In today’s news, OPUS launches composition competition in collaboration with Britten Sinfonia, sports presenter joins Classic FM for the summer. Actor replaces lead in BBC Proms’ West Side Story. German conductor and oboist Hansjörg Schellenberger awarded the Order of Merit. Critic Álvaro Alonso publishes biography about one of the founders of The Byrds and titans of American music.
Rhinegold
Britten Sinfonia’s OPUS competition for unpublished composers is open for submissions
Now in its sixth year, OPUS offers composers the chance to receive a professional commission as part of Britten Sinfonia’s ‘At Lunch’ series.
Classic FM
Kirsty Gallacher to join Classic FM this summer
Known across the country chiefly for presenting some of the most important sporting moments in recent years on Sky Sports, Kirsty also appeared in the 2015 series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Guardian
Canadian soprano Mikaela Bennett replaces Sierra Boggess as Maria in the BBC Proms’ West Side Story
The role of Maria in a BBC Proms performance of West Side Story has been recast, after the previous singer pulled out amid accusations of the role being “whitewashed”.
BBC News
Illegal downloads fall out of favour
One in 10 people in the UK use illegal downloads, down from 18% in 2013, according to YouGov’s Music Report.
Klassik.com
Verdienstorden für Hansjörg Schellenberger
Der Dirigent und Oboist Hansjörg Schellenberger ist heute mit dem Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland ausgezeichnet worden. Die Ehrung nahm die bayerische Staatsministerin für Wissenschaft und Kultur Marion Kiechle in München vor.
Klassik heute
Erfolgreiche Bilanz der Münchner Opernfestspiele 2018
Am vergangenen Dienstag gingen die Münchner Opernfestspiele 2018 mit Richard Wagners Parsifal zu Ende. Generalmusikdirektor Kirill Petrenko dirigierte die Neuinszenierung. Intendant Nikolaus Bachler konnte die Festspiele in seiner zehnten Saison mit einer Gesamtauslastung von 98,04 Prozent beschließen.
El Pais
Persiguiendo el rastro de Gene Clark
El crítico musical Álvaro Alonso publica una gran biografía sobre uno de los fundadores de The Byrds y titán de la música norteamericana
Platea Magazine
El Festival de Santander aborda su 67 edición, con 47 eventos en 25 días
Además del concierto inaugural con la Orquesta de RTVE y Miguel Ángel Martínez a la batuta, la programación articulada por Jaime Martín incluye actuaciones de orquestas como la London Symphony Orchestra, la Akademie für Alte Musik, la Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, la Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment, la Hamburg NDR Elbphilharmonie, la Budapest Festival Orchestra o el conjunto Europa Galante.
Before and After pictures of the #RoyalOperaHouseMumbai.#OperaSeason2018 #OperaSeason #TheOperaWalkthrough #Opera #Mumbai #India @asadlalljee @krutigarg pic.twitter.com/z7RbjGhWEj
— Royal Opera House Mumbai (@MumbaiOpera) July 28, 2018