The Guardian

Staging of Stockhausen’s helicopter string quartet scores key prize

Royal Philharmonic Society praises rare performance of Mittwoch aus Licht by Birmingham Opera Company

The Telegraph

Singing in English: It’s harder than you think

Rupert Christiansen visits The Association of English Singers and Speakers to explore the many difficulties of singing in English.

The Times

Rossini’s opera, La donna del lago heads a tartan takover at ROH

Not many opera directors would admit that their latest production had been inspired by Mel Gibson’s Braveheart or the preposterous sci-fi fantasy Highlander

The Times of India (via Musical Chairs)

Letter found from Britain’s greatest opera composer’s drawer shows his love for Ravi Shankar

Curators sifting through thousands of objects belonging to Britain’s musical geniuses composer Benjamin Britten and opera singer Peter Pears have stumbled upon an ink written page in their private diaries where the duo recalls their experience of having heard Pandit Ravi Shankar perform live.

BBC News

How does the oldest grand piano sound?

The oldest-surviving English grand piano, one of the first ever made, was built by the piano maker Americus Backers in London in 1772 and has now been returned by English Heritage to the home of its former owner, the Duke of Wellington.

Classical Source

Barbican Launches Beyond Barbican With A Summer Of World-Class Arts Across East London

The Barbican today launches Beyond Barbican with a summer of arts events outside the walls of the Barbican Centre featuring pop-up performances, commissions and collaborations across east London.

Limelight Magazine

Arts proven to combat Alzheimers

New British study proves the benefits of the Arts in treating patients with debilitating mental disease.

Gramophone

Dame Janet Baker hosts the 2013 RPS Awards

Awards for Karabits, Philharmonia and the Heath Quartet

The Telegraph

(Written on May 15, 2013 )

The Independent

Placido Domingo to receive ceremonial Freedom of the City of London

Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo is in the UK today (16th April) to receive the ceremonial Freedom of the City of London.

Classic FM

Giacchino calls for John Williams to score Star Wars VII

Film composer Michael Giacchino has revealed that he wants to hear a John Williams soundtrack for the new Star Wars movie, despite speculation that he would be commissioned to compose it.

Gramophone

Great Britons with Britten

A new set of ten stamps, released today by the Royal Mail, celebrates ten Great Britons – and it’s encouraging to see a classical composer acknowledged in his centenary year, Benjamin Britten.

New York Times

Jörg Widmann – On Clarinet, The Composer

Two years ago, in the intimate Rose Studio high above West 65th Street, the German composer and clarinetist Jörg Widmann opened a Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center concert with a performance of his Fantasie for Solo Clarinet, inspired by commedia dell’arte.

The Guardian

The hidden treasures of Covent Garden: spangles, gilt and a singing green head

Relics from the Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet’s most famous productions are wheeled out of storage for preservation.

BBC Music Magazine

Sir Colin Davis: Obituary

The conductor Sir Colin Davis has died at the age of 85.

The Independent

(Written on April 16, 2013 )

The Guardian

It’s a man’s world… but why is sexism ingrained in the arts?

Once again, the top jobs at two major British cultural institutions, the BBC and the Royal Opera House, have gone to male appointees

The Telegraph

Poulenc: a composer who deserves greater recognition

Fifty years after his death, Poulenc deserves a better anniversary showing, says Ivan Hewett

The New York Times

A Bridge for Two Bicentenary Rivals

Wagner and Verdi are destined to be linked forever, however awkwardly, since they were both born in 1813: Wagner in Leipzig, Germany, on May 22; Verdi in little Roncole, Italy, in the Duchy of Parma, on Oct. 9 or 10.

Gramophone

UNESCO names Tan Dun a Goodwill Ambassador

Chinese composer recognised for his efforts to promote intercultural dialogue through music

Deceptive Cadence

Marches Madness: Mahler’s Twisted Nursery Rhyme

It’s Marches Madness! Throughout this month, we’re posting some of our favorite marches — from the concert hall, opera stage and parade ground.

New Scientist

Electronic violin turns laser signals into music

THE sound of a violin bow across strings can be exquisite. But bowing well is hard to master. Now that smooth grace is encapsulated in a new kind of electronic instrument.

