Jaap van Zweden
(c) Hans Vanderwoerd/IMG

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra today announced that Jaap van Zweden has extended his contract with the orchestra to remain its Music Director through the 2021/22 season. Its understandable, that the Cinese orchestra’s leaders are « thrilled that Maestro van Zweden has chosen to extend his contract with the HK Phil following his appointment as the next Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. It is reassuring that the Maestro’s directorship of the HK Phil will remain unchanged for the next six musical seasons.” Read More →

Johann Sebastian Bach
(c) Bach-Archiv Leipzig

Vom 10. bis 19. Juni ergründen führende Bach-Interpreten im Bachfest Leipzig die ‘Geheimnisse der Harmonie’ (so das Motto 2016), darunter der Thomanerchor Leipzig, Sir John Eliot Gardiner mit Monteverdi Choir und English Baroque Soloists, Trevor Pinnock und das Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Sir Roger Norrington und Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Olof Boman mit dem Balthasar-Neumann-Chor und -Ensemble, William Christie und Les Arts Florissants, Martin Stadtfeld oder Christian Tetzlaff sowie zahlreiche exzellente Leipziger Chöre und Orchester. Read More →

Joyce DiDonato
©J osef Fischnaller

Joyce DiDonato hat kurz vor dem Termin herausgefunden, dass sie eine Rolle, die sie für die diesjährigen Salzburger Festspiele angenommen hatte, gar nicht singen kann: « Sehr schweren Herzens muss ich meine Mitwirkung an den bevorstehenden Aufführungen von ‘Il templario’ bei den Salzburger Festspielen absagen. Read More →

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has made a $12 million deficit in 2015. Facing this loss, the orchestra has developed a plan to ease the financial pressure by selling one of its more valuable assets: a viola (apparently, the 1703 Amati used by TSO principal violist Teng Li). In fact, this is not a sale to a third person, but a transfer of the instrument to the Toronto Symphony Foundation, a separate non-profit organisation which controls the orchestra’s endowment, in exchange for $4 million, which is equal to the instrument’s most recent valuation. This make-up could help to bring the financial figures in a better shape.

Gewandhaus in Zwickau

Das aus dem 16. Jahrhundert stammende Gewandhaus in Zwickau, das seit 1823 als Städtisches Theater für Oper, Ballett, Konzerte und Schauspiel genutzt wird, muss wegen Renovierungsarbeiten für mindestens zwei Jahre geschlossen werden. Dem Theater stehen ab der kommenden Spielzeit sieben Ersatzspielstätten in der Stadt zur Verfügung.

Der Universitätsrat der Universität Mozarteum Salzburg und Rektor Siegfried Mauser haben sich darauf verständigt, das Dienstverhältnis zwischen dem Mozarteum und Prof. Mauser einvernehmlich per 30.6.2016 aufzulösen. Read More →

The delegates of the 21th FIM Congress in Reykjavik a have re-elected John Smith (United Kingdom) President of the International Federation of Musicians.

Vladimir Putin has awarded his loyal friend Valery Gergiev with the Russian State Prize for Outstanding Humanitarian Achievements. Valery Gergiev recently conducted the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra in the Syrian city of Palmyra, an event which, according to Putin « caused an unprecedented emotional response around the world ».

Vienna Philharmonic's Refugee house

The Philharmonic Refugee House in St. Aegyd, an initiative of the Vienna Philharmonic, has been officially opened. The house has three apartments as well as a large meeting room « in which also the local population is invited to seek contact with the families of the house ». Read More →

Soprano Andrea Anelli, founder and co-director of Opera Per Tutti, rebranded in Cleveland Opera Theater in 2014, has resigned, citing an untenable situation at the company. The board of directors has appointed Scott Skiba, the company’s artistic director, to succeed her with the new title of executive artistic director.