Classic FM

Fungus makes violins sound ‘like Stradivarius’

The tone of a Stradivarius violin can be achieved on new violins by treating the wood with a particular fungus, a study has shown.

Paul Mealor: composers can do “anything they want”

The Classic BRIT-nominated composer says composers are no longer pigeonholed by the music industry.

The Guardian

The Proms audience: where do they go?

Some 6,000 people fill London’s Albert Hall for each of the Proms. But where does that audience go for the rest of the year?

The Telegraph

Why bandstands are making a noise again

Bandstand Marathon will be the biggest community event of the London 2012 Festival closing celebration.

The Arts Desk

3D: A First for the Last Night

How a British broadcasting institution acquired an extra dimension.

The New York Times

A Rare Breed: New Operas at the Met

ON Oct. 23 the Metropolitan Opera will offer a new production of an opera by a living composer.

BBC news Scotland

Scottish teaching union EIS critical of music fees

Scottish councils are making “profits” of almost £3m from fees charged to school pupils for instrumental music tuition, a teaching union has claimed.

Nicola Benedetti at The Last Night of the Proms, The Arts Desk.

(Written on September 10, 2012 )

Newstatesman 

Classical Music should be about more than elite parties and Private Schools 

“Exclusion in the classical music world stretches far beyond race” Andrew Mellor explores the existing tensions in the world of classical music.

Arts Journal- Slipped Disc

Oh Yuk! Smut author takes credit for classic chart success

Thomas Tallis’ Spem in Alium reaches number one in the charts after its feature in E L James’ Fifty Shades of Grey. 

Going Down: London gets an underground Orchestra 

Musician Shaun Boswell tries to remedy the lack of good music on London’s underground.

Listen Up: It’s a post-modern take on Rite of Spring 

Composer and viola player Lev Zhurbin gives a 21^st spin to folk music that Stravinsky used.

The Guardian – Music Blog 

Proms 2012: My Opera Highlights 

Tom Service picks his Opera Highlights from the programme of this year’s Proms.

BBC News 

Former Steel Worker Inspires Opera Cycle Song 

A former Steel worker and Olympic medalist Albert White inspires a community opera in Scunthorpe which featured as part of the London 2012 festival.

England’s Sistema youth orchestra programme expands 

Four new youth orchestras launch across England as a part of the In Harmony Programme inspired by Venezuela’s famous El Sistema.

Classic FM

Vivaldi’s “Bombshell” opera discovered 

A new version of Vivaldi’s Opera Orlando Furioso has been discovered in manuscript form almost 300 years after his death.

Higgs boson sounds like habanera

Newly discovered Higgs boson particle has inspired quite a different piece by Domenico Vicinanza.

Soprano’s live longer than altos  

Recent study by two doctors in Detroit suggests that Soprano’s live longer than altos.

(Written on July 16, 2012 )

The Telegraph

What Cinematic Opera Means for the Real Thing

There are drastically changing patterns of demand in the opera world: Opera audiences outside London are increasingly elderly, and no amount of proselytising in schools or groovy buy-one-get-one-free initiatives seems to arrest that worrying trend.

Gustav Holst: so much more than ‘The Planets’

Gustav Holst’s neglected ‘Indian’ works are about to be celebrated in his home town at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Independent

The Proms think big: Can the world’s leading classical festival hold its own in an Olympic year?

As a vital part of the London 2012 Festival, the pressure’s on the Proms this year – and they deliver on their own terms

Ten years ago Delphian Records released its first recording, and in celebration of a decade’s worth of chamber, choral, vocal and instrumental albums, the Scottish label will present a series of concerts at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc

How Gustav Mahler addressed the President of the United States

Apparently, at a January 1911 dinner that the music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra attended for President Howard Taft, Mahler got up and made a speech. It’s not clear from the report if he made it before the president left, but wouldn’t you like to know what he said?

The Guardian

Lina Lalandi obituary

Founding director of the English Bach festival, and a pioneer in the rediscovery of baroque opera.

James Bond lyricist Leslie Bricusse gives George Gershwin a new voice

For the first time the composer’s best-known orchestral music can be heard with words to accompany it.

The Times

A Review: Brynfest at the Festival Hall

Every Londoner became a Welshman at the weekend as the Brynfest took over the Southbank.

Lina Lalandi

(Written on July 9, 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 )

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

Damon Albarn interview: the magic and mystery of Dr Dee

Damon Albarn and Rufus Norris have let the subject of their opera Dr Dee – part of London 2012 Festival – become an obsession, says Shakespeare scholar Jonathan Bate.

How Ivor Novello’s songs may become old friends to his listeners

Ivor Novello gave much pleasure to millions, but why has he been forgotten?

El Sistema and Gustavo Dudamel: rescuing children with music

As Gustavo Dudamel’s Simon Bolivar Orchestra helps launch London 20120 Festival, Ivan Hewett travels to Venezuela to witness the music system of El Sistema that produced it – and helps to save children from lives of violence and crime.

