Erik Satie

French composer Erik Satie (1866 – 1925) lived in Arcueil near Paris and he is buried at the local cemetery. The City Council is planning some projects to mark the composer’s 150th anniversary. In the debate an elected National Front councilor, Denis Truffaut, has strongly criticized the memory of Erik Satie by treating him as ‘hypocritical’, ‘coward’, ‘illuminated’, ‘mediocre’ and ‘alcoholic’. For the right-wing politician there is no way to spend money for the musician. The statements stunned the other members of council and some of them said, Truffaut’s intervention shows a « lack of culture » and the « rejection of the culture. »

The Lausanne Chamber Orchestra (OCL) has been forced to cancel a concert on Tuesday night just minutes from the beginning. Part of the ceiling collapsed on stage at the Métropole hall. No one was hurt and the extent of the damage is not yet clear. The orchestra complained some weeks ago about nuisances at the hall due to nearby construction work. Here is the link to our article.

In his presentation of the ICMA Awards 2016 in San Sebastian, President Remy Franck said, the ICMA prices were showing « our determination to get something special, a carefully structured list of outstanding recordings and outstanding artists. » He underlined that the jury faces « a constantly changing environment. » Read More →

Das Modell der Akademie
(c) Modellbau Milde Berlin

Im ehemaligen Magazin der Staatsoper Berlin entsteht die Barenboim-Said Akademie. Die Bauarbeiten haben im Mai 2014 begonnen und werden im Laufe dieses Jahres abgeschlossen. In das denkmalgeschützte Gebäude – das ehemalige Kulissenlager der Staatsoper – wurden rund 2.200 Kubikmeter Beton und 700 Tonnen Stahl verbaut. Es entstehen Probe-, und Seminarräume, ein Auditorium, eine Bibliothek, Büros, Garderoben sowie ein Konzertsaal. Read More →

Andris Nelsons

Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons (*1978) will receive the 2016 Glashütte Original Music Festival Award during the Dresden Music Festival. The prize will be presented to him on May 6, 2016, when Nelsons is conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Dresden’s Frauenkirche. Read More →

Leonard Slatkin

The rumors we echoed in March have been confirmed: On September 1, 2017, Leonard Slatkin will become Directeur Musical Honoraire of the Orchestre National de Lyon. The recruitment process for a new music director has been launched. As Conductor Laureate, Slatkin will continue regular collaborations with the orchestra’s musicians for at least 3 additional seasons.

Salzburg

Die Urteile gegen den ehemaligen Technischen Direktor der Salzburger Festspiele und den früheren Geschäftsführer der Osterfestspiele Salzburg sind rechtskräftig. Diese Entscheidung gab der Oberste Gerichtshof jetzt bekannt. Read More →

After leaving its long-time home at the Shubert Theater, Boston Lyric Opera will play at four different venues in Boston and look at the same time for a new permanent home. Read More →

Kent Nagano
Photo: Broede

Die erste Hälfte der kommenden Spielzeit des Philharmonischen Staatsorchesters Hamburg findet noch in der Laeiszhalle statt, während die zweite Saisonhälfte, ab Januar 2017, in der neuen Elbphilharmonie gespielt wird. Read More →

The International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) organized their Award Ceremony and Gala Concert yesterday, April 1, at the nearly sold out Kursaal in Sebastian, where an audience of 1500 applauded the winners. The event was hosted by the Basque National Orchestra and San Sebastian Cultural Capital of Europe 2016. Read More →