The Telegraph

New Royal Opera House chief: runners and riders

Rupert Christiansen picks out the top contenders for the position of Royal Opera House Chief Executive.

LA Times

James Conlon plans to stay at the Los Angeles Opera through 2018

The 62-year-old conductor has renewed his contract with the Los Angeles Opera for five more years, and will remain music director at least through the end of the 2017-18 season.

Classic FM

Newcastle Council U-turn on arts funding cuts plan

Newcastle City Council has backed down on plans to cut 100% of arts funding in the city, news which has delighted arts leaders throughout the country.

Oscar-nominated director Michael Haneke directs Mozart opera

Michael Haneke’s second directorial job on a full opera will premiere on Saturday, as Mozart’s Cose Fan Tutte takes to the stage in Madrid.

Classical Music Magazine

Peregrine’s Pianos offers exclusive tour of Schimmel factory

London piano merchant Peregrine’s Pianos is organising a trip for up to 20 guests to Schimmel’s factory in Braunschweig, Germany, to enjoy the opportunity ‘to wander around the factory, try the pianos and ask the questions they’ve always wanted to ask’.

DW (via Arts Journal)

Berlin project takes opera to unexpected places

Dreary period pieces? Pricey tickets? Stuffy atmosphere? Not at the Kiez Oper! Aiming to bring opera to new audiences, the group behind the Berlin project is staging its latest production in an abandoned swimming pool.

Classical Music Magazine