BACKGuardian
7 ways a streaming iTunes could compete with Spotify and its rivals
Apple rumoured to be in talks with labels over on-demand service. How will it disrupt the competition?
Roger Wright to leave BBC after 15 years as Radio 3 controller
Director of the BBC Proms exits corporation to become chief executive of Aldeburgh music festival.
Who will replace Roger Wright at the BBC – and will his job even continue to exist?
Wright’s dual role at the BBC sees him as controller of Radio 3 and director of the Proms. There will be plenty of candidates for the latter role, but few will have appetite for the former.
Classical Music Magazine
San Diego Opera to close due to financial pressures
Financial strains affecting music organisation across the US have brought a surprise closure announcement from the San Diego Opera.
Sinfini Music
Why children shouldn’t sing opera
A nine-year old Dutch girl is about to release a CD of operatic arias on Simon Cowell’s Syco label. Operatic tenor Christopher Gillett, aged 50+, thinks the whole idea of children singing opera is wrong, wrong, wrong.
The Washington Post
Eschenbach’s NSO contract extended through 2016-17
The Kennedy Center and the National Symphony Orchestra have announced that the contract of their director, Christoph Eschenbach, will be extended through 2016-17.
The Huffington Post
Japanese Pianist Yoshiki Battles Holographic Version Of Himself
Well known for his flair on stage, at this year’s South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, pianist Yoshiki Hayashi took the stage with his virtual counterpart to duet.
Süddeutsche Magazin
Die französische Pianistin Hélène Grimaud wird auf der ganzen Welt gefeiert. Aber am besten geht es ihr, wenn sie sich wie ein Staubkorn im Universum fühlt. Sagt sie. Und das meint sie ernst.
Classical music on twitter
Schools Music Association @SchoolsMusicUK “Schools Music Association votes to become part of the ISM http://www.schoolsmusic.org.uk/sma-news/2014/3/25/schools-music-association-votes-to-become-part-of-the-ism.html/”
Stephen P Brown @Stephen_P_Brown “New #OrchChat Monday 7:30pm EDT – Ignoring classical music: instant gratification/ attention span http://www.stephenpbrown.com/classical-music-ignored/”
Eric Whitacre @EricWhitacre “At some point the pain of the deadline becomes greater than the pain of indecision. Deadlines are the only reason I finish anything.”
the listener “@inthetheatre Could San Diego’s opera closure happen in Chicago? @scoopit http://sco.lt/8HdMUj”
George @OperaCreep “Aha…new BBC Directors for Arts and Music just announced…clearly Roger Wright didn’t fit in the structure http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/bbc-arts-release.html”
Guardian