Telegraph

Composer threatens to withdraw tax after latest opera rejected

Michael Nyman, who has worked as a film composer for 30 years, complained he had proposed to stage a work in Covent Garden but had been rejected.

Classical Music Magazine

RPS Awards announced, with Abbado and Pollini winning

Two Italians in London, Claudio Abbado and Maurizio Pollini have won major awards at the Royal Philharmonic Society awards held at the Dorchester Hotel in London on 8th May.

Sound and Music appoints new chief executive

Susanna Eastburn, currently music director at Arts Council England, is to be the new chief executive of Sound and Music.

LA Times

L.A. Philharmonic extends jazz contract with Herbie Hancock 

The L.A. jazz scene will continue to be led by a legend as the L.A. Philharmonic announced a one-year extension to Herbie Hancock’s contract as the Creative Chair for Jazz.

The New York Times

Don’t sing with your mouth full

Opera, of all the art forms, is singularly associated with food, whether because of the appetites of well-girthed singers or the sensual pleasures celebrated in its rich ragout of music, emotion and stagecraft.

Financial Times

Peak performances

Conductor Stephen Barlow talks about his musical career and his new challenge of putting the Buxton Festival on the map.

Gramophone

Yo-Yo Ma and Paul Simon named 2012 Polar Music Price laureates

This year’s Polar Music Prize has been awarded to cellist Yo-Yo Ma and singer-songwriter Paul Simon. Each laureate receives one million Swedish krona and will be presented with his prize by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Evening Standard

Get with the Proms programme 

Bookings opens on Saturday for the classical music extravaganza of the year – from Barenboim on the podium to a stage full of 600 singers.

The Guardian

Riccardo Muti to conduct Vatican concert in front of Pope Benedikt XVI

Italian maestro will lead Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera orchestra in playing Vivaldi and Verdi to mark pope’s seventh anniversary.

(Written on May 9, 2012 )

The Telegraph

Jazz is celebrated by the stars of music and film

Jazz was celebrated across America yesterday by cultural icons as diverse as film stars Morgan Freedman and Robert de Niro, soul singer Stevie Wonder and Chinese classical pianist Lang Lang.

The Guardian

A guide to Pauline Oliveros’s music 

Nearly sixty years ago, Pauline Oliveros found her mantra. “Listen to everything all the time and remind yourself when you are not listening”. This simple but transformative thought has filled her life in music.

Mariss Jansons: ‘The notes are just signs. You have to go behind them’

Mariss Jansons is regarded by many as the best conductor in the world.

The Independent

Noah Stewart: ‘No one gave me the opportunity…I had to work for it’

The American tenor tells Jessica Duchen about his journey from Harlem to grand opera.

Financial Times

Battle of Britain

A masterpiece? Or an ‘artistic lie’? Controversy surrounded ‘War Requiem’ when it was first performed fifty years ago.

LA Times

Pope Benedikt XVI to attend two classical concerts in week ahead

Pope Benedict XVI has long been a classical music fan and in the next few weeks, he will take time out from his schedule to attend two classical concerts.

Gustavo Dudamel to participate at Olympics festival in June

Gustavo Dudamel will make a few appearances this summer as part of the London 2012 Festival, the large-scale cultural celebration running parallel to the Olympic Games.

Alan Gilbert adds his personal touch to New York Philharmonic

In his third year as music director, he has taken it in new directions and developed a collegial approach to his job.

Gramophone

Wigmore Hall launches new late-night concert series

Friday night concerts to take place during June and July.

Pianist Yundi is back with Deutsche Grammophon

His first new recording for the Deutsche Grammophon label will be of Beethoven Sonatas, including the Moonlight, Pathétiqueand Appassionato sonatas, due for release later this year.

(Written on May 8, 2012 )

Telegraph

Vijay Iyer: the scientist who turned to jazz

Vijay Iyer, who next month visits the UK with two different trios, has made it his life’s work not to fit into any preset roles or identities.

