Michelle Debra

ICMA Jury member Michelle Debra passed away today, at the age of 73. Founder, in 1993, of the Belgian music magazine Crescendo, together with Bernadette Beyne (+ 2018), Michelle Debra was managing director of the magazine. In fact, her roles were manifold: editorial board member, editorial secretary, sales manager, scrupulous proof-reader, responsible of the news section of the magazine. Read More →

Franz Welser-Möst
Photo: Don Snyder

Austrian conductor Franz Welser-Möst, 64, has been forced to withdraw from conducting the new production of Die Zauberflöte at the Vienna State Opera (premiere: January 27, 2025) for health reasons. The opera announced that after a successful immunotherapy, unexpected side effects have occurred, making his participation impossible. Bertrand de Billy will take over the musical direction.

Semyon Bychkov
(c) Petra Hajska

The Czech Philharmonic announced that chief conductor Semyon Bychkov, 72, underwent a planned hip surgery and is now recovering. The American has to cancel his concerts in January, which are now to be conducted by Herbert Blomstedt and Nicolas Kraemer

The Tiroler Festspiele and the new artistic director Jonas Kaufmann can look back on an extremely successful winter season 24/25. With 7600 guests, the various concerts ware almost sold out every night.

Die türkische Geigerin Ayla Erduran ist im Alter von 90 Jahren gestorben. Sie gewann 1970 den Beethoven-Preis in den Niederlanden und wurde 1971 zur Staatskünstlerin der Republik Türkei ernannt. Read More →

The Komische Oper Berlin, which is playing elsewhere due to the renovation of its main building, has canceled the planned production of ‘Mein Freund Bunbury’ in a tent in front of the Rotes Rathaus in Berlin. According to the opera house, the reason for this is the considerable cuts and associated cost-cutting constraints in the current Berlin budget. Read More →

Hermann Bäumer

As of the 2025/26 season, the German conductor Hermann Bäumer will serve as music director of the State Opera in Prague. He will replace Andriy Yurkevych, who is leaving the post for personal reasons. New too will be Chief Chorus Master of the State Opera – from the 2025/26 season, Zuzana Kadlčíková will succeed Adolf Melichar, who will remain at the State Opera as Chorus Master. Read More →

Leonhard Baumgartner
(c) Karol Sokolowski

The 17-year-old Austrian violinist Leonhard Baumgartner has been loaned the 1683 ‘ex Petherick’ Stradivari violin by the Stretton Society which was founded in 2021 by Stephan Jansen, Maximillian von Schierstädt and Johannes Freiherr von Salmuth. Read More →

Jean Hoss

Der Rechtsanwalt Jean Hoss, Mitbegründer einer von Luxemburgs wichtigsten und größten Anwaltskanzleien, Elvinger Hoss Prussen, ist im Alter von 87 Jahren gestorben. Read More →

1999 veröffentlichten die Heidelberger Sinfoniker untere Tomas Fey Volume 1 der Haydn-Symphonien. Es war angedacht, das Symphonien-Gesamtwerk des Klassikers bis zu seinem 200. Todesjahr 2009 komplett neu aufzunehmen und zu publizieren, ein kühner Plan, der schließlich 25 Jahre zur Verwirklichung brauchte. Doch jetzt kann Hänssler Classic stolz melden, der Zyklus sei komplett. Am 3. Januar 2025 erscheint die 36 CDs umfassende Box mit allen Haydn-Symphonien. Read More →