The Los Angeles Philharmonic has announced the postponement and cancellation of its concerts through the weekend. Music Director Gustavo Dudamel – who is currently being criticized for touring with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, which has fallen into disrepute as a propaganda tool of the Maduro regime – has expressed his compassion with those affected by the fires. Read More →

Martin Rajna

The Hungarian conductor Martin Rajna has been appointed as Music Director of the Luxembourg Philharmonic. He will be the successor of Gustavo Gimeno. Being 29 years old, he will be the orchestra’s youngest Music Director. His contract starts from the 2026-27 season for four years. Read More →

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 →

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