Classical News

Independent

How Tansy Davies turned 9/11 into her opera ‘Between Worlds’

Tansy Davies makes her operatic debut with a work about the attack on the Twin Towers. Despite the topic, it is a life-affirming piece, she tells Jessica Duchen

The Times

Classical is purrfect for cats

Cats don’t like Cats (the musical). Neither do leopards enjoy Def Leppard. But they might just enjoy a bit of the Rossini-derived Cat Duet.

Classic FM

Opera boss sacked over Wagner production that offended Russian Orthodox Church

The Russian government has sacked an opera director over a controversial production of Wagner’s Tannhauser, and is now considering new theatre censorship laws.

Classical Music Magazine

Shortlists for RPS Music Awards announced

The Royal Philharmonic Society has announced the nominees for this year’s RPS Music Awards. The 13 categories recognise the outstanding achievements made by artists and organisations in 2014.

BBC Music Magazine

Van Kuijk Quartet win Wigmore prize

French Quartet soars to success in International String Quartet Competition

Sinfini

EU note standardisation

A new EU directive has been passed to standardise musical pitch. The change, which takes effect on 1 July 2016, will see the frequency of the note a¢ (A above middle C) adjusted upwards, rising from 440 Hz to 450 Hz. This adjustment in pitch will only affect countries within the EU.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Neuer Operndirektor setzt umstrittenen “Tannhäuser” ab

Ein neuer Direktor, ein neuer Name für das Opernhaus und die sofortige Absetzung der umstrittenen Inszenierung: Die Entwicklung im „Tannhäuser“-Streit in Nowosibirsk entsetzt die russische Theaterwelt.

klassik.com

Paukenschlag in München: Horst Seehofers neue Konzertsaal-Pläne

Ehemaliges Olympiastadion soll mit Unterstützung des FC Bayern zum AUDItorium umgebaut werden.

epochtimes

Rostocker Theaterintendant Latchinian entlassen

Der Intendant des Rostocker Volkstheaters, Sewan Latchinian, ist fristlos entlassen worden.

The New York Times

Concert Versions Take Opera to a More Personal Level

LONDON — Staging “Aida” without elephants sounds a lot like doing “Hamlet” without Elsinore Castle.

Le Figaro 

Alagna, Dessay… Les musiciens au secours de France Musique

De Roberto Alagna à Natalie Dessay, en passant par William Christie ou Alexandre Tharaud, la fine fleur des musiciens vole au secours de la station de Radio France.

Twitter

ISM ‏@ISM_music: ‘British musicians are worth so much more than we’re given, especially as we know how arts can change lives of young people’ #MakeMusicWork

The Van Kuijk Quartet. Photo: BBC Music Magazine