Gramophone

Britten Sinfonia launches Musically Gifted

The Britten Sinfonia is launching ‘Musically Gifted’, a flexible funding scheme, which allows audiences to contribute anything from £10 to £10,000 to a new commission.

Classical Music Magazine

Emmanuel Joel-Hornak announced as Scottish Opera chief

Scottish Opera has announced that French conductor Emmanuel Joel-Hornak will join the company as its music director in August, taking over from Francesco Corti.

Classic FM

Gareth Malone: “Expect the unexpected” in his new choir

After receiving his OBE for services to music, achieving a No. 1 single with the Military Wives, and becoming a father to baby Gilbert this weekend, Gareth Malone is topping off his whirlwind year by launching a nationwide search for a new choir.

The Times

Valery Gergiev: the most powerful man in classical music

The Times’ Richard Morrison enters the court of Valery Gergiev, conductor of the world’s music in more than one way.

NY Times – ArtsBeat

Boston Symphony Announces New Season

The Boston Symphony Orchestra have disclosed plans next season to tour China and Japan.

Classic FM

Amy Dickson in Tim Lihoreau’s Wednesday Web Chat

(Written on April 24, 2013 )

The Telegraph

Gareth Malone: ‘It’s more Bake Off than X Factor’

Gareth Malone’s new series pits four workplace choirs against each other – with plenty of sibling rivalry, more fun and greater musical challenges, he tells Jasper Rees.

Adaptistration

A Bad Idea In Any Economic Environment

One aspect of the latest St Paul’s Chamber Orchestra proposal jumps out in that they want to create a two tier pay system for musicians: $62.5k/yr for existing members and $50k/yr for incoming musicians.

Classic FM

Carols for Christmas Competition inundated with entries

Feeling festive yet? The summer sun may still be out, but 322 composers aged 9 to 83 have already submitted their carols for the ‘Carols for Christmas Competition’ – coming to a radio near you soon!

Baritone Duncan Rock wins first Chilcott Award

Young baritone Duncan Rock has become the first recipient of the Chilcott Award, awarded to a young opera singer with potential for an international career.

Classical Music

World Music Festival at Bolivar Hall, London, 17-22 September

A festival of free concerts of music by composers from South America and across the world will take place at the Venezuelan Embassy’s Bolivar Hall in London on 17-22 September, with a programme including a number of UK premieres.

Classical-music, BBC Music Magazine

Finalists announced for Leeds International Piano Competition

Six young pianists to perform in final round.

NPR Music, Deceptive Cadence

William Duckworth, An Innovative Voice In Music And Teaching, Silenced At 69

The postminimalist composer inspired a generation of students and friends.

NPR, Deceptive Cadence

(Written on September 14, 2012 )

The Telegraph

Russell Watson to sing at White House

British tenor Russell Watson will perform at Barack Obama’s White House for Independence Day celebrations.

We can’t all be Mozart – but we can still play

From Caracas to Sterling, the evidence that music can transform lives is utterly overwhelming.

Classical Music Magazine

Arts Council’s £30.5 million match funding for endowment schemes

The Hallé’s new orchestra centre, Opera North’s ongoing Ring cycle, the Philharmonia’s digital programme, and international work to be based at The Sage, Gateshead, are among projects to benefit from Arts Council England’s ‘Catalyst’ funding.

BBC Music Magazine

New Gareth Malone TV series

Choirmaster and television presenter Gareth Malone will return to television later this year with a new six-part series featuring choirs in the workplace.

The Times

Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna: the Liz Taylor and Richard Burton of opera

For anything is possible when it comes to opera’s golden couple. Their romance off-stage has mirrored the operas they headline around the world.

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc

Cello authority dies

Gerhard Mantel, author of ‘Cello Technique – Principles and Forms of Movement’ and professor at the Frankfurt Hochschule, has died aged 82.

Gramophone

King’s College Cambridge and King’s Singers Foundation launch ‘A Carol for Christmas’

The UK summer is now in full swing – complete with its traditional rain and tepid temperatures – but the King’s Singers Foundation is asking British composers to cast their thoughts forward to the Christmas season.

Guardian

Big Noise orchestra’s classical music proves instrumental in social change

El Sistema and Gustavo Dudamel’s Simon Bolivar Orchestra turn musicianship into citizenship in in Stirling’s Raploch estate.

Wagner’s Dream: watch clips from the new documentary

Susan Froemke’s documentary follows Robert Lepage’s five-year journey as he stages Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle for New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

La Cenerentola – a musical guide 

The prince is in disguise, there’s no fairy godmother and not even a glass slipper, but Rossini’s take on the Cinderella story offers sparkles, star turns and a great storm scene.

(Written on June 21, 2012 )

The Telegraph

Hay Festival 2012: Sir Simon Rattle’s ‘ideal state’

Conductor Simon Rattle gives advise to amateurs and defines his “ideal state”.

Royal College of Music Chamber Choir: ‘Grit and determination kept us singing’

Sodden but unbowed, the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir encapsulated Sunday’s jubilant spirit.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gary Barlow: in perfect harmony for Queen and country

Andrew Lloyd Webber, doyen of musical theatre, reveals how he joined pop star Gary Barlow and TV choirmaster Gareth Malone to honour ‘an extraordinary monarch’.

LA Times

Valley and Soka performing arts centers set for second season

Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge and Soka Performing Arts Center at Soka University in Aliso Viejo have ambitions for sophomore year.

Leif Ove Andsnes warms up for Ojai Music Festival

The pianist, music director for the 66th edition, will perform with Marc-Andre Hamelin.

Classical Music Magazine

Clandeboye’s former young musicians to return to celebrate tenth festival

Booking has opened for the tenth Clandeboye Festival, taking place 13 – 18 August at the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava’s Clandeboye estate near Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland.

Camerate Ireland launches Derry-Londonderry as UK City of Culture 2013

Camerata Ireland and its artistic director Barry Douglas launched the musical programme for Derry-Londonderry’s year as the first UK City of Culture with a concert on 30 May in one of the city’s historic churches, Christ Church.

The Guardian

A guide to Oliver Knussen’s music

Oliver Knussen’s music packs as much incident and expression into mere minutes than some composers manage in a lifetime.

Mystery of the maestros: what are conductors for?

How do conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Simon Rattle and Valery Gregiev work?

Alfred Deller: a voice from the past

On the centenary of the great countertenor’s birth his grandson recalls how he came to know and love his music.

Tel Aviv Wagner concert cancelled after wave of protest

University cancels booking, saying performance of works by Hitler’s favourite composer would offend Holocaust survivors.

The Independent

Moved by the tragedy behind Berlioz’s Troy story

David McVicar talks about the huge challenge of staging Les Troyens.

Opening ceremony orchestra is silenced

Musicians in the London Symphony Orchestra will have to mime their performance in the opening ceremony of the London Olympics because a live performance is deemed too risky.

Gramophone

Linn Records teams with Universal Music to distribute Studio Master downloads

Back catalogue masterpieces and current titles made available in high-quality digital format.

Australian string quartet acquire rare set of Guadagnini instruments

Matching instruments worth millions on permanent loan to the ensemble.

Financial Times

Making a noise, in its quiet way

As Scottish Opera turns 50, what does the future hold for the company?

(Written on June 6, 2012 )