American bass-baritone Robert Hale has died at the age of 90. After performing mainly in the United States, especially with the New York City Opera, Robert Hale sung in major European opera houses from the 1980s onwards, and also at New York’s Metropolitan Opera from 1990. He was specializing in the German repertoire

Zoltan Kodaly

Zoltan Kodaly’s Psalmus Hungaricus, a choral work for tenor, chorus and orchestra is the work which the finalists of the Kodaly Conducting Competition in Debrecen must rehearse and conduct, was composed in 1923. Jury member Remy Franck has more information about this masterpiece. Read More →

Founded by composer Christian Schittenhelm, Sfumato Records will be launching a new collection on Evidence Classics in September 2023. Read More →

Stephen Gould
(c) Kay Herschelmann

The American tenor Stephen Gould, 61, announced that, for health reasons, he is forced to cancel all upcoming engagements. Read More →

Linus Roth
(c) Kaupo Kikkas

An diesem Wochenende (25.-27.8.2023) findet die 5. Edition des Festivals Ibiza Conciertos auf der Baleareninsel statt. Die Musiker Sophie Pacini, Klavier, Raphaela Gromes, Cello, Jennifer Stumm Viola, Petrit Ceku, Gitarre und Festivalgründer und -direktor Linus Roth, Violine, werden Konzerte zugunsten der Krebshilfe Ibiza/Formentera geben. Read More →

The Kodaly Philharmonic
© Peter Biri Photo

The second edition of the Kodály International Music Competition is currently taking place in Debrecen, Hungary’s second largest city with the Kodaly Philharmonic and the Kodaly Choir. The jury chaired by Jorma Panula and including Janos Acs, Peter Broadbent, Remy Franck, Zsolt Hamar, Oksana Madarash and Imre Kollar, announced yesterday evening the 5 candidates having been admitted to the final round. Read More →

John Eliot Gardiner
(c) Alfonso Salgueiro

After violently punching one of his singers (William Thomas) on Tuesday evening at the Festival Berlioz at La Côte-Saint-André after the performance of Les Troyens, John Eliot Gardiner has withdrawn from the upcoming tour, leaving the direction to Dinis Sousa, assistant conductor of the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras. Read More →

A statement has been released by the Karol Szymanowski International Music Competition in Katowice announcing the decision to remove Russian music from the competition program. Read More →

Russia media reported that Russian conductor Yuri Mikhailenko participated in the international  Kodaly Conducting Competition in Debrecen, Hungary. « Yuri Mikhailenko, who has been successfully leading the Stavropol Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra for several years, will undoubtedly represent the Russian conducting school, which is known throughout the world. », the newspaper said and added: « Here is another vivid example of the fact that Russian culture will not be canceled by any sanctions. » Read More →

The Kodaly Philharmonic
© Peter Biri Photo

The second edition of the Kodály Conducting Competition is currently taking place in Debrecen, Hungary’s second largest city, with the Kodaly Philharmonic and the Kodaly Choir. The jury announced yesterday evening the 12 candidates having been admitted to the second round. This jury, chaired by Jorma Panula includes Janos Acs, Peter Broadbent, Remy Franck, Zsolt Hamar, Oksana Madarash and Imre Kollar. Read More →