We are thrilled to announce that Accentus Music has been honoured with the Silver Hugo for ‘Best Documentary, Arts/Humanities’ at the Chicago International Film Festival Television Awards for John Cage – Journeys in Sound. 

The documentary, which combines rare archival footage with concert excerpts and a series of interviews with former associates of Cage, has already been awarded three awards in the past four months: the ‘Best Documentary’ award at the Golden Prague Festival, ‘Best Educational Program’ at the FIFA in Montréal, along with an International Classical Music Award in the ‘DVD Documentaries’ category.

Accentus Music’s upcoming release of Bruckner’s 5th Symphony is eagerly awaited, following the success of the first instalment of the symphonic cycle series. Performed by one of the oldest orchestras in the world, under the baton of Daniel Barenboim, The Mature Symphonies was performed in just under a week: an astonishing accomplishment.

Watch the trailer for John Cage – Journeys in Sound below, for an insight into the multi-award winning DVD. Also, keep up to date with Accentus Music news through Facebook, Twitter and regular blogs on the WildKat PR website.

(Written on April 24, 2013 )

LA Times

L.A. Phil’s Lionel Bringuier lands conducting gig in Zurich

Lionel Bringuier, resident conductor with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has been made the chief conductor and music director of Switzerland’s Zurich Tonhalle. His post will begin with the 2014-15 season and will run for four years.

Gramophone

Michael Nyman complete chamber works to be released – hear an excerpt from the first recording!

First release includes two world premiere recordings of piano trios

Classic FM

Plácido Domingo announces new pop album featuring Groban, Boyle, Jenkins

Legendary tenor Plácido Domingo has announced details of his new album, due for UK release on December 3rd.

Child prodigy surprises shoppers with Liszt

Pianos have popped up all over Cambridge for members of the public to play – and an 11-year-old boy is impressing the crowds with his interpretations of virtuosic pieces.

Video game music hits the UK: Nobuo Uematsu and Arnie Roth interviewed

Classic FM spoke to Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu and conductor Arnie Roth before their ‘Distant Worlds’ concert.

Slipped Disc

Breaking: Two classical agencies are expelled by professional body

The International Artist Managers Association has taken the unusual step of expelling two of its members, both based in Vienna.

Sad news from Russia: Lyubimov is in a coma

The legendary director Yuri Lyubimov turned 95 a month ago and was working on a new Bolshoi production of Prince Igor.

The Independent

(Written on November 2, 2012 )

Gramophone

Anne-Sophie Mutter accepts first honorary doctorate in Trondheim

Violinist receives degree from Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Classic FM

Gramophone Awards 2012 Nominations: full list

Gramophone have announced the nominations for their prestigious Classical Music Awards 2012, taking place on 27 September at London’s Dorchester Hotel – who do you think the winners will be?

Slipped Disc, Arts Journal

High fives: Swiss cast huge vote for big increase in school music funds

The Swiss had one of their periodic referenda on Sunday. The matter under decision was a change to the constitution that would make music teaching obligatory and well funded in schools.

The Arts Desk

Stewart Lee presents John Cage’s Indeterminacy, Cafe OTO

Is the avant-garde po-faced? An attempt to prove otherwise

Classical-Music, BBC Music Magazine

Winners of International Conductors’ Competition Sir Georg Solti announced

A 32-year-old Chinese conductor has taken top honours at this year’s International Conductors’ Competition Sir Georg Solti.

The Globe and Mail (found on Arts Journal)

How a violinist can play a $4-million Stradivarius, no strings attached

The thing Andréa Tyniec wants is not to come last. This is not the kingdom of God, after all, where the last shall be first. No. It’s the slashing arena of ambitious concert violinists, and the Canada Council’s triannual Musical Instrument Bank contest.

Classical Source

Exposure! Iconic Images Of Pavarotti, Domingo, Carlos Acosta And Darcey Bussell To Feature In Exhibition Of Renowned British Stage Photographer Clive Barda

The Royal Opera House is showcasing some stunning images of some of the world’s finest artists to have graced its stage including Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, Carlos Acosta and Darcey Bussell in a unique retrospective exhibition by renowned stage photographer Clive Barda.

University of Buffalo, News Desk (found on Musical Chairs)

National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba to Perform First American Tour Oct. 22

Since its inception in 1960, the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba has been instrumental in developing and introducing Cuban and Latin American music to the international classical music community.

The Globe and Mail

(Written on September 26, 2012 )

Gramophone

Washington National Opera promotes Francesca Zambello to artistic director

Award-winning American opera director to begin new role in the New Year

The Guardian

John Cage meets Ant & Dec in the sitcom in my mind

Being involved in performances of Cage’s piece Indeterminacy, I’m making all kinds of bizarre connections with the avant-garde genius

Guardian Blog: Tom Service

Mercury prize shortlists: why no classical music?

If the Mercury 2012 judges want to reward fresh and dynamic new music, why has classical music disappeared from the list?

