Russian soprano Netrebko sued the company on Friday, alleging defamation, breach of contract and other violations related to the institution’s decision to drop her following Russia’s monstrous and barbaric invasion of Ukraine.

American countertenor David Daniels pleaded guilty along with his husband Scott Walters yesterday in a Houston district court to drugging and raping a young vocalist in 2010. Read More →

Das Theater Regensburg – Bayerns größtes kommunales Mehrspartenhaus mit eigenen Ensembles für Musiktheater, Schauspiel, Tanz und Junges Theater sowie mit eigenem Philharmonischen Orchester und Opernchor – soll in einem mehrjährigen Prozess schrittweise in ein Staatstheater überführt werden. Mit einem gemeinsamen Eckpunktepapier legen Staat und Stadt nun die nächsten Schritte fest und formulieren als Ziel den weiteren Ausbau der künstlerischen Qualität des Theaters. Read More →

The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s musicians and Board of Trustees are pleased to announce that they have ratified a new three-year labor agreement to take effect on August 28. Read More →

Riccardo Chailly
(c) Teatro alla Scala

Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly had to undergo surgery due to a sudden illness and therefore cannot conduct the three concerts on August 11, 12 and 16 as part of Lucerne Festival. This was announced today by the festival management. Therefore, there will be a reshuffle at the conductor’s podium for the first three concerts of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Paavo Järvi and Andrés Orozco-Estrada could be won for the musical direction of these concerts.

Carl Davis
(c) carldaviscollection

American film composer Carl Davis died today at the age of 86. A consummate allround-musician, Carl Davis is widely known in many spheres of international music-making. Born in New York in 1936, he studied composition with Paul Nordoff and Hugo Kauder, and subsequently with Per Nørgaard in Copenhagen. His early work in the USA provided valuable conducting experience with organizations such as New York City Opera and the Robert Shaw Chorale. Read More →

Leonard Bernstein
(c) Deutsche Grammophon Arthur Umboh

The Venice Film Festival announced its planned lineup, which is scheduled to run August 30 to September 9. Maestro, a drama about Leonard Bernstein, will be premiered at the festival and be among the 23 movies competing for the Golden Lion, the festival’s main prize. The film, directed by Bradley Cooper, stars Cooper as Leonard Bernstein and Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre Bernstein.

Maria Callas
(c) Farabola

The Greek National Opera in Athens is commemorating the Maria Callas centenary with an opera gala, an exhibition and a documentary film, among other events. The opera gala Callas at the Herodium takes place on 16 September, the anniversary of Maria Callas’ death in 1977, featuring performances by sopranos Anna Pirozzi, Catherine Foster, Vassiliki Karayanni and Nina Minasyan, accompanied by the Orchestra of the Greek National Opera under the baton of Philippe Auguin. Read More →

Early music ensemble Le Banquet Céleste has announced Damien Guillon’s decision to step down as artistic director in spring 2024. Read More →

The Taliban’s religious police made a bonfire of music instruments in the western province of Herat (Afghanistan), as disclosed in a report by the state-run news agency Bakhtar. Read More →