The San Antonio Symphony (Texas) has known financial difficulties due to the pandemic. After an initial contract proposal that would reduce musicians’ pay by 50%, the Orchestra is seeking to drastically reduce the size of the orchestra. The management is proposing to slash the size of the orchestra from 71 full-time musicians to 42.
Philharmonie Luxembourg
(c) Wade Zimmermann
Zur Familie der Logos rund um die Philharmonie Luxemburg hat sich ein weiteres gesellt, das für die Initiative Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra Academy (LPOA) steht. Rechtzeitig zum Saisonauftakt konnten sieben Akademisten, die nach dem Studium am Beginn einer professionellen Musikerkarriere stehen und sich gegen 288 weitere Bewerber durchgesetzt haben, in ihr gemeinsames Haus in Luxemburg einziehen und auch schon das erste Konzert mit dem Philharmonischen Orchester spielen. Read More →
The Belgian Outhere Music group has announced the acquisition of the Dutch label Channel Classics, founded by Jared Sacks in 1990. With a catalogue of over 450 titles, Channel Classics’ long-term key artists include Rachel Podger, Ivan Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra, Ning Feng, Pieter Wispelwey, and other great interpreters. Ensembles include Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Ragazze Quartet, and Florilegium. Other soloists on the label are Rosanne Philippens, Dana Zemtsov, and Anna Fedorova. Read More →
Der amerikanisch-britische Bassbariton Norman Bailey ist vorgestern im Alter von 88 Jahren in Idaho (US) verstorben. Der 1933 in Birmingham geborene Opernsänger hatte die amerikanische Staatsbürgerschaft angenommen. Read More →
French company Little Tribeca adds a new label to their roster. Halted since 2018, following the death of its founder Pierre-Émile Barbier, the label Praga Digitals is now revived under the leadership of Nicolas Bartholomée, founder of Little Tribeca and the labels Aparté and Evidence, the company announced today. Read More →
Teodor Currentzis
(c) Anton Zavjyalov
Der griechisch-russische Orchesterleiter Teodor Currentzis, 49, hat seinen Vertrag als Chefdirigent des SWR Symphonieorchesters um drei weitere Jahre verlängert. Er ist seit der Saison 2018/19 auf diesem Posten. Er ist auch künstlerischer Leiter des Ensembles MusicAeterna und gilt als einer der umstrittensten Dirigenten unserer Zeit.
Jaap van Zweden
(c) Hans Vanderwoerd/IMG
Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden, 60, has announced that he will leave the New York Philharmonic in 2024 after the expiration of his contract. In an interview with the New York Times he said the pandemic made him reconsider his relationship with the orchestra and his family and that he now has other priorities in life. Read More →
HarrisonParrott and Polyarts announced the launch of Birdsong Music Publishing, a publishing service for composers. The press release says: « Through HarrisonParrott’s long experience managing artists and composers, we are in a unique position to be able to provide a full, bespoke publishing service that is tailored to the composer’s needs, and through Polyarts, will enable Birdsong to support composers working across genres. » Read More →
John E. Gardiner
Photo: Rock/Universal
John Eliot Gardiner’s Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra have announced today that they have entered a new partnership with the iconic venue St Martin-in-the-Fields in London The historic venue becomes the Monteverdi ensembles’ first ever London home. The press release says: « MCO has been invited to play a central role in St Martin’s ambitious artistic programme, and we will perform several concerts each season, in the heart of London. » Read More →
Yo-Yo Ma
(c) Jason Bell
The names of the Praemium Imperiale Laureates 2021 have been announced by the Japan Art Association. In the music category the winner is the American cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Read More →
