BACKIn today’s news: Homophobia in Hungary leads Hungarian National Opera to cancel Billy Elliot shows. World Choir Games to be held in Belgium in 2020. Royal Opera House warns politicians to act on freedom of movement following Brexit. UK Music urges British MEPs to back copyright reform. BBC Proms to hold free event outside of Royal Albert Hall.
The Irish News
Royal Opera House issues warning on ease of movement with EU
The Royal Opera House has warned politicians to act on the issue of ease of movement of international talent following the EU referendum.
The Telegraph
Royal Ballet musical director steps in to save the day… only for audience members to leave
When the harpist of the Royal Opera House failed to turn up to a performance of Swan Lake, Koen Kessels, the musical director of the Royal Ballet, bravely stepped forward and decided to accompany the orchestra on the piano himself.
The Strad
Nicola Benedetti joins ESTA UK as president
Scottish violinist is expected to sit for a three- to four-year term as head of European String Teachers Association’s UK chapter.
Limelight
Homophobic press sees Hungarian Billy Elliot season cut short
Hungarian National Opera has cancelled over half the performances in its production of Billy Elliot following a barrage of homophobic press from the daily newspaper Magyar Idők, which ran a series of articles claiming the production could “transform Hungarian boys into homosexuals”, the Daily Star reported, with another article claiming such shows promoted a “deviant way of life”.
Music Week
UK Music urges British MEPs to back copyright reform
Rhinegold
BBC Proms announces free ‘curtain raiser’ event
The BBC Proms has announced a free evening event to be held outside the Royal Albert Hall on 12 July.
Pizzicato
11th World Choir Games 2020 to be held in Flanders
The region of Flanders in Belgium, with the cities Antwerp and Ghent, will host the 11th World Choir Games. The event, which is also considered the ‘Olympics of Choral Music’ will take place from July 5-15, 2020 and attract thousands of singers from Europe and all over the world.
klassik.com
Fritz-Gerber-Awards an Nachwuchsmusiker vergeben
Die Fritz-Gerber-Stiftung zeichnet in diesem Jahr den Geiger Alexandre Guy, die Saxophonistin Sara Zazo Romero und den Schlagzeuger Thomas Soldati mit dem stiftungseigenen Award aus.
Der Tagesspiegel
Salonkonzert in der Truman-Villa: Das „Quatuor Bestaendig“ spielt im Rahmen der Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci Werke jüdischer Komponisten.
Musik Heute
Frischer Wind beim Richard-Strauss-Festival
Alexander Liebreich ist ein Mann klarer Worte. “Nein, in diesem Saal wird kein Konzert stattfinden. Das ist ein Unort.” Der Dirigent und neue Intendant des am Freitag beginnenden Richard-Strauss-Festivals in Garmisch-Partenkirchen meint den reichlich ungemütlichen Werdenfels-Saal im Kongresszentrum der Olympiastadt.
“Mein wunderbares Orchester und mein wundervolles Berliner Publikum, Sie sind tief in meinem Herzen gebunden. Danke für alles.”
Sir Simon Rattle #GoodbyeSirSimon
Read more @ https://t.co/7ghRyh4Hwi pic.twitter.com/wyFDtsg1wd— Berlin Philharmonic (@BerlinPhil) June 21, 2018
Hungarian National Opera’s production of Billy Elliot. Photo ©