The Telegraph

Handel’s ‘unknown’ collaborator who was vital to his Messiah, letters show

Handel’s Messiah, one of the most recognisable pieces of classical music in the world, could have been named Jennens’ Messiah, it has been emerged, after letters from the composer himself gave credit to his “utterly unknown” collaborator.

When classical music is for adults only 

The starched suit of the concert hall is being ripped open to reveal the X-rated passions beneath, says Ivan Hewett

Classical Music Magazine

Universal bolsters classical credentials with new appointment

Universal Music Group International’s recruitment of Chaz Jenkins from LSO Live continues the company’s efforts to restore its reputation in the core classical market.

Gramophone

Polish tenor Piotr Beczala signs to Deutsche Grammophon

First release under the new agreement will be a tribute album to tenor Richard Tauber

Classic FM

Katherine Jenkins and Placido Domingo duet at Royal Variety

Mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins and tenor Placido Domingo teamed up last night for the Royal Variety Performance 2012, celebrating the show’s 100th anniversary.

Slipped Disc

Variety: London is now Hollywood’s music studio

The entertainment industry gazette has published an article on the flight of soundtrack and videogame recordings from Hollywood to Europe.

LA Times

‘Chasing Ice’ film composer J. Ralph sees climate change up close

Upon reentering his recording studio in New York’s waterlogged Lower East Side neighborhood two days after Superstorm Sandy, musician and film composer J.  Ralph was struck by how quickly the 250-gallon fish tank he keeps filled with about three dozen parrot fish had become completely fouled when the tank’s electric air pump shut off.

The New York Times – Arts Beat

Patrick Stewart to Co-Host an Evening of Very Light Opera

Patrick Stewart will bring some serious acting chops to an evening of light entertainment at the Lyric Opera of Chicago featuring the Second City sketch comedy and improv group.

The Telegraph

(Written on November 21, 2012 )

Gramophone

Sound and Music launches public consultation

New music body asks composers, arts organisations, educators and audience members to help shape its renewed vision

Classic FM

Placido Domingo to be named UNESCO ambassador

The world famous tenor is to be appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador on 21 November.

Evening Standard

Trainee teacher who stole £500,000 violin jailed

A trainee teacher who stole a rare 18th-century violin worth £500,000 has been jailed for eight months.

The Guardian

Opera for babies

Norwegian composer and performer Maja Ratkje has worked with classical groups and metal bands. But it is her opera for babies that has brought her international fame

The Telegraph

World’s Fastest Superhuman title awarded to speed violinist Ben Lee

Violinist Ben Lee, who can play Flight of the Bumblebee at an average of 15 notes per second, is declared the quickest human on the planet.

Slipped Disc

One of Europe’s biggest music libraries is about to be demolished

As part of the Dutch government’s plans to dismantle the Broadcast Music Centre in Haarlem – plans that also involve the abolition of an orchestra and chorus – one of the biggest sheet music libraries in western Europe is going to disappear.

Opera Now

Jubilee Opera presents new Lord Nelson show this weekend

Hip Hop Horatio is a new music theatre work by Michael Hurd, staged by Jubilee Opera this weekend

Limelight Magazine

Crossover queens, opera imposters: “keep off our turf!”

Let this be a warning to pop singers who want to dabble in opera, but haven’t done the hard yards.

The Guardian

(Written on November 16, 2012 )

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

(Written on October 31, 2012 )

BBC Music Magazine

An off-peak return and a spot of JS Bach

Gramophone

Sally Beamish explores new musical terrain 

The British composer embraces film and dance in her new composition based on mystical Persian poetry

(Written on October 5, 2012 )

Rhinegold

Radio 3 announces New Generation Artists

BBC Radio 3 has announced the 2012 intake of its two-year New Generation Artists scheme for emerging classical musicians.

BBC Music Magazine

First Plácido Domingo Festival to take place in Andalucía

Spanish region plays host to ten-day event

The Telegraph

Alan Hollinghurst, interview: bringing Jean Racine’s Berenice back to Britain

Former Man Booker Prize winner Alan Hollinghurst is on a mission to prove that 17th-century French tragedian Jean Racine can be loved by British theatre-goers, writes Rupert Christiansen.

