The website Bachtrack, an international database for music events, announced in a press release its 2016 Classical Music Statistics. Among the highlights is the statement that the Japanese are the most Romantic nation in the world: 67% of works performed in Japan in concert come from the Romantic period. And the Japanese come to the fore again when we look at when they attend concerts. 28% of concerts scheduled in Japan (according to the Bachtrack database) take place during the afternoons, mainly at the weekend. Read More →

Über eine Saarphilharmonie wird schon seit vielen Jahren geredet, und gefordert wird sie von Institutionen und Musikfreunden. Nach den Vorschlägen, ein E-Werk zum Konzertsaal umzubauen oder die Congresshalle zu renovieren, stellt ein Förderverein nun ein Konzept für einen Konzertsaal an Saarbrücker Ostspange vor und wirbt dafür mit einer Internet-Petition. Read More →

Georges Prêtre

French conductor Georges Prêtre, who died last Wednesday, has been buried on Saturday, 7 January in his village Navès (Tarn), following a religious service without any music, according to AFP. During the mass, the priest said « Georges Prêtre believed that silence is the only sign of God. »

The Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras in Madison are losing an incredibly gifted conductor, who gave the young musicians in those orchestras completely new perspectives. After 31 years as the Music Director of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras, James Smith will be retiring at the end of WYSO’s 51st season. James Smith took over as Music Director in 1985. His gift for enabling students to give their very best in rehearsal, week after week, year after year, has contributed to their personal growth and the musical success of the orchestra.  Read More →

Gustavo Dudamel
Photo: Mathew Imagaing

Dem Dirigenten Gustavo Dudamel gelingt es nicht so leicht, seine Villa in Los Angeles zu verkaufen. Die Luxusvilla auf großem Grundstück ist seit Juni im Verkauf, nachdem sie für den von seiner Frau geschiedenen Dirigenten zu groß geworden war. Im Juni wurde sie für 3,3 Mio. Dollar angeboten, jetzt berichtet die ‘Los Angeles Times’, das Haus sei für 3,095 Mio. im Verkauf.

Riccardo Chailly
Photo: ICMA

Riccardo Chailly wird immer mehr zum ‘Absager’. Krankheitshalber, so teilen die Berliner Philharmoniker mit, wird der 63-Jährige die Konzerte am 12., 14. und 15. Januar in der Philharmonie nicht dirigieren. Für ihn tritt der 77-Jährige Marek Janowski ans Dirigentenpult, um Giuseppe Verdis ‘Messa da Requiem’ zu dirigieren.

Bernard Haitink

Italian newspapers report on what they call the rebirth of Claudio Abbado’s Orchestra Mozart. And indeed, as Pizzicato announced in June 2016, the Bologna based ensemble plays today, 6 January, a concert under the baton of Bernard Haitink, with soloist Isabelle Faust, a concert that will be given also in Lugano on 8 January. Read More →

Opéra Comique, Paris

If opera fans are used to learn that the renovation of opera houses never happens to be within the announced deadline, the delay in the opening of the Opéra Comique in Paris, which has been announced now, is rather short. We are not speaking about years like in Berlin or Cologne, but of a few weeks. Read More →

Daniel Barenboim
(c) Peter Adamik

A guest in a broadcast of French radio Europe 1, conductor Daniel Barenboim heavily criticised the Israeli government. He said: « Even if we think that every Jew in the world has the right to live in Israel, it cannot be realized without the others. The land was not a desert, the Palestinians were there. (…) And it is unacceptable that there is a government in Israel which is completely deaf, which is interested not at all in the opinion of others and continues to build colonies, making it impossible to have a normal Palestinian State ». Read More →

Géori (Georgette) Boué, born 16 October 1918 in Toulouse, has died yesterday, 5 January, in Paris, at the age of 98. She made her debut at the Capitole de Toulouse in 1934. In 1939 she started singing at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, as Mimi in La Bohème. She rapidly became known for her affinities with the French repertoire, Lakmé, Manon Marguerite, Juliette, but also with Italian roles like Gilda, Violetta, Desdemona, Tosca and Cio-Cio San. Read More →