The Queen Elisabeth Competition has announced the 24 semi-finalists, among them eight sopranos, six mezzo-sopranos, one alto, three tenors, four baritones, and two basses. From the nine male candidates all but one are Korean, while among the female singers no Korean is listed. Read More →

Due to increasing confusion in the physical distribution of the label Arthaus and the fact that the Arthaus name rights were first acquired by Studiocanal during their purchase of Kinowelt and subsequently licensed to Arthaus, the company announces a name change from Arthaus Musik GmbH to Monarda Music GmbH. Read More →

Benjamin Kruithof
(c) Kaupo Kippas

skonas Holt welcomes Luxembourgish cellist Benjamin Kruithof to the roster for worldwide management, the agency announced. Following his First Prize win at last year’s George Enescu International Competition, Kruithof has been receiving mentoring from Askonas Holt as part of our partnership with the competition. Read More →

Pasquale Punzo
© SR/Astrid Karger)

Der Théodore-Gouvy-Preis des Eurodistricts SaarMoselle 2023 geht an den Italiener Pasquale Punzo und sein Orchesterwerk Teleri, das im Rahmen der Saarbrücker Komponistenwerkstatt 2023 von der Deutschen Radio Philharmonie uraufgeführt wurde. Read More →

John Axelrod

The Bucharest Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra Simfonică București) and its Principal Conductor, John Axelrod, in the frame of partnership with Classeek Music, announce the signing and upcoming September 2023 release on Orchid Classics of the project ‘Schumann 41/51: Florestan & Eusebius’, recorded in studio at the Sala Gloria in Bucharest, with live video performance at the Romanian Athenaeum on March 22, 2023. Read More →

The Trio Cénacle has recorded a CD titled Victor Hugo / La poésie chantée d’un visionnaire including art songs by different composers based on poems by the French writer, as well as excerpts from Hugo’s letters and speeches on peace in Europe recited by actor Pitt Simon. In addition, the CD contains a link to the award-winning short film « Victor Hugo – À Vianden » by James Chan-A-Sue, a film adaptation of the composition of the same name by Marco Pütz. Read More →

Hilary Hahn
© Michael Patrick OLeary

Due to strikes in the air traffic and subsequent delays in flights from the United States, violinist Hilary Hahn was unable to arrive in time for the rehearsal of the Filarmonica della Scala scheduled for tomorrow Monday, May 22 , at 8 p.m., conducted by Riccardo Chailly. She is being replaced by Emmanuel Tjeknavorian.

Daniel Barenboim
(c) Pablo-Castagnola

Zum 25-jährigen Bestehen der Orchesterakademie der Berliner Staatskapelle dirigierte Daniel Barenboim persönlich das Geburtstagskonzert in der Berliner Staatsoper. In einer Ansprache sagte der Dirigent, er sei ein Jahr lang krank gewesen, nun aber gehe es ihm wieder gut. Barenboim dirigierte das Konzert im Stehen, was sicherlich ein gutes Zeichen war.

The first round of this year’s Queen Elisabeth Competition will take place in Brussels Sunday 21 and Monday 22 May, at 2 pm and 8 pm. As some of the 68 candidates had to withdraw, 55 singers will participate in the first round. Read More →

Italian composer Francesco Filidei, 50, has been commissioned by Milan’s Teatro alla Scala and the Paris Opera to write a new opera based on Umberto Eco’s novel ‘The Name of the Rose,’ both opera houses announced. Read More →