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18th January: Musician’s Union call on Edinburgh Council, Reinbert de Leeuw, classical music concerts by candlelight

Tuesday 18th February 2020

Musician’s Union call on Edinburgh Council to save music services

The Musician’s Union (MU) has created a petition that calls on the City of Edinburgh Council to let every child learn music. In response to the City of Edinburgh Council’s proposed cuts to its music services, the MU has created a petition that calls on the council to rethink their plans. The petition objects to the council’s proposed cuts of £150,000 in 2021/22 and £350,000 in 2022/23, and can be signed here. On Friday 14 February groups gathered outside Edinburgh City Chambers in order to protest the potential cuts by the City of Edinburgh Council.

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Dirigent, Pianist und Komponist Reinbert de Leeuw gestorben

Der Dirigent, Pianist und Komponist Reinbert de Leeuw ist verstorben, das gab seine Familie der Zeitung “de Volkskrant” bekannt. Der niederländische Musiker wurde 81 Jahre alt.
Reinbert de Leeuw wurde am 8. September 1938 in Amsterdam geboren. In seiner Heimatstadt studierte er Klavier und Musiktheorie, daran schloss er ein Kompositionsstudium bei Kees van Baaren in Den Haag an. Neben seiner Tätigkeit als Dozent am Konservatorium in Den Haag gründete er 1974 das Schönberg Ensemble. In seinen späteren Jahren war de Leeuw als künstlerischer Leiter beim Aldebourgh Festival 1992, beim Tanglewood Festival (1994 bis 1998) sowie bei der NJO Summer Academy (2001 bis 2010) tätig. Ab 2004 hatte er eine Professur an der Universität in Leiden inne, auch beriet er das Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Sein Interesse galt sowohl der klassischen als auch der zeitgenössischen Musik. Für seine Arbeit wurde er 1994 mit einem Ehrendoktortitel der Universität Utrecht, 2002 mit dem Edison Music Award und 2008 mit einem Ritterschlag geehrt.

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Conductor, pianist and composer Reinbert de Leeuw died

The conductor, pianist and composer Reinbert de Leeuw has died, his family announced this to the newspaper “de Volkskrant”. The Dutch musician turned 81 years old.
Reinbert de Leeuw was born on September 8, 1938 in Amsterdam. He studied piano and music theory in his home town, followed by composition studies with Kees van Baaren in The Hague. Besides his work as a lecturer at the Conservatory in The Hague, he founded the Schönberg Ensemble in 1974. In his later years de Leeuw was artistic director of the Aldebourgh Festival 1992, the Tanglewood Festival (1994-1998) and the NJO Summer Academy (2001-2010). From 2004 he held a professorship at the University of Leiden and also advised the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. His interest was in both classical and contemporary music. For his work he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Utrecht in 1994, the Edison Music Award in 2002 and a knighthood in 2008

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À Paris, la musique classique se (re)découvre à la lueur des bougies

Déjà populaire dans d’autres capitales européennes, le concept des concerts de musique classique à la bougie fait désormais sensation à Paris. Quelques notes de Chopin jouées au piano, dans une église éclairée à la bougie. Voici le concept de Candlelight qui, depuis six mois, fait un carton à Paris. Des concerts se déroulant dans des lieux atypiques – de la Cathédrale américaine à la Maison des océans – et mettant à l’honneur des grands compositeurs tels que Beethoven, Vivaldi ou Mozart. À chacune de ses prestations, le pianiste Eric Artz – qui se produit en alternance avec d’autres musiciens – débute par un petit sondage : qui, au sein du public, a déjà assisté à un concerto ? Résultat, nous confie-t-il, « environ 70% » du public est composé de néophytes.

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In Paris, classical music is (re)discovered by candlelight.

Already popular in other European capitals, the concept of classical music concerts by candlelight is now causing a sensation in Paris. A few notes by Chopin played on the piano in a church lit by candlelight. This is the concept of Candlelight, which has been a hit in Paris for the past six months. Concerts are held in atypical venues – from the American Cathedral to the Maison des océans – and honour great composers such as Beethoven, Vivaldi or Mozart. At each of his performances, pianist Eric Artz – who alternates with other musicians – begins with a little survey: who among the audience has ever attended a concerto? The result, he confides, is that “about 70%” of the audience is made up of neophytes.

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