Felicity Lott

What a delightful, delicious and unforgettable evening with French libertine poetry, lasciviously recited by Alain Carré and, above all, a collection of frivolous songs performed by Dame Felicity Lott, winner of the ICMA Lifetime Achievement Award 2016. Read More →

In 1783, Chevalier de Saint-Georges founded in Paris his orchestra Le Concert de La Loge Olympique, which became one of the best in Europe and is known for having commissioned several Haydn symphonies. Now, the French Olympic Committee has won a legal battle against violinist Julien Chauvin, who created in 2015 a revival orchestra also called Le Concert de la Loge Olympique. Read More →

Gennady Rozhdestvensky

Some weeks ago Russian conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky cancelled in Dresden after he fall on his way to the concert hall. The 84 years old conductor recovered with high speed and is now able to step in in Chicago for CSO Music Director Riccardo Muti, who had to withdraw from his February concerts due to recovery from a hip operation. He broke the hip when he fall in his house in Ravenna.

Marco Pütz

In its Stagiunea Europa the Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra in Craiova will play on February 12 two works by Luxembourgish composers: Moods, for Orchestra, by Marco Pütz (*1958) as well as Trois esquisses for String Orchestra, by René Mertzig (1991-1986). Read More →

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider
(c) George Lange

Violonist Nikolaj Znaider, newly appointed President of the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition, has announced some major changes. The former winner of the competition and of the Queen Elizabeth in Brussels as well says: “Too many competitions leave the young artist ill-equipped to embark on a professional career”. Read More →

Choreographer Benjamin Millepied has thrown the towel in and announced his departure from the Paris Opera. Millepied, 38, arrived in November 2014 and brought a number of changes, not hesitating to shake the traditions of the house. The conservative forces finally won and did him leave. His successor will be Aurélie Dupont.

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) announced today that Lithuanian conductor Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla has been appointed as its 12th Music Director, effective from September 2016 for an initial three-year period. She succeeds Andris Nelsons, who held the position from 2008-2015. Read More →

Mit schöner Regelmäßigkeit vergessen Musiker ihre Instrumente in Zügen und Taxis. Wie ist das möglich. Jetzt hat es den Bratscher Hariolf Schlichtig getroffen. Er ließ sein teures Instrument in der Münchner S-Bahn liegen, und jetzt ist es seit Montag vermisst…

Toshiyuki Kamioka

Copenhagen Phil has announced the appointment of Hiyuki Kamioka, 55, as new chief conductor o from season 2016/2017 for a four year period. Kamioka has previously. After positions in Kiel and at the Aalto Theatre in Essen, Kamioka was appointed Generalmusikdirektor at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden in 1996, where he worked until 2004. From 1998 to 2006 he was also Generalmusikdirektor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie in Herford. He has been also Generalmusikdirektor at the Saarländisches Staatstheater. Since 2004 Kamioka has been Generalmusikdirektor of Wuppertal.

Lithuanian conductor Saulius Sondeckis died at the age of 87 years in Vilnius. Educated as a violinist, he later studied conducting with Igor Markevich and began his career in 1955. In 1960, he founded the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and served as its artistic director and principal conductor until 2004. He has conducted orchestras in many countries