The Telegraph

Go out for dinner, or make musical history? The choice is yours

Buying a share in a new, yet-to-be-revealed work of art gives the thrill of knowing we’ve helped to bring something into being, without the burden of bearing the full cost, writes Ivan Hewett.

Arts Journal: Slipped Disc

Anne-Sophie Mutter kicks back fee to composers’ fund

The German violinist, playing in Norrkoping this weekend, has announced that she and the British conductor, Michael Francis, will donate their fees to a fund that will support young Swedish composers to write music for the orchestra

Classic FM

Vanessa-Mae Is Back Where She Belongs

She’s been off the scene for a while but Vanessa-Mae’s back with her most exciting disc to date.

Federico Colli wins Leeds International Piano Competition

The Leeds International Piano Competition winner has been announced as 24-year-old Federico Colli.

Classical music stops dogs barking, research shows

Classical music helps dogs spend more time sleeping and less time barking when they’re housed in kennels or temporary accommodation, new research claims.

The New York Times

Shocker Cools Into a ‘Rite’ of Passage

“THE RITE OF SPRING,” or “Le Sacre du Printemps,” Igor Stravinsky’s historic shocker, a ballet that shows and celebrates a remorseless human sacrifice, will be 100 years old next May. The bandwagon of centennial commemorations is getting an early start on Thursday with the New York Philharmonic.

Classic FM

(Written on September 17, 2012 )

One hundred years ago today John Cage was born: the American composer whose centenary is being celebrated this year with a wealth of concerts, festivals and events around the world.

John Cage’s iconoclastic overthrow of the expectations within classical music is demonstrated by a lifetime of compositions that question the meaning of ‘music’. Thanks to Cage, the twentieth century saw an explosion of innovative performances including amplified cactuses, crumpled paper and pianos filled with nuts and bolts. His provocative and inspiring works hold an incredible potential for discussion and imagination- something explored in the documentary ‘John Cage: Journeys in Sound’ that is to be released by Accentus Music later in September.

The documentary pays tribute to the legendary composer, presenting rare and enlightening archival footage, concert excerpts and interviews with close friends such as Christian Wolff and Don Gillespie.

Shooting from many special locations prominent in his life including his former home of Stony Point, New York as well as Leipzig, the unique footage shows unique episodes, such as pianist Steffen Schleiermacher buying screws to prepare a piano for one of Cage’s compositions and looks behind the scenes at Cage’s publishers.

Accentus Music are at the top of the classical music DVD industry, having not only won an International Classical Music Award, but also 2012 BBC Music Magazine award for ‘Best DVD’.

For more information on the production please click here.

(Written on September 5, 2012 )

Arts Journal: NewMusicBox

Cage = 100: As Influential as Wagner, as Interpretable as Mozart

Cage’s centenary sparks a fresh sense of intrigue about his work.

Gramophone

Wigmore Hall launches expanded 2012-13 Early Music and Baroque Series

Increased investment and artist residencies continue to strengthen the programme

Classic FM

Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry: composing with heartbeats

The Arcade Fire’s multi-instrumentalist Richard Reed Parry told Classic FM about the perils of Twitter, his compositions for The Kronos Quartet and how to perform with a stethoscope.

Classical Music Magazine

No arts background for new culture secretary

The new secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport has been catapulted into the cabinet despite no obvious previous connection with the arts. Maria Miller, the 48-year-old MP for Basingstoke, takes over a shrinking department from Jeremy Hunt if not a shrinking portfolio.

NPR music- deceptive cadence

A ‘Numpty’ Glance, Minnesotan Muddles And Brass Bullies

Violinist Nicola Benedetti, whose interview with the Scottish Sun this week sparked a furor — including the writer being called a “numpty,” or fool.

BBC Classical Music magazine

Mihaela Ursuleasa (1978-2012)

Brilliant Romanian pianist dies, aged 33. She would have performed Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 on tour with the National Youth Orchestra tomorrow.

John Cage, NewMusicBox

(Written on September 5, 2012 )

Gramophone

The Digital Concert Hall of the Berliner Philharmoniker forges a new relationship with Sony

Cyber concert-going enters a new era.

The New York Times

Pickup Orchestra of Stars, Made for TV.

A pickup ensemble of musicians — including prominent principal players — from some of the nation’s major classical music orchestras.

Classic FM

Ives supporters unite to purchase composer’s home

Charles Ives’ house, which was previously earmarked for demolition by developers, is the subject of a new fan campaign to preserve it.

Classical Music

Youth Music names 88 new music projects in England

Youth Music has committed more than £4m to 88 new music projects in England, more than doubling the value of its awards made over the last year, but many more groups will have to miss out because of shortage of funds.

The Independent

Darren Henley: The radio boss with a plan to drag classical music into the digital era

Classic FM has much to learn from hip-hop and R&B stations, the former newsreader who rose to become its chief tells Ian Burrell.

