Recruiting musicians from the Lille National Orchestra and students from the local Music High School, young conductor Lucie Leguay, 27, has created the Orchestre de Chambre de Lille, a chamber orchestra that will give its first concert next Sunday, 2 July. More events are already planned for the fall 2017 and for 2018, some of them in locations where one does not necessarily expect such an orchestra, the conductor told the newspaper La Voix du Nord.

Midori
(c) Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Violinist Midori will be a member of Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music from the 2018-19 school year, according to a press release. « In addition to the preeminent musical education offered at Curtis, the school’s emphasis on community engagement was a key element in Midori’s decision to relocate to Philadelphia. Read More →

It happens that one can see a patron reading a printed score during a concert. And it happens also that the patron’s neighbour feels distracted by the page-turning. Now imagine somebody following the score on a smartphone or a tablet. And yet, it’s exactly what the Royal Philharmonic will try at Cadogan Hall in its Myths and Fairytales series. The app EnCue by Octava, so it is announced, delivers real-time programme notes to audiences’ mobile or tablet devices. Read More →

Gabriel Fauré: Sonaten für Cello & Klavier Nr.1 & 2 (op. 109 & 117) + Romanze op. 69 + Papillon op. 77 + Serenade op. 9 + Berceuses op. 16 & op. 56/1 + Morceau de Lecture + Sicilienne op. 78 + Elégie op. 24; Andante für Cello & Harmonium; Andreas Brantelid, Cello, Bengt Forsberg, Klavier; 1 SACD BIS 2220; Aufnahme 11/2015, Veröffentlichung 05/2017 (70'13) – Rezension von Remy Franck

Gabriel Faurés gesamtes Schaffen für Cello und Klavier, bekannte Miniaturen und die zwei Sonaten, spielen der schwedisch-dänische Cellist Andreas Brantelid und der Pianist Bengt Forsberg auf dieser SACD. Read More →

***** - Felix Nowowiejski: Quo Vadis (Oratorium für Soli, Chor, Orgel & Orchester); Wioletta Chodowicz, Sopran, Wojtek Gierlach, Bariton, Robert Gierlach, Bass, Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir, Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, Lukasz Borowicz: 2 CDs cpo 555089-2; Aufnahme 05/2016, Veröffentlichung 29.05.2017 (95'15)
♪♪♪♪ - Felix Nowowiejski: Quo Vadis; Aleksandra Kurzak, Sopran, Artur Rucinski, Bariton, Rafal Siwek, Bass, Sebastian Szumski, Baritone, Arkadiusz Bialic, Orgel, Gorecki Chamber Choir & Feliks Nowowiejski Warmia and Mazury Philharmonic, Piotr Sulkowski; 2 CDs Dux 1327-28; Aufnahme 08+11/2016, Veröffentlichung 04/2017 (95'50) – Rezension von Remy Franck

Vor 100 Jahren war das Oratorium ‘Quo Vadis’ ein viel aufgeführtes Werk. Zwischen 1909 und dem Ausbruch des 2. Weltkriegs stand es mehr als 200 Mal in Europa und in Amerika auf den Spielplänen. Read More →

The RIAS Amadeus Quartet Recordings Vol.6; Joseph Haydn: Streichquartette Nr. 21, 35, 38, 57, 66, 67, 72, 74, 75, 77, 78, 81, 82, 83 + Die Sieben Letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze H3 Nr. 50-56 + Adagio aus dem Streichquartett Nr. 57; Amadeus Quartett; 5 CDs Audite 21.426; Aufnahmen 1950 - 1969, Veröffentlichung 03/2017 (313'26) – Rezension von Uwe Krusch

Haydns Streichquartette und das ‘Amadeus Quartett’, zwei Themen, die nicht so super zusammenpassen wollen. Die vier Musiker waren sich bewusst, dass Haydn zu spielen ein Seiltanz ist. Die Musik wirkt so einfach, und der oberflächliche Hörer meint, alle Quartette seien gleich. Der Experte weiß, dass jedes Quartett von Haydn einen eigenen Charakter hat. Read More →

Martha Argerich
Photo: Adriano Heitman

Musicians of the Athens State Orchestra have been told that a special concert with pianist Martha Argerich on July 15 has been cancelled due to health problems of the pianist. Before, Argerich already cancelled her appearances in Sydney scheduled for 29 and 30 June, as well as Saturday 1 July. Read More →

Josep Caballé-Domenech
(c) Staatskapelle Halle

Spanish conductor Josep Caballé-Domenech, 44, has been announced as the next Artistic Director of the Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra. The position was vacant during two and a half years. Read More →

Charles Dutoit
(c) ICMA /Martin Hoffmeister

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has announced that with effect from October 2019 Charles Dutoit, 80, currently the RPO’s Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, will assume the position of Honorary Conductor for Life. Read More →

Turkish President Erdogan has announced the construction of an opera house on Taksim Square in Istanbul, the AFP agency reported. Istanbul for sure needs such a venue which could be used for opera, ballet and concerts as well, yet the proposal has been heavily criticized. Read More →