Today, we received an e-mail from a PR agent in the United States. One sentence in this mail says a lot about the situation in the now dictatorial country. « I’m doing my best to stay focused while US democracy is under attack, and what’s happening at the Kennedy Center feels especially heartbreaking. My poor home city of Washington, D.C. feels like ground zero. »
From 2026, for its 75th anniversary, the ARD International Music Competition will take place with four instrumental categories, including organ alongside string quartet, percussion and bassoon. This means that the endangered competition has now the wind in its sails. The Ernsting Arts and Culture Foundation proposes to support the competition in the first place until 2028. Read More →
James Conlon
(c) Dan Steinberg/LA Opera
In 2026, James Conlon, 74, will step down as Music Director of the LA Opera after 20 Years at the helm of this company. He was previously Principal Conductor of the RAI National Symphony Orchestra in Torino, Italy (2016–20); Principal Conductor of the Paris Opera (1995–2004); General Music Director of the City of Cologne, Germany (1989–2003), and Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (1983–91).
Am 21. Februar beginnt der 32. Wettbewerb des Deutschen Musikinstrumentenfonds der Deutschen Stiftung Musikleben in Lübeck, dem neuen Austragungsort dank der Förderung durch die Possehl-Stiftung, 33 neu zu vergebene Instrumente stehen zur Verfügung. Read More →
Die Bach-Medaille der Stadt Leipzig 2025 geht an den belgischen Oboisten Marcel Ponseele. « Klang und Spielweise der Barockoboe haben durch diesen Künstler einen neuen Standard erreicht: Neben seiner erfolgreichen Karriere als Oboist hat sich Ponseele auch als Oboen-Bauer einen Namen gemacht. Die Auszeichnung wird im Rahmen des Bachfestes Leipzig 2025 am 20. Juni überreicht », heißt es in der Presseaussendung. Read More →
According to the New York Times, Deborah F. Rutter, longtime President of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington has been fired by AH Trump.On the other hand, the National Symphony’s Artistic Advisor Ben Folds has resigned from his position. Read More →
Marc Albrecht
(c) Marco Borggreve
Starting in September 2026, German conductor Marc Albrecht, 61, will assume the role of chief conductor of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. Before this official appointment, audiences in Antwerp will have the opportunity to see him performing with the orchestra, in the spring of 2026. Read More →
The Los Angeles Opera dropped the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s new opera ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’ in a cost-cutting move. Adapted from George Saunders’ novel the piece was to debut in Los Angeles in February 2026, and will instead open at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in October 2026.
Alessandro Bonato
The Haydn Orchestra in Bolzano has a new Principal Conductor: Alessandro Bonato will assume this post starting in October 2025, guiding the artistic development of the ensemble over the next three seasons. Read More →
Christian Kluxen
(c) Nikolaj Lund
Victoria Symphony (British Columbia, Canada) has extended the tenure of Christian Kluxen as Music Director until 2028. He is in this position since eight years. Read More →
