Gramophone

Joyce DiDonato releases a download-only album 

Former Gramophone Artist of the year mezzo Joyce DiDonato releases a ‘digital-only’ album on ITunes.

Arts Journal- Slipped Disc

‘Save Sibelius goes live and combative’ 

Users of Sibelius software are taking action after the owners shut down their London headquarters and stop development.

How the local German press are covering the kidnapped conductor 

Norman Lebrecht follows how the kidnapping of conductor Rodolfo Cazares is being documented by the local German press.

Richest violin contest is stunned at number of applicants… 

Having raised the prize money to 140, 000 Euros, The Joseph Joachim International Competition is inundated with applications from violinists all over the world.

The Guardian 

Glyndebourne timelapse: putting up the fairy Queen set  

David Levene gives us an insight into the workings of Glyndebourne with this timelapse video comprising of 3000 photographs taken over 12 hours.

Classic FM 

Scottish military wives for Christmas No. 1?

Following the success of the Military Wives, a group of Scottish singers is releasing an album in the hope of repeating their success.

Will Todd: Mozart would have used synthesizers 

Jubilee Composer Will Todd talks Mozart, synthesizers and performing for the queen with Classic FM’s Jamie Crick.

(Written on July 18, 2012 )

Classical Music Magazine

Breakthrough for blind musicians as Prima Vista signs deal with OUP

Ms Machell, based in Leeds, has her own music publishing and software company, Prima Vista Braille Music Services, which provides music to enable blind musicians to ‘feel the music’.

Jubilee composers miss out on BBC coverage

The event, organised by the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation, saw nine ‘music herald barges’ sail down the river, with performers on each.

LA Times

Vinny Golia to enable young talent

Vinny Golia is using his residency at the Blue Whale, which celebrates his Nine Winds label’s 35th anniversary, to showcase young musical talent.

Playboy Jazz Festival tries to broaden its appeal

The 2012 Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl will feature classic styles, jazz-rock fusions and genre pushers. Bill Cosby is the emcee.

Sonny Rollins, Esperanze Spalding head S.F. Jazz Festival lineup

Los Angeles-area jazz fans will have ample reasons to trek north on the Golden State Freeway beginning in August with the recently announced lineup of the 30th San Francisco Jazz Festival.

The Guardian

Opera North tackles Wagner’s Ring Cycle – minus the financial drama

Concert hall staging with giant video and ‘nicely blown in tubas’ keeps ticket prices down to draw Wagner virgins.

Gramophone

Obituary: Judith Nelson, early music soprano

The American soprano Judith Nelson, who has died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, was one of the most prominent voices in the early music world.

New York Times

The White Light Festival Turns to Dark-Hued Mahler

White Light, Lincoln Center’s fall festival dedicated to humanity’s spiritual side, will present Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London next season.

BBC Music Magazine

Winners of Placido Domingo’s Operalia competition announced

The first prize at the annual competition founded by tenor Plácido Domingo,Operalia, has been awarded to 29-year-old American soprano Janai Brugger.

(Written on June 13, 2012 )

It’s a long-long weekend, it’s the Jubilee Weekend – it’s a WildKat party!

The Jubilee Weekend is upon us, London is decked out in flags and all things festive and we feel compelled to share our favourite regal and patriotic music with you. That bunting would just look so out of place if it weren’t for some royal tunes to go with it.

So here are some of our favourite (some seriously superb, some simply fun) musical choices for the royal weekend! Wave those flags, get the beverages and the food out and let’s sing and sway along!

Handel – Music for the Royal Fireworks

Composer under contract of George II for the fireworks in London’s Green Park on 27 April 1749 Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks celebrated the end of the War of the Austrian Succession. When published, Handel wished to present the work as an overture but the Crown had it given the title “Music for the Royal Fireworks” as propaganda in favour of an otherwise unpopular Treaty and monarch.

Thomas Arne’s – Rule Britannia! 

Rule Britannia was  was originally composed for Alfred, a masque about Alfred the Great, and first performed at the country home of Frederick, Prince of Wales (the eldest son of George II and father of the future George III, as well as the great-grandfather of Queen Victoria), on 1 August 1740, to commemorate the accession of George II and the third birthday of the Princess Augusta.

We know several people who are huge fans of this diva-off:

Walton – Crown Imperial

Despite being composed for King George VI’s brother, Edward VIII, Crown Imperial was first performed at the coronation of King George VI in 1937.

Widor - Toccata from Symphony No 5

Probably one of Widor’s best known works, the Toccata from Symphony No. 5 for Organ has been performed at the weddings of many members of the Royal Family, including Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince William.

Haydn – “Kaiser” Quartet

To round off our playlist, we’re recommending Haydn’s String Quartet Op. 76 No. 3, which was composed while he was employed at the court of Prince Nicolaus Esterházy II and boasts the nickname ‘Emperor’ because Haydn quotes the melody from ‘God Save Emperor Francis’.

(Written on June 1, 2012 )

Guardian

March Of The Women: Discovering Classical Music’s Forgotten Voices.

The Southbank Centre’s Women of the World festival is shining a light on lost composers from Amy Beach to Lili Boulanger – and proving you have to look back to look forward.

The Telegraph

Student Laura Wright Sings Queen’s Jubilee Anthem.

Soprano Laura Wright sings her Queen’s Jubilee song Stronger as One in front of the Royal family at Westminster Abbey.

Financial Times

Let There Be Light.

After years of self-imposed seclusion, composer George Benjamin emerges with a new opera and a retrospective.

Gramophone

Seiji Ozawa To Take A Year Off.

Japanese conductor steps away from the podium to recover from ill health.

BBC Music Magazine

Violin Strings Spun From Spider Silk.

5000 strands wound together to create strings for a violin.

JDCMB

Fate is… a counter tenor?

Jessica Duchen on the UK premiere of Judith Weir’s new opera Miss Fortune.

Intermezzo

Munich audience boo silence

More booing at the opera, this time in Munich where the audience did not enjoy the silent tap dance preceding the final act.

(Written on March 13, 2012 )