NY Times

Jonas Kaufmann Withdraws From the Metropolitan Opera’s ‘Die Walkuere’

Stuart Skelton will take over in Monday’s performance.

The Times

Yuja Wang: more than a sexy starlet

Her hemlines have made headlines, but there is much more to the rising piano star.

Classical Music Magazine

Festival 2012 corrals 12,000 events into purview

The Philharmonia Orchestra and Science Museum will break new ground for Festival 2012.

Arts Journal – Norman Lebrecht

Chaos at Malaysian Philharmonic as French conductor cancels

Alain Lombard pulled out from the latest concerts of the troubled orchestra, officially for health reasons, after two days of rehearsals.

Gramophone

Leeds International Piano Competition launches new award

Orchestra prize winner selected by Sir Mark Elder and members of the Halle.

Asher Fisch appointed principal conductor of West Australian Symphony Orchestra

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) has appointed Seattle Opera principal guest conductor Asher Fisch as its new principal conductor and artistic advisor for a three-year term from 2014.

(Written on May 3, 2012 )

Gramophone

Royal Opera House to host Olympic exhibition

The Royal Opera House will team with BP and the Olympic Museum in Lausanne to present a free Olympic exhibition in honour of the London 2012 Games.

BBC Music Magazine

Northern Sinfonia live in concert

Grant Llewellyn conducts the orchestra in Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony and Shostakovich’s Piano Conceto No. 1.

LA Times

Jazz says its final good-bye on Los Angeles AM Radio

A silence has descended on Los Angeles’ AM radio band. The station apparently sees jazz as hindering its bid for a wider audience.

Classical Music Magazine

BBC Proms 2012 bring austerity-bucking season of 92 concerts

The 2012 BBC Proms season was announced on 19 April, with a typically diverse programme of concerts in the Royal Albert Hall and beyond.

London Jazz

Children and music venues? Can anything be done?

This discussion between a parent in Leeds and the management of Colin Towns’ band Blue Touch Paper just doesn’t feel right.

The New Yorker

Ten perfect Orchestral Performances

I don’t know that perfection is of the greatest importance in music-making. Spirit, power, phrasing, tempo, expressiveness—all these things matter more than note-perfect execution.

The Telegraph

Placido Domingo on Turandot: why I’m doing the biggest opera in the world

Though well known for singing ‘Nessun Dorma’ as one of the Three Tenors, Domingo says he’ll be conducting it instead at a lavish Wembley Stadium performance.

NY Times

Gabriel Kahane is a One-man Cultural Cuisinart

Kahane’s voice, airy but with a smoky burr, is flexible and carries emotional weight easily, but “Crane Palimpsest” is still a lot to take on.

(Written on May 2, 2012 )

Arts Journal: Slipped Disc

New York’s Smallest Opera Chief Is Dead.

Anthony Amato has died at 91. He founded Amato Opera Theater in 1948.

Yale Professor: Hungary Could Be Going Fascist.

The Canadian-Hungarian historian Éva S Balogh, who runs the internationally acclaimed blog Hungarian Spectrum, describes the political landscape in Orbán‘s Hungary.

Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music Blog

Farewell, Russell Hoban (1925 – 2011).

Well-known novelist and librettist Russell Hoban has died.

LA Times

2011 Year In Review: Best in Jazz.

From young stars following their unique vision to a parting session from a departed master of doing the same, there was no shortage of recordings worth celebrating in 2011.

2011 Year In Review: Best In Classical Music.

Mark Swed’s round-up of the best and the worst of 2011′s classical music.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/12/2011-year-in-review-best-in-classical-music.html

(Written on December 15, 2011 )

The fourth annual Kings Place Festival is taking place this weekend (8-11th September) and promises to deliver an outstanding array of performances – 100 to be exact – including classical and contemporary music, spoken word, dance, and even food demonstrations in the Green & Fortune Food Hall.

