The latest Karajan Community Letter focuses on Karajan conducting Beethoven’s Fidelio, which he started ting when he was 24. Regarding the importance Beethoven had for Karajan, it is no surprise that his only opera was a cornerstone in the maestro’s repertoire for over 46 years and that there is just one opera, Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro,  that Karajan conducted more often than Fidelio. Read More →

The San Antonio Philharmonic has been sued by a former board member and his wife over what they characterized as $180,000 in defaulted loans. The lawsuit accuses the organization of breach of contract. The couple is demanding repayment, including interest and attorney’s fees. Read More →

Visualisierung des Entwurfs von kadawittfeldarchitektur, Aachen, für die Komische Oper

Trotz des Spardrucks, der auf dem Senat lastet, will Berlins Kultursenator Joe Chialo die Sanierung der Komischen Oper weiterführen. Allerdings langsamer als geplant. Fertig werden sollen die Arbeiten an der Komischen Oper Chialo zufolge 2033. Zu einem Baustopp, von dem die Rede war, werde es nicht kommen, sagte Chialo dem rbb. Die Kosten für die Arbeiten an dem Operngebäude werden momentan auf rund 480 Millionen Euro beziffert. Read More →

Michael Sanderling
(c) Nikolaj Lund

After three successful seasons, the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester has extended the contract of Principal Conductor Michael Sanderling in advance for a further three years, thereby securing its artistic planning from the season 2026/27 and including the 2028/29 season. Sanderling took up his position as Principal Conductor in 2021/22, signing a five-year contract. Read More →

Three performances of Verdi’s Requiem, the first orchestral series concert of the 2024-25 San Francisco Symphony season with Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, have been canceled due to a strike by the members the Chorus. The Symphony said that the three performances will not be rescheduled. Read More →

The New York Philharmonic and its musicians’ union have settled on a collective bargaining agreement that includes a 30% raise over three years The deal with Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians calls for raises of about 15% in 2024-25, and 7.5% each in 2025-26 and 2026-27. Base pay will rise to $205,000 by the deal’s final season.

The San Antonio Philharmonic has signed a two-year contract with members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 23. Executive director and CEO Roberto Trevino praised the dedication of the 120 musicians, many of whom are former members of the defunct San Antonio Symphony. Read More →

Yuja Wang
(c) Norbert Kniat

Ouvertüre-Konzert-Symphonie: eine klassische, möglicherweise sogar konventionelle Konstellation, die jedoch bei Musikliebhabern stets großen Erfolg genießt, wie der großartige Musikabend vom vergangenen 17. September 2024, im großen, vollen Saal der Luxemburger Philharmonie, bewiesen hat – eine musikalische Soiree, die mit gewaltigen und verdienten Ovationen eines auf dem Höhepunkt des Glücks angelangten Publikums endete. José Voss berichtet. Read More →

Spanish conductor José Miguel Pérez-Sierra Recently, Music Director of the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid and principal guest conductor of the season of Amigos de la Ópera de A Coruña has accapeted another job. He has been named Musical and Artistic Director of the Royal Opera Festival in Krakow.

Semyon Bychkov
(c) Petra Hajska

The Czech Philharmonic’s Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov has had to undergo back surgery which will require four weeks of recovery, the orchestra says. Read More →