Sir Simon Rattle
65-year-old British conductor Simon Rattle (65) wants to become a German citizen. The passport has already been applied for, the conductor said in Munich on Friday, a few days after being named Music Director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir. However, he wants double nationality and thus keep his British citizenship. Rattle lives with his family in Berlin.
Der ursprünglich für Oktober 2020 geplante und dann auf Mitte März 2021 verschobene 6. Internationale Franz Liszt Wettbewerb für Junge Pianisten muss leider abgesagt werden. Aufgrund der immer noch kritischen Pandemie-Situation fällt der Wettstreit an der Weimarer Hochschule für Musik nun ersatzlos aus, teilte die Organisation mit. Read More →
Roberto Alagna
(c) Harcourt
In the French TV show C à Vous, yesterday evening, tenor Roberto Alagna was supposed to perform the song Mon pote le gitan in memory of one of his friends. Yet he found himself caught up in a torrent of emotions and, after a few seconds, the artist had to interrupt his performance. He left the stage saying, « I cannot do this today ». He then explained: « In fact, we talked before about this friend and it moved me so much that I sing the song thinking about him and I can’t concentrate ».
This week’s Karajanist Community Letter pays tribute to Katia Ricciarelli, a true Italian who is going to celebrate her 75th birthday on Saturday. In the ongoing series about Karajan and Mozart’s operas the Newsletter focusses on Don Giovanni, arguably Mozart’s most mysterious and powerful composition. Read More →
Salieri & Beethoven in Dialogue; Antonio Salieri: Habsburg-Ouvertüre + Cesare in Farmacusa-Ouvertüre + L'Oracolo muto-Ouvertüre + Finale zu La Riedificazione di Gerusalemme; Ludwig van Beethoven: Vestas Feuer + Terzett op. 116; Diana Tomsche, Joshua Whitener, Kai Preußker, Heidelberger Sinfoniker, Timo Jouko Herrmann; 1 CD Hänssler Classic HC20067; Aufnahme 2019, Veröffentlichung 15/01/2021 (47'40) - Rezension von Remy Franck
Die Heidelberger Sinfoniker widmen dieses aparte Programm dem Lehrer-Schülerduo Salieri und Beethoven. Mit Beethovens Opernfragment Vestas Feuer und seinem Terzett op. 116 sowie dem Finale aus Salieris nahezu unbekannter Oper La Riedificazione di Gerusalemme ist das vokale Programm durchaus anspruchsvoll und wird von den für diese Aufnahme vereinigten Sängern akkurat dargeboten. Read More →
César Franck: Symphonische Variationen für Klavier & Orchester + Le Chasseur maudit; Richard Strauss: Burleske für Klavier & Orchester + Tod und Verklärung; Ekaterina Litvintseva, Klavier, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Jonathan Bloxham; 1 CD Profil PH200060; Aufnahme 01/2020, Veröffentlichung 15/01/2021 (74'28) - Rezension von Remy Franck
Die Tondichtung Tod und Verklärung ist für mich eine Komposition, an der man die Kunst eines Strauss-Dirigenten messen kann. Die richtige Relation zwischen Drama und Vergeistigung ist nicht leicht zu finden. Als Eichstück dient mir die Wiener Aufnahme von Herbert von Karajan, die so perfekt geatmet und so ausgewogen ist, dass sie als Modell dienen kann. Read More →
Fabio Luisi
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has announced the contract extension for Music Director Fabio Luisi. The renewal is for a further five years through the 2028/29 concert season. Italian conductor Fabio Luisi, 61, began his first season as Music Director in the current 2020/21 season after a year of holding the title Music Director Designate. He is General Music Director of the Zurich Opera, and Principal Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
Vasily Petrenko
Photo: Mark McNulty
Russian conductor Vasily Petrenko, 44, has been appointed as Artistic Director of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia Evgeny Svetlanov. Succeeding Vladimir Jurowski, who has served in the role since 2011, he will take up the position on 1 September 2021, at the same time as he formally takes up the position of Music Director of London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Read More →
The Ontario government has restricted possibilities for livestreaming concerts. Such online events are not allowed to take place in venues that are closed according to the new COVID-10 rules. So, not even performing and recording music without audience is possible in any of the concert venues or theatres. Ontario is Canada’s most populous province.
Claude Debussy: Children's Corner; Frédéric Chopin: Préludes Nr. 1-24; Modest Mussorgsky: Bilder einer Ausstellung; Behzod Abduraimov, Klavier; Alpha 653; Aufnahme 01/2020, Veröffentlichung 08/01/2021 (83'51) - Rezension von Remy Franck
Der 1990 geborene Usbeke Behzod Abduraimov legt erneut eine attraktive Aufnahme vor. Read More →
