In March 2015 New York will celebrate the career of conductor Julius Rudel (+ June 26, 2014) and his contribution to the closed New York City Opera as principal conductor and director for 22 years from 1957 to 1979. Scheduled performers include Placido Domingo, Frederica von Stade, David Daniels, James Morris and many more. This concert is organized by NYCO Renaissance Ltd. Which acquired last week the remaining assets – minus the endowment – of the bankrupt New York City Opera. Read More →

Andrew Litton
(c) Danny Turner

Andrew Litton, a native New Yorker, has been announced as New York City Ballet’s next music director. He will begin his tenure in fall 2015. Litton is the music director of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway. He will succeed Fayçal Karoui, who held the post from 2006 through 2012. Andrews Sill, who has been the company’s interim music director for the past two years, will become its associate music director.

Loosing 15% of its governmental funding, Brussels’s opera house La Monnaie is undergoing a severe change. General manager Peter de Caluwé announced that 16 full time jobs will be cut. Most of the costly of baroque opera productions will be canceled. There will be less concerts and ballet performances too.

Die Vereinigung ‘Konzert Theater Bern’ hat in der Saison 2013-14 die Gesamtzuschauerzahl im Vergleich zur Vorjahressaison um mehr als sechs Prozent gesteigert: Insgesamt konnten in 425 Veranstaltungen 140.975 Besucher gezählt werden, rund 9.000 mehr als in den 402 Vorstellungen und Konzerten der Spielzeit 2012-13. Read More →

Karel Mark Chichon
(c) Marco Borggreve

Following the publication of our article about anomalies in the selection procedure of the chief conductor in Sevilla we received a significant clarification in form of the following letter, which explains  the origins of this affair. Read More →

Anton Bruckner: Symphonie Nr. 5; Sächsische Staatskapelle, Christian Thielemann; 1 DVD C Major 717904; Bild 16:9; Stereo & Surround 2013 (89') – Rezension von Remy Franck

1937 spielte Karl Böhm Bruckners Fünfte mit der Dresdner Staatskapelle zum ersten Mal in der damals gerade erschienenen Originalfassung auf Schellack ein. Christian Thielemann stehen heute andere technische Mittel zur Verfügung. Aber sein Bruckner klingt alt und gesetzt. Er bleibt der Etikette ‘Monumentalsymphonie’ treu. Der erste Satz ist dunkel, stockend, unsicher, es gibt hier keine Zuversicht. Read More →

Nikolai Medtner: Klaviersonate Nr. 7 op. 25/2 (Nachtwind); Sergei Rachmaninov: Klaviertranskriptionen (Bach Partita Nr. 3; Schubert: Wohin? Scherzo aus Mendelssohns Sommernachtstraum; Tchaikovsky: Wiegenlied; Kreisler; Liebesleid, Liebesfreud; Vadym Kholodenko, Klavier; 1 CD Delos DE3467; 2013 (64'32) – Rezension von Remy Franck

Vadym Kholodenko, Sieger des Van Cliburn Wettbewerbs 2013, ist ein mehr als überzeugender Interpret in zwei unterschiedlichen Programmhälften. Read More →

Camille Saint-Saëns: Les Barbares; Catherine Hunold (Floria), Julia Gertseva (Livie), Edgaras Montvidas (Marcomir), Jean Teitgen (Scaurus), Schawn Mathey (Le Veilleur), Philippe Rouillon (Hildibrath/Le Grand Sacrificateur), Chœur Lyrique et Orchestre Symphonique Saint-Étienne Loire, Laurent Campellone ; 2 CDs + Buch Palazzetto Bru Zane ISBN 978-84-617-1280-09; 2014 (120’22) – Rezension von Manuel Ribeiro

Camille Saint-Saëns hat acht Opern komponiert, und nur eine davon ist bekannt und beliebt: ‘Samson et Dalila’. ‘Les Barbares’ ist also eine der vergessenen Opern des Franzosen. Komponiert wurde sie auf ein Libretto von Victorien Sardou und Pierre-Barthélémy Gheusi. Read More →

Salle Pleyel, Paris

A court in Paris has opened the way for the Paris Philharmonie to continue the rental procedure of the Salle Pleyel, the income of which is vital for the new hall. Today, the decision of the commercial court to stop the course of action was revoked. However Carla-Maria Tarditi’s lawyers won’t give up. Affaire à suivre, like they say in France (background: here, in German). Candidates for renting Pleyel are Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière (Fimalac), Jean-Marc Dumontet, Pascal Nègre (Universal Music) et Steven Hearn (Morgane).

American opera singer Janis Martin has passed away, aged 75, at her home in San Antonio, Texas. Martin began her career as mezzo-soprano at the San Francisco Opera. Later she changed her repertoire, singing soprano roles. As such she gained international recognition in the 1970s and ’80s. She sang leading roles in opera houses throughout Europe and the United States. She is particularly known for her performances in the operas of Richard Wagner and sang at the Bayreuth Festival from 1968 to 1997. Read More →