Olli Mustonen

The Finnish pianist and conductor Olli Mustonen, 52, has been named Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra from January 2021. Read More →

The Foyer in the Bolshoi Theatre
Photo: Georges Franck

Das russische Kulturministerium hat alle staatlichen Kulturinstitutionen im Zusammenhang mit der Gefahr der Ausbreitung einer Coronavirus-Infektion geschlossen. Der Pressedienst des Bolschoi-Theaters bestätigte, dass Generaldirektor Vladimir Urin wegen akuter Virusinfektion der Atemwege in ein Krankenhaus eingeliefert wurde. Zuvor hatte das Bolschoi-Theater alle Aufführungen bis zum 10. April 2020 abgesagt.

Die Internationalen Händel-Festspiele Göttingen haben beschlossen, die Festspiele 2020 zu verschieben. Die Festspiele sollten im Mai stattfinden. Das Festival richtet einen Appell an das Publikum: « Bitte prüfen Sie, ob Sie auf eine Rückerstattung der bereits erworbenen Tickets verzichten können! Gern stellen wir Ihnen im Gegenzug eine Spendenbescheinigung aus. Read More →

Due to the international situation of the coronavirus, the Board of the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville and the Board of ICMA International Classical Music Awards have decided to cancel the Award Ceremony and the Gala Concert in Seville, on 30 April 2020. Both institutions are looking into the possibility of finding another date in the fall.

Jean Muller
(c) Marlene Soares

Aufgrund der derzeitigen gesellschaftlichen Situation, welche ebenfalls in der luxemburgischen Kulturszene ihre Auswirkungen zeigt, wurde das Konzept ‘Live aus der Stuff’ (Live aus der Stube) gegründet. Hinter diesem Konzept steht der Initiator Serge Tonnar, zusammen mit dem Künstlerkollektiv MASKéNADA. Finanziert wird es durch das Kulturministerium. Read More →

The Competition Artistes en Herbe Luxembourg has announced its winners. Founded in 2009, this competition is unique in Western Europe, because children from the youngest age are admitted in the Junior category (3 age groups). Adult composers are invited to write for children in the Senior category. The 5th edition encountered a great international success. Read More →

Metropolitan Opera New York

Like many opera houses and orchestras closed due to coronavirus the Met Opera in New York is broadcasting free streams on its website every evening. Under the name Nightly Met Opera Streams, the Metropolitan will broadcast recordings made in the Live in HD series normally presented live in cinemas. Read More →

Ivan Fischer
Photo: Marco Borggreve

Uplifting news:  Hungarian conductor  Ivan Fischer creates a new concert series in response to the worldwide musical shutdown. The chamber concerts will be free to view online while the spreading COVID-19 forces music lovers to stay at home. Read More →

Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla, music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The pregnant woman is in quarantine. In a press release the CBSO stated, “Due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the restrictions on large-scale events in countries right across Europe, all ten concerts on the CBSO’s European tour this month have been cancelled by the venues we were due to visit. Read More →

American composer Charles Wuorinen has died on March 11 at the age of 81, his publisher announced. Born in 1938 in New York he studied notably at the Columbia University. Read More →