The Washington Post

John Cage Centennial Festival: Will it silence critics in Washington?

John Cage — composer, philosopher, visual artist, mushroom enthusiast — would have been 100 years old on Wednesday. To many artists, he was one of the most inspiring figures of the 20th century. To some musicians, he is underrated: branded, unfairly, more important as a thinker than a composer.

Arts journal: Slipped Disc

Pulitzer winner and more attack New York Times for removing music critic

The demotion of Allan Kozinn from classical music critic to culture has attracted widespread condemnation.

Gramophone

(Written on September 4, 2012 )

Classic FM 

Nicola Benedetti’s viral violin concerto 

Nicola Benedetti releases a new album of film music.

Author wants return of ‘Derry Stradivarius’ 

A Derry author is leading the campaign to have an antique Stradivarius violin returned to the city in time for the City of Culture celebrations.

Arts Journal- Slipped Disc 

Some more black holes at the Olympics 

Readers have spotted further omissions from the BBC credits at the closing ceremony.

Husband’s pics of boss’ girlfriend set Salzburg tongues wagging 

The husband of festival boss’ girlfriend has emerged

Good man: Edinburgh luthier fixes Iraqi orch’s instruments for free 

Finding the instruments of the Iraqi Youth Orchestra in poor repair, local Luthier Neil Kristof Ertz fixed the instruments for free.

Anne-Sophie Mutter and Jonas Kaufmann vs Angela Merkel

Violinist and Tenor were among 37 prominent Germans invited by the Süddeutsche Zeitung this weekend to put questions to the Chancellor.

Guardian Music Blog 

A guide to John Cage’s music 

Tom Service guides us through the music of John Cage.

Gramophone 

Harry Christophers, Khatia Buniatishvili, and Wells Cathedral School

In this month’s edition of the Gramophone Podcast, James Jolly meets pianist Khatia Buniatishvili and Harry Christophers.

(Written on August 14, 2012 )

The Telegraph

BBC Proms 2012: the Proms has it all

Ivan Hewett chooses the events he’s most looking forward to at the Proms 2012 this year.

50 Shades of Grey prompts classical music piece to climb the charts

The Tallis Scholar’s recording of ‘Spem in alium’ has been climbing the charts after being featured in El James’s erotic novel 50 Shades of Grey.

NY Times

Symphony Space Plans a Series Inspired by John Cage

Symphony Space has announced that its next season of events, which begins on Sept. 24, will includes a new series, John Cage’s “How to Get Started”.

Calvin Marsh, Baritone and Met Stalwart, Dies at 91

Calvin Marsh, a lyric baritone who sang more than 900 performances with the Metropolitan Opera before forsaking the stage for a life in religious music, died on June 18 in Dallas. He was 91.

Gramophone

Paavo Järvi appointed NHK Symphony chief conductor

Plus Kryzsztof Urbański named principal guest conductor of Tokyo Symphony.

Jessica Duchen

Le nozze di Chico?

It’s perhaps one of the strengths of Glyndebourne’s much-vaunted new production of Le nozze di Figaro, directed by Michael Grandage, that through a series of apparently zany juxtapositions it makes clear the archetypal, timeless nature of its drama.

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc

Gustavo Dudamel as you’ve never heard him before

The new Lebrecht Interview series opens next Monday on the BBC with the longest, deepest conversation that Gustavo Dudamel has ever offered on public media.

The Times

São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra debuts at the Proms

Plentiful tropical fruit aside, the Shostakovich had a maverick quality: the Fifth Symphony, which usually expresses everything horrendous about Stalinist Russia, sounded practically buoyant once the two grimmest movements had been excised to make an al-fresco taster programme.

(Written on July 11, 2012 )

The Telegraph

London Symphony Orchestra to play piece created by computer program Iamus

Computer program Imaus has created works of music so successful that world-class performers such as the London Symphony Orchestra have agreed to perform them.

The Guardian

A guide to Richard Rodney Bennett’s music

This week, Tom Service looks at a  man who composes and performs across a range of musical genres and yet has found an unmistakable and personal voice.

Homeless performers take over Royal Opera House

With One Voice, part of the London 2012 festival, marks first time homeless people have been part of Olympic celebrations.

BBC Music Magazine

London Philharmonic celebrates new high

Orchestra to perform at opening of The Shard.

NY Times

Alec Baldwin Gives $ 1 Million to New York Philharmonic

The New York Philharmonic said on Monday that it had received a gift of $1 million from Mr. Baldwin to honor Zarin Mehta, its outgoing president and executive director.

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc

Is this a record? Youtube’s favourite pianist finally has a CD

Two weeks ago, Valentina Lisitsa gave her debut recital at the Royal Albert Hall.

Join the John Cage cakewalk

BBC Proms Music Walk celebrates the centenary of John Cage with ten especially-commissioned works.

(Written on July 3, 2012 )