetentier’s Sacrificium. The piece evolves from the questions of faith and ritual and what it is to sacrifice.

Click here to read David Bates’ interview with the BBC Music Magazine and visit the Spitalfields Music website for more information.

(Written on May 2, 2012 )

LA Times

Conductor Dies After Collapsing During Bach Performance.

Vincent LaGuardia, 68, the longtime conductor of the Arapahoe Philharmonic, collapsed during a performance of Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D minor” at a concert in Colorado. He later died, officials said.

Independent

For Sale: All You Need To Stage Your Own Opera.

After 20 years of producing operas in stadiums, arenas and other unusual venues around the world, Companions Amsterdam is putting away its songbooks and shutting up shop for the last time, after its retiring director, Peter Kroone, failed to find anyone to fill his shoes.

Tony Hall: The Man With A Front Row Seat In Our Arts Establishment.

From the Royal Opera House to C4 and the Cultural Olympiad, Tony Hall discusses his rewarding roles with Ian Burrell.

Telegraph

Helicopters Get Part In Olympic Opera Event.

A string quartet will take to the skies and perform in four helicopters as part of Olympic Festival.

The Guardian

Portrait Of The Artist: Mitsuko Uchida.

‘A French critic once said I played like a sewing machine. I’ll always remember that’.

Opera Chic

The Hungarian State Opera Takes It To The Runway.

In anticipation of an upcoming production of Strauss’ Arabella, the Hungarian State Opera took the Strauss opera off-stage and onto the runway, where costume designer Rita Velich’s works were shown in anticipation of the March 17 opening night.

Arts Journal: Slipped Disc

Chailly Pulls Out Of Salzburg Opera. Hot Brit Replaces.

Riccardo Chailly has been told by his doctors to space his year out better. So he has pulled out of Ariadne auf Naxos at Salzburg, making way for lovely Daniel Harding.

The New Yorker

Elegant Theft.

Russell Platt on Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/03/osvaldo-golijov-and-maurice-durufles.html

(Written on March 14, 2012 )

Classical Music Magazine

Runnicles Assembles Star Cast For BBCSSO Tristan.

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra will perform the three acts of Tristan und Isolde over a set of three concerts that will take place between September 2012 and April 2013 at both Edinburgh’s Usher Hall and Glasgow’s City Halls.

LA Times

Muse/ique’s New Season To Feature Steven Page.

Muse/ique will kick off its 2012 season this month with a lineup that includes Steven Page, formerly of the band Barenaked Ladies, and appearances by actors Ed Harris, Amy Madigan and Wendie Malick.

New York Times

Playing It Safe In Programming Philharmonic.

Alan Gilbert and New York Philharmonic’s 2012-13 season.

Gramophone

ENO Launches Worldwide Search For Opera Creators.

English National Opera is launching Mini Operas, a worldwide, online search for scriptwriters, composers and film-makers that aims to preserve and redefine the future of opera.

Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music Blog

International Women’s Day – A Little Listening.

Jessica Duchen celebrates women in music.

(Written on March 8, 2012 )

Jessica Duchen’s classical music blog

Ivan Fischer.

Ivan Fischer on the future of the symphony orchestra.

Financial Times

Ctrl-Alt-Concerto.

They may lack the glamour and impact of a philharmonic in full flight – but interest is growing in laptop orchestras.

New York Times

Seeking New York’s ‘Other’ Opera Company.

New York City Opera’s woes give smaller companies an opening.

After Long Search, Philharmonic Names Top Executive.

The New York Philharmonic named its new executive director on Wednesday.

A New Music Festival Downtown To Offer Fresh Sounds And Words.

A music producer and a downtown theater said on Wednesday that they would establish a festival of new music-theater works next January called “Prototype: Opera/Theater/Now.”

npr.org

Aretha Franklin Is Looking For The Next Great Star…Of Opera.

The Queen of Soul is looking for the next big thing in opera.

The Guardian

Happy Birthday, Maurizio Pollini!

The great Italian pianist is 70 today.

LA Times

Rodarte Pair Will Design First Opera Costumes For LA Phil.

Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy are slated to design their first opera costumes for the Los Angeles Philharmonic production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” in May.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/01/rodarte-will-design-first-opera-costumes-for-la-phils-don-giovanni.html

(Written on January 5, 2012 )

2011 marks the third annual Wimbledon Music Festival – a sixteen day feast of world-class music-making in SW19. We caught up with the festival’s director Anthony Wilkinson to find out why he chose Wimbledon as the location for his festival and what challenges he has faced during the first few years:

This year’s festival opens on November 12th with a performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor with the Academy Choir and Baroque Players and soloists Nancy Argenta, Michael Chance, Allan Clayton and Roderick Williams. For full concert listings and to buy tickets, visit the Wimbledon Music Festival website or call the box office on 0844 871 7685.

(Written on October 18, 2011 )

The Telegraph

I don’t hate Bach

I suppose the only way to avoid being misunderstood in print is to avoid writing anything at all.

Gramophone

Three Years of Kings Place

As Kings Place prepares for its fourth festival, its founder reflects on the highs and lows of the launching a new arts space

The Arts Desk

BBC Proms: Missa Solemnis, LSO, Davis

Sir Colin Davis: his Beethoven speaks of many decades of exploration and understanding

The Guardian

Top classical picks for autumn

The Leipzig Gewandhaus descend on London for all nine Beethoven symphonies, ENO goes French baroque with Castor and Pollux, and Glasgow gets minimal

Los Angeles Times

Music review: Juanjo Mena and Labeques at the Hollywood Bowl

There is a moment in Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos, which Katia and Marielle Labèque played at the Hollywood Bowl Thursday night, that is stunningly other.

The Telegraph

Radio 3 is getting out of tune with its audience

The row over the new schedules shows how the station is edging ever nearer to the comfortable banality of Classic FM.

The Times

Is there a cure for being tone deaf?

After a lifetime of mangling tunes, Sathnam Sanghera sought advice. Is he actually tone deaf and is there a cure?

(Written on September 5, 2011 )