Der finnische Dirigent Mikko Franck, der im kommenden Jahr Chefdirigent des Philharmonischen Orchesters von Radio France in Paris werden soll, ist solidarisch mit den Musikern des Orchesters, die für morgen einen Streik angekündigt haben. Auch Franck fordert die Generaldirektion des Senders auf, für das ‘Orchestre Philharmonique’ und das ‘Orchestre National’ zwei verschiedene Führungsteams beizubehalten. Read More →

William Christie
(c) Denis Rouvre

The city of Caen has decided to stop funding William Christie’s Arts Florissants, orchestra in residence since 25 years. The City’s support reached 332.900 € in 2014. Politicians say, the measure is due to the city’s severe cost saving policy. Moreover, the Region of Basse-Normandie could decide the same and cut their funding of € 373,000.

The City Council of Dijon has voted an exceptional financial support of €180,000 to save the Orchestre Dijon-Bourgogne. Mayor Alain Millot presented this political act as an emergency which would allow the orchestra to continue its activities. In a second step, the whole project would have to be analyzed and consolidated.

Markus Hinterhäuser

The Austrian pianist and artistic director Markus Hinterhäuser is to receive the 2015 Heidelberg Spring Music Prize, which comes with a purse of €10,000. The festival presents this annual award alternatively to a creative artist and to a journalist covering cultural affairs. The award will be presented on Sunday, 12 April 2015 in Heidelberg’s Stadthalle during a recital by pianist Igor Levit.

Deutsche Oper Berlin
(c) DOB

Der Wiedereröffnung der Deutschen Oper Berlin am 27. November scheint nichts im Wege zu stehen. Die Renovierung der Bühnenmaschinerie, der szenischen Beleuchtung, der Lautsprecheranlagen und der Videotechnik verlaufe planmässig, sagte Intendant Dietmar Schwarz vor der Presse. Read More →

Valery Gergiev
Foto: Marco Borggreve

CAMI has published Valery Gergiev’s schedule for October. This month he is conducting 26 concerts or operas, with 18 different programs, in Russia, Kazakhstan, Japan, China, Germany and Austria. The only nights he is not working are 8, 19, 20, 22 and 29. If you don’t believe it, here is this phenomenal and truly unbelievable schedule. And, don’t be astonished of not all the concerts will be first rate. Read More →

Vladimir Jurowski
(c) Sheila Rock

The London Philharmonic Orchestra today announced that its long-standing partnership with Vladimir Jurowski, Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, will continue until at least 2018. He is Principal Conductor since 2007. He took on the additional role as Artistic Advisor in 2012. Jurowski is also Principal Artist at the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Artistic Director of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia (Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra).

The Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DBC) has announced that it will shut down the Danish National Chamber Orchestra (DNCO) on January 1st 2015 due to budget cuts. The DNCO employs 42 musicians as well as the artistic team working with them. The International Federation of Musicians in Paris now asked musicians and music lovers to support the orchestra by signing the petition ‘Save the Danish National Chamber Orchestra’. Here is the link to the petition.

Karel Mark Chichon
Photo: DRP

Die Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, die sich derzeit auf einer Asien-Tournee befindet, gab ein bejubeltes Konzert mit Beethovens Neunter Symphonie unter Chefdirigent Karel Mark Chichon vor 8.000 Zuhörern in der Myung-Seong Kirche in Seoul. Das Konzert wurde live in andere Kirchen der südkoreanischen Hauptstadt übertragen und damit von über 22.000 Musikfreunden mit erlebt. Read More →

The President of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Stanley Romanstein, has resigned, mentioning that his leadership would be an “impediment” to reaching a new labor agreement with the symphony’s locked out musicians. The ASO has already cancelled part of the 2014-15 season due to the labor dispute. Read More →