Music Industry News Network

Kelstone, A New Musical Instrument

The essence of the Kelstone is that the hands lie on top of the strings, giving the player enormous new possibilities for harmony and expression

Music Industry News Network

(Written on March 25, 2013 )

The Guardian 

Alex Beard, deputy director of Tate, to succeed Tony Hall as head of Royal Opera House

Alex Beard helped build Tate Modern, but has never worked in opera or dance. Now he is to take on one of Britain’s most prominent arts jobs – boss of the Royal Opera House

The Telegraph

There is no secret formula to music’s mystery

Despite scientists’ best efforts, the magic of harmonic beauty will remain an enigma

New York Times

Record Ticket Sales for Bowie Exhibition in London

‘David Bowie Is’, a major retrospective of the British singer’s career and cultural influence, which opens at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Saturday, has sold over 42,000 advance tickets, more than double the amount generated by any previous exhibition at the museum.

New York Times

Mariinsky Theater Plans Star-Studded Opening of New Opera House

The Mariinsky Theater in Russia announced on Tuesday plans for a three-day celebration to mark the opening of the new Mariinsky II opera house in St. Petersburg in May.

Gramophone

Tine Thing Helseth launches new festival

The Norwegian trumpeter invites renowned artists to the Munch Museum in Oslo

Music Week

UK music revenues will be more than 50% digital this year – BPI’s Wadsworth

BPI chairman Tony Wadsworth CBE has echoed optimistic predictions for the music industry as the digital age develops, saying that the UK will this year move into a majority digital music market.

The Telegraph

(Written on March 20, 2013 )

Earlier this week, the Royal Opera House announced their exciting programme for the 2013/2014 season, which can be seen here, generating a discussion in the office about how we choose which operas we would like to see.

Watch our video blog below to find out what we are looking forward to and why:

Are you looking forward to the 2013/2014 season at the Royal Opera House as much as we are? Tell us what you would like to see and why?

(Written on March 15, 2013 )

The Telegraph

Opera singers need to be sensitive

Royal Opera House director of music Antonio Pappano is wrong to moan about stars who cancel shows, says Rupert Christiansen.

The Times

Royal Opera’s Nabucco conductor: Verdi represents the Italian people

To paraphrase the great football sage Bill Shankly, for the conductor Nicola Luisotti the music of Giuseppe Verdi isn’t a matter of life and death.

Classical Music Magazine

Ticciati renews contract with SCO until 2018, as 2013/14 season announced

Scottish Chamber Orchestra principal conductor Robin Ticciati is to renew his contract with the orchestra until 2018, it was revealed today as part of the announcement of the orchestra’s 40th anniversary season in 2013-14.

New Music Box

Reports of the Death of Opera Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Two worthy and penetrating studies of opera take as their premise the idea that the form is dead.

Huffington Post

‘Play Me I’m Yours’: The Global Public Piano Project Scatters Keys Across Monterey For All To Play

If you find yourself walking the streets of Monterey, California, and pass by a piano curiously stationed in your path, there’s no need to scratch your head.

The Guardian

BitTorrent goes straight in effort to end association with piracy

Company best known for enabling illegal file-sharing attempts to find a solution to music industry’s downloading problem

Music Week

ACM launches new fast-track courses

ACM (The Academy of Contemporary Music) is to offer all new performance and production students an Accelerated Learning Programme, to enable them to graduate with a degree aged 19.

Huffington Post

(Written on March 15, 2013 )

The Guardian

Royal Opera music director rails at young opera stars’ ‘weakness’

Antonio Pappano claims that ‘they are weaker in their bodies or don’t care’ and are too ready to pull out of productions

The Independent

Justin Bieber song ‘Beauty And A Beat’ gets classical revamp on Radio 3 for Comic Relief

Teen pop idol Justin Bieber is unlikely to be heard on highbrow Radio 3, but he will be this week when one of his hits gets a classical makeover.

Gramophone

Royal Opera to stage Verdi’s Les Vepres siciliennes with the ballet intact

Covent Garden premiere is the highlight of a busy 2013-14 season including seven new productions

Classic FM

Pope Francis loves opera

Never mind pop music, we’re talking Pope music – and it seems the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergolio is a particular fan of opera.

BBC Music Magazine

Winners of South Bank Sky Arts Awards announced

Scottish Opera and London Philharmonic Orchestra take home prizes

Music Week

Twitter Music app to launch within weeks – report

Social media platform Twitter is to launch its own standalone app after acquiring music discovery platform We Are Hunted.

