Dirk Kaftan

Der musikalische Chef der Grazer Oper, Dirk Kaftan (45), soll neuer Generalmusikdirektor in Bonn werden und dort ab Sommer 2017 das Beethoven Orchester leiten. Er tritt die Nachfolge von Generalmusikdirektor Stefan Blunier an, nach dem allerdings Christoph Prick interimistisch tätig wurde.

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld will create the costumes for several productions of the Paris Opera. The ballet Brahms-Schönberg Quartet will be the first collaboration of Lagerfeld with the operas house. He will carry out the design in the spirit of the Vienna Secession.

The Grand Théâtre de Genève which is closed for renovation, will use for two and a half years a temporary wooden structure situated near the United Nations headquarters, and symbolically called Opera Nations. The elements of the structure were before used as Ephemeral Theatre by the Comédie Française in Paris. Yet, the theatre of 700 seats was expanded to accommodate 1100 spectators and an orchestra pit for 70 musicians was added as well. The first work to be performed will be Handel’s Alcina, on 15 February.

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Contemporary Music category goes in this eighth edition to Greek composer Georges Aperghis (*1945) « for his reinvention of music theatre using sounds, gestures, space and technology, and involving performers in the compositional process ». Read More →

Oper Stuttgart

Die Findungskommission, die den Nachfolger für den Intendanten der Stuttgarter Oper benennen soll hat sich für Viktor Schoner entschieden und diesen dem Verwaltungsrat vorgeschlagen. Schoner ist zurzeit Künstlerischer Betriebsdirektor der Bayerischen Staatsoper München. Zuvor arbeitete er für die Salzburger Festspiele und die Ruhr-Trienale.

Sad news are coming from Long Island/New York: The Long Island Philharmonic announced that it will close effective immediately. The orchestra ceases operations after 36 years of musical success. Yet, the last five years it was financially in serious difficulties.

Für das ‘NDR Sinfonieorchester’ beginnt im Januar 2017 eine neue Ära. Es zieht als Residenzorchester in die Elbphilharmonie ein – und ändert aus diesem Anlass seinen Namen in ‘NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester’. Der Name macht soll die Rolle als Residenzorchester des Konzerthauses deutlich machen, heißt es in einer Pressemitteilung. Read More →

Adam Fischer

The Danish National Chamber Orchestra, struggling with finances since the Danish Radio stopped paying for their activities, will be financed by Augustinus Foundation, Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansen Foundation and the AP Møller and Chastine McKinney Møller Foundation, which together have ensured the economic basis of the orchestra for three years, up to and including 2018. The orchestra will remain under the leadership of chief conductor Adam Fischer. A complete Beethoven cycle on CD is expected to be ready in the autumn of 2018.

Christian Thielemann
(c) Deutsche Grammophon

Zum Nachfolger des verstorbenen Dirigenten Kurt Masur als Schirmherr des Internationalen Instrumentalwettbewerbes Markneukirchen haben die Organisatoren Christian Thielemann gewinnen können. Der nächste Wettbewerb findet vom 19.-28. Mai in den Fächern Horn und Tuba statt.

Cecilia Bartoli
(c) Ulli Weber/Decca

The Polar Music Prize 2016, worth 105.000 Euros (SEK 1 million), is awarded to mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli. The Jury says: « With a vocal range of three octaves and a unique ability to live a role with fullness of expression, Cecilia Bartoli has developed song as an art form. Read More →