Following on from the immense success of last year’s festival, the line-up in 2011 is the strongest yet, and ticket sales are at an all-time high. An even larger number of free and family events are being presented, with highlights including the Aurora Orchestra teaming up with The Little Angel Theatre to produce Mozart with Puppets, poetry adventures with Apples and Snakes, as well as Indian dance classes and ‘a cappella’ choir events for all ages to enjoy.

Another exciting and innovative venture can be found in the foyer of Kings Place. A giant, touch-sensitive dance floor has been engineered by composer Philip Venables, and as well as featuring a professional dancer, adults and children alike are invited to try it out for themselves. WildKat PR had already visited the dance floor during the early stages of its construction, and were extremely impressed by the technology used to create such an intriguing installation.

World-class soloists from the classical music world will be showcasing their talents across the duration of the festival, performing music ranging from the early Baroque to more modern repertoire. Featured are pianists William Howard and Ivana Gavric, as well as string ensemble the Brodsky Quartet. Jazz fans can enjoy performances from acclaimed artists Robert Mitchell, Ayanna Witter-Johnson and John Etheridge, and comedy enthusiasts can see John Hegley and Ardal O’Hanlon performing their stand-up routines in front of a packed-out audience.

Situated in the heat of the Kings Cross area, the central London location makes the festival easily accessible by tube, overground and bus. There is sure to be something to suit every taste, and with every event costing £4.50 or nothing at all, it is excellent value for money; truly an event not to be missed.

Tickets can be bought online from the Kings Place Festival website, or purchased over the box office telephone line on 020 7520 1490.

(Written on September 7, 2011 )

We speak to Kate Dimbleby as she begins her 5 week run at the New End Theatre, Hampstead. You can buy tickets by clicking the link and also by calling the box office on 0870 033 2733.

Kate’s show at the New End Theatre runs from 31st August to 3rd October and is a personal homage to the women in music who inspired Kate to become the success that she is today.

(Written on September 2, 2010 )

On August 31st, Kate Dimbleby’s brand new show I’m A Woman opens at the New End Theatre, Hampstead. A celebration of women in all their guises and roles I’m A Woman features music by artists ranging from country superstar Dolly Parton to jazzy renditions of rock classics by The Rolling Stones.

We were lucky enough to have Kate and two members of her new band, The Honky Tonk Angels visit us in the office to record a short preview video for the show:

I’m A Woman runs from 31st August until 3rd October. Show times are 7.30pm Tuesday-Saturday, 3.30pm Sunday matinee.

Tickets are £20 (£18 conc.) and are available from 0870 033 2733 or via offwestendtheatres.co.uk

(Written on August 11, 2010 )

We felt that it was about time to introduce you all to another of our newer clients: Kate is a jazz and cabaret singer and at the end of August she is launching a new show called I’m A Woman at the New End Theatre, Hampstead.

Described by The Times as “one of the most versatile singers on the jazz and blues circuit”, Kate is celebrating the women who’s music inspires her. In a 5-week run of 35 shows she will perform music by singers and songwriters including Bessie Smith, Sophie Tucker, Peggy Lee, Dolly Parton and more.

Kate will be backed by her new band, The Honky Tonk Angels (aka Naddia Sheriff on piano, Jonty Fisher on bass, Sophie Alloway on drums and Chris Allard on Guitar) as they explore the highs and lows of a woman’s life at home, at work and at play.

Kate’s diverse career has seen her perform across Britain at prestigious venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Pizza on the Park, Madame JoJo’s and Soho’s exclusive club, Kabaret. She has toured Australia and New Zealand with her critically acclaimed shows Fever! and Music to Watch Boys By.

I’m A Woman opens on August 31st and runs until October 3rd. Tickets are available at the reduced price of £15 if booked before July 31st. Normal ticket price £20 (£18 concessions). For more information and to book, please visit offwestendtheatres.co.uk

Finally, to keep up to date on Kate and the show you can find her on these sites:

KateDimbleby.com

Facebook

Twitter

(Written on July 8, 2010 )