El Sistema timeline: from a Caracas garage to the Albert Hall

The history of El Sistema, the Venezuelan musical education programme which has produced the Simon Bolivar Orchestra.

BBC Music Magazine

All BBC orchestras and BBC Singers to stay open

Newly published report recommends all ensembles continue but with ‘substantial savings’.

The Guardian

Dudamel’s heroic Beethoven challenge

Beethoven’s third symphony – the Eroica – is an exposing piece for any orchestra. Will the newly matured Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra make the grade?

LA Times

Gustavo Dudamel in talks to compose score for Simon Bolivar film

Conductor Gustavo Dudamel is expected to lend his musical talent to a new movie about the life of Simón Bolívar.

Gramophone

Takacs Quartet, Sir Mark Elder, Andrew Litton and Rachel Podger

The latest edition of the Gramophone Podcast is now online.

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc

US orch hires new music director after 25 years

The Illinois Philharmonic played happily for more than two decades with Carmen DeLeone, who retired last year.

Criticising the critics: Only one UK newspaper reviews Youtube’s hottest pianist

Somehow none of London’s critical pack found time to attend Valentina Lisitsa’s groundbreaking debut at the Royal Albert Hall.

Cologne fires opera chief

The saga of who runs opera in one of Germany’s biggest cities – and whether there will be any opera at all next year – took an upturn last night when the city fired the opera intendant, Uwe Eric Laufenberg.

NY Times

Late-Night Drinks With a Pianist

David Greilsammer, known for his inventive programs of piano works, will play one of the late-night concerts at the Mostly Mozart Festival.

(Written on June 22, 2012 )

The Guardian

José Antonio Abreu on Venezuela’s El Sistema miracle

In a rare interview, José  Antonio Abreu talks about his passion for Venezuela’s extraordinary musical programme that gives children a route out of poverty.

BBC Music Magazine

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott set up charity

Soprano Anna Netrebko and bass-baritone Erwin Schrott have created a charitable foundation to support disabled and disadvantaged children.

LA Times

Spectrum Road to pay tribute to Lifetime at Playboy Jazz Festival

Spectrum Road will explore the music of Tony Williams’ Lifetime at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc

The Water Music the BBC wouldn’t let you see or hear

The Academy of Ancient Music has published a video of its performance of Handel’s Water Music in the Royal Flotilla.

Wales thinks it has found the next Bryn Terfel

You’d expect the Welsh to be first to put up a candidate for next year’s Cardiff Singer of the World content and, sure enough, their man is on the starting line while other nations are still stuttering in rehearsal rooms.

NY Times

The American Symphony, at 50, Harcks Back to Stokowski

When Leopold Stokowski formed the American Symphony Orchestra 50 years ago, he wanted to create, in part, a training ground for young musicians.

The Times

London 2012 Festival: best classical and opera

Chief cultural critic Richard Morrison on the classical music and opera he is most looking forward to.

The New Yorker

A legendary Mendelssohn recording

Oliver Knussen, the great British composer and conductor, turned sixty on Tuesday.

Gramophone

Bach cantata manuscript sells for £337,250 at Christie’s in London

Rare example of Bach’s musical hand sells to private collector.

Missy Mazzoli named Composer-in-Residence of Opera Company of Philadelphia

Missy Mazzoli has been selected as the second Composer-in-Residence of the Opera Company of Philadelphia, in collaboration with Gotham Chamber Opera and the Music Theatre Group in New York.

(Written on June 15, 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 )

The Independent

An inventive addition to the Proms: Wallace promises a grand day out

Multi-talented Wallace is turning his hand to composing, with a new commission for this year’s Proms.

The Guardian

Proms 2012 celebrates best of Britain – youth, royalty, and Wallace & Gromit

Festival’s 118th season also features Barenboim’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra’s Beethoven cycle and marks Delius, Debussy and John Cage anniversaries.

The Times

São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra debuts at the Proms

São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra amazes audience with their new maestro, the American conductor Marin Alsop.

Commentary: Richard Morrison’s view of the Proms 2012

With an emphasis on youth and visits from three of Europe’s greatest orchestras, the Proms should more than hold its own against the Olympics.

Classical Music Magazine

New Sam letter is conciliatory after ‘divisive and unhelpful’ furore

A further open letter has been sent in the ongoing public debate over the current and future work of contemporary music organisation Sound and Music (SAM).

Norman Lebrecht

Wow! My Fair Lady at the BBC Proms

With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, this summer promises to be unlike any other, and as such the Proms is delighted to be part of the London 2012 Festival.

The political maestro they just can’t fire

We’ve been receiving further messages of discontent from South Korea about the conductor Shinik Hahm, who is now taking legal action against seven players in the KBS Symphony Orchestra for supposedly blackening his character.

Eminent cellist ends his playing career

Heinrich Schiff has pulled out of a festival in Southwest Germany, saying he no longer wants to play cello.

(Written on April 20, 2012 )