In today’s news: Dutch pianist experiences sudden fame on Spotify, listen to Putin’s piano performance and Queen Elizabeth Competition announced semi-finalists. Carolin Widmann and baritone Christian Gerhaher receive Bavarian State Prize for Music, and Martin Fröst becomes principal conductor of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra.

The Telegraph

‘Music Is at Its Most Beautiful when It’s Painful’: Graham Vick, the Man Saving Opera in Britain

On the lawn at Glyndebourne, looking towards a clump of silver birch and lime trees in the distance, Graham Vick gives me some advice: “If you’re not happy with your life, plant some seeds and grow the world you want to live in.”

The Guardian

From Kitchen Composer to Spotify Star – Dutch Pianist Hits Big Time

A Dutch amateur musician has given up his day job after seeing his self-released recordings streamed online more than 85 million times.

The Strad

Queen Elisabeth Competition 2017 Names 24 Cello Semi-Finalists

The 24 international cellists are competing for a grand prize of €25,000 in Brussels from 8 May to 3 June 2017

Classical Music Magazine

NYOS Announces 2017 Colin MacLean Bursary Fund Recipient

The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland has awarded the 2017 Colin MacLean Bursary Fund to French horn player Diana Sheach.

The Violin Channel

Zurich University Announces Appointment of 2 New String Faculty Teachers

The Zurich University of the Arts has announced the appointment of violinists Alexander Sitkovetsky and Sergey Malov to their string teaching faculty

Classic FM

Vladimir Putin Just Played The Piano In Between Meetings… And It Was Not Impressive

The Russian president took a couple of minutes out ahead of bilateral talks with the Chinese President Xi Jinping… to play the piano.

NMZ

München: Rundfunk- und Medienrat lehnen Bayerischer Musikrat-Vertreter ab

Der Bayerische Musikrat als Spitzenorganisation der Musik in Bayern erhebt Einspruch gegen die Ablehnung der von ihm benannten Vertreter als wahlberechtigte Mitglieder im Rundfunkrat und Medienrat.

Klassik.com

Bayerischer Staatspreis für Christian Gerhaher und Carolin Widmann

Die Geigerin Carolin Widmann und der Bariton Christian Gerhaher sind mit dem diesjährigen Bayerischen Staatspreis für Musik ausgezeichnet worden. Die Preisverleihung fand im Münchner Cuvilliés-Theater statt.

Musik Heute

Martin Fröst wird Chefdirigent des Swedish Chamber Orchestra

Der schwedische Klarinettist und Dirigent Martin Fröst wird neuer Chefdirigent des Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Der 46-Jährige übernimmt zur Saison 2019/20 die Nachfolge von Thomas Dausgaard, teilte das Orchester am Montag mit.

Ottawa Citizen

Music students win big at NAC Orchestra bursary competition

Music students studying in Ottawa and Gatineau won more than $20,000 in prizes this week during the 37th annual National Arts Centre Orchestra’s 2017 Bursary Competition.

El Mundo

Rebelión en los conservatorios

Profesores interinos en huelga tocan sus instrumentos ante la Delegación de Educación en Jaén este miércoles.

Twitter

Elbphilharmonie‏Verifizierter Account @elbphilharmonie
“Alle waren von der Schönheit des Raums in den Bann geschlagen.” – Den @BerlinPhil hat es wohl bei uns gefallen!

Carolin Widmann, © Steffen Leiprecht