Classic FM

(Written on March 14, 2013 )

The Telegraph

The Big Question: There’s an anti-intellectualism in Britain

The first of the Big Question debates at the Royal Opera House prompted composer Mark-Anthony Turnage to say there’s anti-intellectualism in Britain.

Classical Music Magazine

ABRSM’s new chief executive vows to improve infrastructure

The new chief executive of ABRSM says he will continue the work of his predecessor in improving the organisation’s infrastructure, following last year’s ‘major issues’ with exams.

BBC Music Magazine

Join us for this year’s BBC Music Magazine Awards

Champagne, canapés and live music with the classical music world

Classic FM

Valentina Lisitsa plays for stranded passengers

The YouTube sensation surprised passengers stranded at London’s St Pancras International Station, performing an impromptu concert after her Eurostar train was cancelled.

Vasily Petrenko extends RLPO contract

Chief conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Vasily Petrenko has extended his contract for the foreseeable future, with a three-year notice period.

Classical Source

Top of The Baroque For Red Nose Day

This week on BBC Radio 3, presenters Suzy Klein, Sara Mohr-Pietsch, Jez Nelson and Tom Service will embark on a battle of classical prowess for Comic Relief, competing against each other to be crowned Top of the Baroque.

Marketplace Life (via Arts Journal)

Can I see your violin’s paperwork?

Imagine you’re traveling abroad. The to-do list can be long. Book your flight, pack a toothbrush — and if you’re a musician like John Thomas, you may soon need a passport for your instrument.

Classic FM

(Written on March 13, 2013 )

The Independent

Who was Diana Kurzman? Donor leaves £1m for classical music

Posthumous gift to Arts Council England comes 10 years after mysterious piano-lover’s death

Classic FM

Royal Opera House and Guildhall School to collaborate

The Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Royal Opera House have announced a range of postgraduate opportunities for young opera composers.

E-Releases (via musicalchairs.info)

Charleston Symphony’s Harpist to Swim New Zealand’s Cook Strait

49-year-old musician, City Council member, and world class marathon swimmer will brave tough currents to complete the fifth trek of her “Ocean’s 7″ swims

Classical Source

The Royal Opera: Casting Announcement For Don Carlo

German soprano Anja Harteros has withdrawn from singing the role of Elizabeth of Valois in Don Carlos for the final four performances in May

Classical Source

London Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Composing Talent With LSO Futures Curated By François-Xavier Roth [9-13 April 2013]

LSO Futures celebrates composers at the cutting edge of music today through a week of events at the Barbican and LSO St Luke’s, including two concerts curated by François-Xavier Roth

Classical Source

Marie-Claire Alain Dies Aged 86

The French organist Marie-Claire Alain has died at the age of 86

The Independent 

(Written on February 27, 2013 )

The Telegraph

New Royal Opera House chief: runners and riders

Rupert Christiansen picks out the top contenders for the position of Royal Opera House Chief Executive.

LA Times

James Conlon plans to stay at the Los Angeles Opera through 2018

The 62-year-old conductor has renewed his contract with the Los Angeles Opera for five more years, and will remain music director at least through the end of the 2017-18 season.

Classic FM

Newcastle Council U-turn on arts funding cuts plan

Newcastle City Council has backed down on plans to cut 100% of arts funding in the city, news which has delighted arts leaders throughout the country.

Oscar-nominated director Michael Haneke directs Mozart opera

Michael Haneke’s second directorial job on a full opera will premiere on Saturday, as Mozart’s Cose Fan Tutte takes to the stage in Madrid.

Classical Music Magazine

Peregrine’s Pianos offers exclusive tour of Schimmel factory

London piano merchant Peregrine’s Pianos is organising a trip for up to 20 guests to Schimmel’s factory in Braunschweig, Germany, to enjoy the opportunity ‘to wander around the factory, try the pianos and ask the questions they’ve always wanted to ask’.

DW (via Arts Journal)

Berlin project takes opera to unexpected places

Dreary period pieces? Pricey tickets? Stuffy atmosphere? Not at the Kiez Oper! Aiming to bring opera to new audiences, the group behind the Berlin project is staging its latest production in an abandoned swimming pool.

Classical Music Magazine

(Written on February 22, 2013 )