Classic FM

Eric Whitacre and Danielle de Niese to host Gramophone Awards 2012

The votes are in, the classical artists and record companies are ready to go – and two of the world’s most in-demand performers are gearing up for the glamourous award ceremony.

More acts announced for Classic BRIT Awards

The Classic BRIT Awards will feature performances from Gary Barlow, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Russell Watson and more, it has been announced.

Glenn Gould’s classical music gesture app

The great pianist once had the idea that music would be created using gestures – and now a new app has made his dream a reality.

Trademark causes choc crisis for Mozart Balls

Sweet manufacturers in Austria will now be allowed to freely use the Mozart name to market their products after a ban on using the name has been lifted.

LA Times

Philip Glass, Cai Guo-Qiang named Praemium Imperiale laureates

Composer Philip Glass and artist Cai Guo-Qiang are among the recently announced laureates of the 2012 Praemium Imperiale awards, organized by the Japan Art Assn. The annual awards are considered one of the most prestigious cultural honors in the world.

Arts Journal: Slipped Disc

A fistful of dollars: how the Charles Ives House was sold

We have received the inside working of the transaction from one of the activists who worked, with great dedication and in close cooperation with the local authorities, to save the house for posterity.

Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music and Ballet Blog

Breaking news: Music is left out of education reform again

Legacy? What legacy? The runaway success of the Cultural Olympiad and the London 2012 Festival looked set to prove to everyone that the UK’s arts scene is second to none. But that’s meaningless without the follow-up of lasting care and attention at grass-roots level – ie, in education.

Classical-music, BBC Music Magazine

Mozart’s The Magic Flute at ENO

Nicholas Hytner’s production stands the test of time

NPR, Deceptive Cadence

Trifonov’s Triumph: Tchaikovsky, Twice Over

At just 21 years old, Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov, the most recent winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition, is zooming into the classical music stratosphere — and with his new album he’s out to prove he’s here to stay.

Classic FM

(Written on September 19, 2012 )

The Independent

Delius: How a great British musical myth was born

A BBC film will shed light on the enigma of Frederick Delius.

The Guardian

Beethoven’s 10th? Now there’s a thought…

The composer had plans to create ‘a new gravitional force’ in his 10th symphony. What wonders might he have written?

LA Times

The Met reverse policy, will allow Opera News to review productions

Reacting to a mini-firestorm that erupted today with the news that the Metropolitan Opera would no longer allow Opera News to review its performances, the company reversed its decision early this afternoon.

Video game Diabolo III features performances by Pacific Symphony

The Pacific Symphony performs music for an unlikely audience — gamers battling the hellish underworlds of Diablo III.

Financial Times

Passion for Bach and the Baroque 

Early music revolutionary Ton Koopman is sitll flying the flag for authenticity.

Gramophone

Double appointment at Royal Danish Opera

Michael Boder named principal conductor and Sven Müller named artistic director.

Verbier Festival launches summer music camp for young musicians

Annual three-week programme to led by Daniel Harding.

Arts Journal – Slipped Disc

Natalie Dessay – are we losing her?

She has cancelled next month’s Manon at La Scala for ‘health reasons’.

The Times

Curtain rises on a feast of opera

The Magic Flute will line up alongside some extraordinary new works in Scottish Opera’s confident 50th anniversary season.

(Written on May 23, 2012 )

LA Times

Meryl Streep Explains How Opera Training Helps Her Vocal Control.

Among the many pleasures of Meryl Streep’s “Fresh Air” interview that aired Monday on NPR is the actress’ discussion of her operatic training during her youth.

Telegraph

Mozart Goes To Africa In A Large Lorry.

Rupert Christiansen applauds a new plan to take a flat-pack version of Die Zauberflöte through Africa.

The Opera Novice: Passion For Puccini’s Tosca.

Benjamin Britten looked down on Puccini’s Tosca. But Sameer Rahim was thrilled by his first taste of the ‘shabby little shocker’.

Gramophone

Nicola Luisottie To Head Teatro Di San Carlo.

Conductor named music director of the Naples theatre.

The Harpsichordist János Sebestyén Has Died.

Born March 2nd, 1931, died February 4th, 2012.

ENO Announces The Charles Mackerras Fellowship.

New conducting award for emerging talent.

Guardian

Purcell And A Pint – Welcome To A New Kind Of Classical Concert.

Maggie Faultless and her fellow musicians from the OAE are on a pub crawl which is changing the way they play and audiences listen.

Pass Notes No. 3,119: Curse Of The Ninth Symphony.

Composers have a tendency to pop off after their ninth symphony.

Thelma: An Opera World Premiere.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s opera Thelma is getting its very belated premiere this week. In 2012, the centenary of his death, will Croydon’s most famous musical son finally get the recognition that has so long been denied him?

Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music Blog

What The Dickens?

Jessica Duchen wonders why isn’t there more music inspired by the works of Dickens.

New Yorker

Number Nine.

A new symphony and classic works by Philip Glass.

The composer in New York City in 1983. Photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe (http://nyr.kr/zMNliL)

(Written on February 8, 2012 )