The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced that it has reached a new, three-year agreement with its unionized musicians. The new contract, which includes a 12.6% raise in base salary over the course of the agreement, takes effect on Sept. 2 while the orchestra is on tour in Europe Read More →
Der Freischütz
@ Anja Koehler
Mit rund 274.000 Besuchern endete am Sonntagabend die 78. Bregenzer Festspielsaison. Innerhalb von fünf Wochen standen mehr als 80 Veranstaltungen auf dem Spielplan des Sommerfestivals am Bodensee. Philipp Stölzls Inszenierung von Der Freischütz auf der Seebühne sahen 198.655 Besucher in 28 Vorstellungen. Die Auslastung betrug 100 Prozent. Read More →
Opera Europa, the professional organization of opera houses end festivals in Europe, has issued a statement expressing its concerns about the dismissal of Matej Drlička as General Manager of the Slovak National Theatre. The decision was taken by Slovakia’s culture minister, Martina Šimkovičová who also fired other directors from their position in cultural organizations. Read More →
Robert Jindra
Czech conductor Robert Jindra, 47, resigned from his position as Music Director of the Kosice State Philharmonic. This resignation comes just several days after Jindra’s criticism of Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová. Read More →
Leonhard Baumgartner
(c) Andrej Grilc
Austrian violinist Leonhard Baumgartner won the Eurovision Young Musicians 2024 competition on Saturday evening in the northern Norwegian town of Bodø. He played the first movement of Henri Vieuxtemps’ Violin Concerto No. 5. Second place went to the Swede Hugo Svedberg, followed by Fabian Egger from Germany. Read More →
The San Francisco Symphony is planning an expensive renovation of Davies Symphony Hall, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The plan is to expand the concert hall’s ground floor and to add a recital hall. A complete makeover of the auditorium is planned as well. The cost could top $100 million.
The Melbourne Symphony, which had cancellede a performance by pianist Jayson Gillham because of his anti-Israeli remarks made during a concert, was heavily criticized by pro-Palestinian activists. Read More →
Moritzburg Festival
(c) Oliver Killig
Nun schon zum 32. Mal findet noch bis zum 18. August das von Jan Vogler initiierte und geleitete Kammermusikfestival Moritzburg vor den Toren Dresdens statt. Es zieht Künstler aus aller Welt an: junge, hoffnungsvolle neue und gestandene Wiederholungstäter, die immer wieder kommen wollen und sich zu ständig neuen Besetzungen in den einzelnen Werken vermischen. Michael Oehme berichtet. Read More →
Claudio Abbado
(c) DG/ Harald Hoffmann
Das Festival von Stresa widmet seine diesjährige Ausgabe dem Andenken an den Dirigenten Claudio Abbado, dessen Todestag sich zum zehnten Mal jährt. Zu diesem Anlass hat der künstlerische Leiter des Festivals, der Cellist Mario Brunello, beschlossen einen Abbado-Wald anzulegen. Read More →
Nachdem der Pianist Pawel Kuschnir in einem russischen Untersuchungsgefängnis an den Folgen eines Hungerstreiks starb, haben sich Musiker wie Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim und Simon Rattle sich in einem offenen Brief vor seinem Mut und seiner Menschlichkeit verneigt. Kushnir war im Mai verhaftet und wegen „öffentlicher Aufrufe zu terroristischen Aktivitäten“ angeklagt worden. Read More →
