Classical News

In today’s news Richard Morrison asks if playing from memory is a gimmick or a bold feat of collective virtuosity ahead of the Aurora Orchestra’s BBC Proms concerts. Lesley Garrett is to record an appeal for Help Musicians UK, which will be broadcast on Radio 4 this month. Also, Tête à Tête opera festival announces it’s 2015 season including 40 new works to be performed throughout the three weeks.

Guardian

The National’s Bryce Dessner on the American landscapes that inspire him

Ahead of a concert series in London of new music exploring the American musical landscape, the musician selects seven works that provide fertile ground for his imagination

Telegraph

Christian Gerhaher: the most moving singer in the world

Ahead of his unmissable UK dates, German baritone Christian Gerhaher is mercifully modest, finds Rupert Christiansen

The Times

Richard Morrison: Is playing from memory a party trick or a musical revelation?

A gimmick or a bold feat of collective virtuosity?

Classical Music Magazine

Lesley Garrett records appeal for Help Musicians UK

Opera singer Lesley Garrett CBE is recording an appeal for Help Musicians UK, to be broadcast on Radio 4 in May.

Tête à Tête announces 2015 opera festival

Tête à Tête has unveiled the programme for its 2015 opera festival, which will feature more than 100 performances and 40 new works over the course of three weeks.

Die Welt

Ausschuss prüft Kostenexplosion bei Staatsoper

Alles wird teurer und dauert länger: Die Sanierung der Berliner Staatsoper entwickelt sich ähnlich wie Hamburgs Elbphilharmonie. Jetzt soll ein Untersuchungsausschuss das Debakel aufklären.

Süddeutsche Zeitung

Der Junge mit der Posaune

Der Kranzberger Felix Schlüter hat den Jugendkulturpreis des Landkreises gewonnen. Für sein Instrument, die Bassposaune, braucht er einen langen Atem – und auch für seine Traumkarriere.        

pizzicato

Neue, kostenlose ‘Opera Platform’ ist online

Ab dem heutigen 8. Mai gibt es für europäische Internetnutzer eine neue Online-Opernplattform.

The Irish Times

Béla Bartók: how music broadened the mind of a ‘nationalist’ composer

The innovative musician’s biographer traces his journey from Hungarian patriot to a synthesiser of not just folk and classical music but also of neighbouring cultures

JDCMB

Breaking news: rising star decamps from Royal Ballet

The ballerina Melissa Hamilton is to leave Covent Garden for a year in order to work with the Semperoper Ballet in Dresden during 2016, as a principal dancer.

Twitter

Sam Jackson ‏@classicjacko: What would a Conservative majority mean for music? Here’s @NickFerrariLBC‘s @ClassicFM interview with David Cameron: http://www.classicfm.com/music-news/david-cameron-music-education/ …