BACKMasabane Cecilia Rangwanasha wins Song Prize at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2021
Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha has been named the winner of the Song Prize in this year’s BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. The 27-year-old South African soprano dazzled the judging panel – chaired by Wigmore Hall artistic and executive director John Gilhooly, with soprano Roberta Alexander and bass-baritone Neal Davies – with performances of Schubert’s famous Lied Gretchen am Spinnrade; Tyamzashe’s Isithandwa Sam, a song performed in in the Xhosa language; Liszt’s Die Lorelei and Betty Jackson King’s spiritual Ride up in the chariot.
Of her diverse programme, Rangwanasha says, ‘I wanted to show the audience that they can enjoy both worlds: spirituals, the more standard Lieder repertoire and also my traditional South African Lieder.’
SWR cancelt geistliche Musik – Christliche Kirchen sind empört
Letzten Monat richtete die Evangelische Kirche der Pfalz mit einer großen Anzahl prominenter Unterstützerinnen und Unterstützer einen Offenen Brief an den Intendanten des Südwestrundfunks Prof. Dr. Kai Gniffke. Ziel des Offenen Briefs ist es, den geplanten Wegfall der Sendung „SWR2 Geistliche Musik“ zu verhindern.
Auch der Präsident des Landesmusikrats Rheinland-Pfalz hat den Brief mit unterzeichnet und unterstützt das Anliegen – gerade im Jahr der Orgel – aus tiefer Überzeugung.
SWR cancels sacred music programm – Christian churches are outraged
Last month, the Protestant Church of the Pfalz, together with a large number of prominent supporters, sent an Open Letter to the Director-General of Südwestrundfunk Prof. Dr. Kai Gniffke. The object of the Open Letter was to prevent the planned cancellation of the programme “SWR2 Geistliche Musik” (SWR2 Sacred Music).
The President of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Music Council also signed the letter and is supporting the cause – especially in the Year of the Organ – out of deep conviction.
Louis Langrée va quitter l’Orchestre symphonique de Cincinnati
Louis Langrée, directeur musical depuis 2012, a annoncé mercredi qu’il ne se serait pas candidat à sa propre succession à la tête de l’Orchestre symphonique de Cincinnati, où son mandat doit s’achever à la fin de la saison 2023-2024. « Une chose doit être claire : je ne pars pas parce que j’ai une autre offre d’un autre orchestre », a déclaré l’intéressé au Cincinnati Inquirer.
« Et ce n’est pas parce que je suis frustré ou malheureux. Au contraire. Avant de venir à Cincinnati, même dans mes meilleurs rêves, je n’aurais pas imaginé que ce serait une période aussi profondément heureuse pour moi. Mais mon objectif est de partir sur une bonne note. Et je pense que c’est maintenant le moment. »
Louis Langrée to leave Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Louis Langrée, music director since 2012, announced on Wednesday that he would not apply for his own succession as head of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, where his mandate is to end at the closing of the 2023-2024 season. “One thing needs to be clear: I’m not leaving because I have an offer from another orchestra.”, said the director to the Cincinnati Inquirer.
“And it’s not because I’m frustrated or unhappy. On the contrary. Before I came to Cincinnati, even in my best dreams, I wouldn’t have imagined that this would be such a profoundly happy time for me. But my goal is to leave on a high note. And I think now’ s the time.”