Malaysian billionaire Tan Sri Francis Yeoh has given Rome’s struggling opera house €1 million. The businessman is quoted by the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma as saying he hoped the gift would help the institution « distinguish itself on an international level as one of the most prestigious and excellent artistic centres in the world ».
The cello section is the most international at this year’s Tchaikovsky competition. There is one notable absence: German cellist Leonard Elschenbroich, already a regular performer in concerts around the world, has lost track. Read More →
The Finalists at the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow have been announced. Russian will dominate the last round, but, as we heard, the French Lucas Debargue (25) has serious chances to win. Read More →
The Tchaikovsky International Competition has announced the names of the six finalists in the violin section. It’s a pretty Russian-Asian panel, aged 20-33, all of the candidates being known as prize-winners of other prestigious competitions. Read More →
Franz Schubert: Symphonien Nr. 1-8, Messe Nr. 5 As-Dur D 678, Messe Nr. 6 Es-Dur D 950, Alfonso und Estrella D 732; Luba Orgonasova, Dorothea Röschmann, Sopran, Birgit Remmert, Bernarda Fink Alt, Jonas Kaufmann, Christian Elsner, Kurt Streit, Tenor, Christian Gerhaher, Bariton, Jochen Schmeckenbecher, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, Bass-Bariton, Rundfunkchor Berlin Berliner Philharmoniker, Nikolaus Harnoncourt; Bonus Video: Nikolaus Harnoncourt über Franz Schubert; 8 CDs, 1 Blu-ray Berliner Philharmoniker BPHR150061; Stereo & Surround; 2003-2006 (o.A.) – Rezension von Remy Franck
Ein eher unausgeglichenes Set mit Schubert-Interpretationen von Nikolaus Harnoncourt legen die Berliner Philharmoniker vor. Es gibt viel Österreichisches und vor allem Ländliches in den Symphonien, und die meisten Trios sind einfach hinreißend. Zu oft aber bleibt der Dirigent mit lahmen Tempi recht schwerfällig, weil er die Rhetorik in Akzenten und Großklang sucht und Schubert mit dem großen Apparat der Berliner Philharmoniker regelrecht erdrückt. Read More →
Felix Mendelssohn: Symphonien Nr. 4 (Italienische) & 5 (Reformation); Tonkünstler-Orchester, Andrés Orozco-Estrada; 1 CD Oehms Classics OC1834; 4/14 ( 55'45) – Rezension von Remy Franck
Mendelssohns ‘Italienische Symphonie’ bekommt Flugkraft unter Andrés Orozco-Estradas magischen Händen. Federleicht gleitet die Musik durch die Lüfte, in ihrer Bewegung perfekt ausbalanciert und mit innerer Rotation stabilisiert. Besonders die beiden con moto-Sätze erlangen Freiheit pur. Mit feinsten Holzkapriolen und zahlreichen Streicher(l)einheiten wird die Musik zu purem Charme. Read More →
Sascha Goetzel
(c) Oezge Balkan
Austrian conductor Sascha Goetzel resigned with immediate effect as First Guest Conductor of the Orchestre symphonique de Bretagne, a post which he occupied since 2012. In a letter to the President of the orchestra, he says that his resignation is due to unilateral decisions by the intendant of the orchestra, Marc Feldman, concerning future programming, as well as to the fact that his name was removed from the orchestra’s website. Read More →
Zoran Mihajlovic, Sanda Vojkovic & Remy Franck at HRT Headquarters in Zagreb
© ICMA / Nicole Junio
ICMA (International Classical Music Awards) announces the Croatian Radiotelevision HRT as a new full Jury member. With headquarters in Zagreb, HRT (Croatian: Hrvatska radiotelevizija) is a public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels. The official delegate for the ICMA Jury is Mrs. Sanda Vojkovic. Read More →
Dmitri Hvorostovsky
(c) Pavel Antonov
Russian Baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky suffers from a brain tumour. On his Facebook page, the following statement was published: « It is with great regret that Dmitri must cancel all performances from now until the end of August. He has recently been suffering from serious health issues, and a brain tumour has just been diagnosed. Read More →
Yevgeny Mravinsky Special Edition; Beethoven: Symphonie Nr. 6 op. 68 (Pastorale); Brahms: Symphonie Nr. 3 op. 90; Bruckner: Symphonie Nr. 9; Debussy: La Mer, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune; Mozart: Symphonie Nr. 39 KV 543; Ravel: Boléro; Scriabin: Symphonie Nr. 4, Le Poème de l'extase op. 54; Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite op. 22: Der Schwan von Tuonela (No. 2); Stravinsky: Apollon musagète; Tchaikovsky: Symphonie Nr. 6 (Pathétique), Capriccio italien op. 45, Symphonie Nr. 4 op. 36; Wagner: Ouvertüre zu Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg; Leningrader Philharmoniker, Yevgeny Mravinsky; 5 CDs Melodiya MELCD1002295; 1949-1982 (381') – Rezension von Remy Franck
Nach der Kitajenko-Box bringt Melodiya nun auch ein Fünfer-Set mit alten Aufnahmen von Evgenyi Mravinsky heraus, auf denen ebenfalls mehrheitlich nicht-russische Musik zu hören ist. Dass wir hier dem genialen Techniker Mravinsky begegnen würden, hatten wir erwartet. Sein Orchester arbeitet wie ein Computer. Read More →