Examiner (found on Musical Chairs)

Soprano Sarah Brightman to make ‘ground breaking space travel announcement’

Space.com reported Wednesday, Sept 26 that British soprano singer Sarah Brightman is due to make a “ground breaking space travel announcement” at a press conference in Moscow on Oct 10.

The Strad

Machold trial continues in November

Violin dealer will be back in court to hear more witnesses give evidence

Strad cello to go back on display

(Written on September 27, 2012 )

Classic FM

Benjamin Grosvenor’s extracurricular activities 

Jamie Crick talks to the 20 year old pianist and conductor Benjamin Grosvenor.

Arts Journal 

Russia’s foremost chorus conductor has died  

A memorial concert for Boris Tevlin has been announced for September 6th in the Great Hall of the Conservatory.

Share the pain: Atlanta musicians propose equal cuts for players and staff 

The Musicians of the ASO are threatened with a lockout next Monday unless they cave in to a massive pay cut.

Singapore opens magnificent Performing Arts Centre… with pop trash 

Michael Bublé amongst others to perform at opening of new Performing Arts Centre in Singapore.

Breaking: Covent Garden cuts new music team

The Stage reports that the Royal Opera House is shutting down ROH2 as a separate entity.

Just in: Domingo caught in storm over non-existent Norway millions 

Placido Domingo is recipient of the Kirsten Flagstad Prize next year, but there is no prize money …..

Jon Lord concerto is finally on its way

The concerto for group and orchestra by Deep Purple’s Jon Lord is to be released in October.

Gramophone

Edinburgh hosts first International Culture Summit 

Representatives from around the world discuss the harmonising effect of culture and the arts.

BBC Music Magazine 

Marin Alsop

Jeremy Pound Talks to the conductor on bringing the São Paolo Symphony Orchestra to its first ever BBC Prom.

(Written on August 16, 2012 )

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc 

Breaking: America loses one its last classics-only stores 

Music Millennium will shut down their long time classical music store, Classical Millennium in September.

The one-armed pianist who’s playing the Olympics 

The Paralympic team welcome ceremony features The British Paraorchestra.

Kate Wagner wants to open archives, but the family won’t let her

Katharina Wagner wants to come clean over Bayreuth’s Nazi past.

BBC News 

Thousands attend Three Choirs Festival 

Organizers of the Three Choirs Festival report that up to 30,000 people attended this year’s festival.

Classic FM 

Nikitin to appear in Met Opera’s Parsifal  

Opera star Yevgeny Nikitin returns to stage in the Metropolitan Opera’s forthcoming performance of Wagner’s Parsifal.

Opera’s brightest starts at Covent Garden 

Seven opera singers including Joseph Calleja, Joyce DiDonato and Plácido Domingo all take to the stage at the Royal Opera House.

China’s ‘Three Tenors’ give Olympic performance

China’s answer to the Three Tenors have performed a special concert fusing Western and Chinese classical music.

Classical Music Features in Olympic ceremony 

The world’s best classical artists descended upon Stratford for the Olympic ceremony.

(Written on July 30, 2012 )

Arts Journal- Slipped Disc 

Why Madrid pulled the plug on Barenboim: the full story 

Barenboim’s Madrid concert is cancelled….

Pianist in blasphemy trial issues defiant dance video

The composer and pianist Fazil Say has written “Dance” a new piece based on Turkish rhythms in reply to the charge he is being faced with.

Two Maestros turned 85 this week 

Kurt Masur and Michael Gielen turn 85 in the same week.

Mendelssohn gets his bust back in Dusseldorf 

The statue of Mendelssohn is reinstated on his plinth on 25^th September 2012 having been knocked down by the Nazis in 1936.

Gramophone 

RPS Society awards grants totalling £36, 500 

The Royal Philharmonic Society has awarded grants to 20 young composers and musicians.

The Guardian 

Guardagni: the first modern singer?  

Iestyn Davies explores if the castrato Gaeteno Gaurdagni was the first truly modern singer.

LA Times 

L.A Opera sets concert ‘Foscari’ with Placido Domingo, in O.C

Placido Domingo with star in a concert version in Verdi’s “The Two Foscari” as part of Los Angeles Opera’s new season.

Classic FM 

A real life Carnival of the Animals  

Sorrelli Strings perform at The Big Sheep Farm in Bideford, North Devon

(Written on July 20, 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 )