Claire Guillemain, recruited one year ago to create the Cité musicale de Metz comprising in one structure the National Orchestra of Lorraine and Metz en scènes (three performance halls, among them the famous Arsenal), has left the ship before even arriving in port. The unexpected departure has officially not been explained, and rumours say that Guillemin must have seen that the task to direct such an enormous cultural structure with 150 employees and a budget of € 13.2 Million is not realistic. Anyhow, Metz has now suffered a severe setback in its merger plans.

Karel Mark Chichon
Photo: DRP

Karl Mark Chichon setzt ein Zeichen. Drei Monate vor dem Ende seines Vertrags hat er angeblich wegen der für 2019 angekündigten Kürzungen im Orchesterbudget der Deutschen Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern seinen sofortigen Rücktritt erklärt. Read More →

Ainars Rubikis
(c) Janis Porietis

According to an information reported by Berlin’s Tagesspiegel, Culture Senator Klaus Lederer will present on Monday the Latvian Ainars Rubikis (*1978) as Generalmusikdirektor of the Komische Oper. With First prizes at Bamberg’s Mahler Conducting Competition 2010 and the Young Conductors Award in Salzburg 2011, Rubikis is known as an innovative and intelligent conductor. He was musical director in Novosibirsk, but was dismissed in the aftershocks of the Tannhäuser scandal.

Gustavo Dudamel

Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic dedicated a concert by his orchestra on Friday night to the 17-year-old violist of El Sistema who was killed two days earlier in an anti-government protest and to all the victims of violence. This was reported by the L.A. Times.

Vladimir Putin has issued an executive order to increase cultural funding in Russia. Unlike in past years, the funding will now be index-linked, budget allocations being based on the level of inflation established by federal law for the next fiscal year.

The Paris based Long Thibaud Crespin Foundation has informed the candidates about the Cancellation of the singing contest 2017. Without giving further information they write: « Dear candidates, Due to unforeseen reasons we deeply regret to have to cancel the 2017 edition of our competition. All dues will be refunded in full. » Read More →

Kazem Abdullah

Im Herbst 2015 wurde angekündigt, Aachens Generalmusikdirektor Kazem Abdullah werde seinen Vertrag nach einer Amtszeit von fünf Jahren nicht verlängern und im Juli 2017 Aachen verlassen. Damals schien es, als gehe dieser Entschluss vom Dirigenten aus. Read More →

Gustavo Dudamel

After the murder of a young El Sistema musician by the Maduro regime in Venezuela, conductor Gustavo Dudamel has finally clearly condemned the government of his native country. Dudamel, who was criticized for being a follower of the regime, has now taken his own stand. On Facebook he posted a strong message. Read More →

Sad news from France: The Festival of Ile-de-France was closed down today. This decision ends a musical adventure of forty years. Read More →

Die deutsche Sopranistin Agnes Giebel ist im Alter von 95 Jahren in Köln gestorben. Das teilte ihre Tochter Kristina Kanders mit. Giebel starb nach Angaben der Familie bereits am 24. April. Read More →