Roberto Alagna
(c) Harcourt
In the French TV show C à Vous, yesterday evening, tenor Roberto Alagna was supposed to perform the song Mon pote le gitan in memory of one of his friends. Yet he found himself caught up in a torrent of emotions and, after a few seconds, the artist had to interrupt his performance. He left the stage saying, « I cannot do this today ». He then explained: « In fact, we talked before about this friend and it moved me so much that I sing the song thinking about him and I can’t concentrate ».
This week’s Karajanist Community Letter pays tribute to Katia Ricciarelli, a true Italian who is going to celebrate her 75th birthday on Saturday. In the ongoing series about Karajan and Mozart’s operas the Newsletter focusses on Don Giovanni, arguably Mozart’s most mysterious and powerful composition. Read More →
Fabio Luisi
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has announced the contract extension for Music Director Fabio Luisi. The renewal is for a further five years through the 2028/29 concert season. Italian conductor Fabio Luisi, 61, began his first season as Music Director in the current 2020/21 season after a year of holding the title Music Director Designate. He is General Music Director of the Zurich Opera, and Principal Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
Vasily Petrenko
Photo: Mark McNulty
Russian conductor Vasily Petrenko, 44, has been appointed as Artistic Director of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia Evgeny Svetlanov. Succeeding Vladimir Jurowski, who has served in the role since 2011, he will take up the position on 1 September 2021, at the same time as he formally takes up the position of Music Director of London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Read More →
The Ontario government has restricted possibilities for livestreaming concerts. Such online events are not allowed to take place in venues that are closed according to the new COVID-10 rules. So, not even performing and recording music without audience is possible in any of the concert venues or theatres. Ontario is Canada’s most populous province.
Suntory Hall
For its 35th anniversary, Suntory Hall in Tokyo will not only present a year-long program of attractive and diverse performances but also launch a new global online platform, ‘Digital Suntory Hall’. From April 2021 this platform « will enable people from all over the world to experience the venue and the concerts from the comfort of one’s own home, regardless of distance, time difference, or language », the organization says in a press release.
Michael Stern
(c) Kansas Symphony
The National Repertory Orchestra (NRO) has announced the appointment of Michael Stern as its third Music Director in the organization’s 61-year history. The National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado, is an intensive performance and education summer festival for young professional musicians, ages 18-29. Read More →
Leopold Hager
(c) Casa da Musica / Joao Messias
Das Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg (OPL) hat seinen ehemaligen Chefdirigenten Leopold Hager zum Ehrendirigenten ernannt. Die Ehrung erfolgte gestern Abend, als der 85-jährige Österreicher das erste OPL-Konzert vor Publikum im Jahre 2021 dirigiert. Read More →
Aufgrund des bis einschließlich 31. Januar 2021 verlängerten Lockdowns in Deutschland kann das Heidelberger Streichquartettfest 2021 nicht wie geplant vom 28. bis 31. Januar stattfinden, sondern wird auf Januar 2022 verschoben, teilte der Veranstalter heute mit. Bereits vier von sechs der für dieses Jahr eingeladenen Quartette konnten zusagen, ebenso der Komponist Wolfgang Rihm, auf dem der Programmfokus liegt. Read More →
Marc Minkowski
(c) Marco Borggreve
French conductor Marc Minkowski, 58, will not be renewed as General Manager and Music Director of the Bordeaux Opera, according to a press release published by the house. Read More →
