Nuria Rial

Taking place in various churches of the so called Vallée de l’Alzette in Luxembourg, the concerts of the baroque and early music festival RMVA (Rencontres musicales de la Vallée de l’Alzette) present internationally renowned artists in attractive programs, like soprano Nuria Rial, Lautten Compagney & soprano Dorothee Mields or Le Poème Harmonique. For the full program click here.

The Friends of the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra (Les Amis de l’Orchestre) have launched a new website. The various sections present the organization, their activities, the orchestra and interviews with musicians. The website is in French, German and English.

Vladimir Spivakov

Russian violinist and conductor Vladimir Spivakov who had to cancel his Violin competition in Omsk last year, relaunches it in Ufa, from 10 au 17 May 2016. Young violinists from 15 to 26 are invited to take part. The deadline for applications is March 20, 2016. The Russian-American violinist Mikhail Kopelman will lead the jury. The full panel of judges is to be announced in February 2016. Read More →

Financially shaken New York City Opera which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2013 will be revived under a reorganization plan confirmed Tuesday by Judge Sean H. Lane of United States Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. The group taking over the company, NYCO Renaissance, announced that it present Puccini’s Tosca next January at Lincoln Center. The new organisation is starting now to set up annual seasons. The general director of the new company is Michael Capasso, who ran another small company, Dicapo Opera Theatre, which closed last year.

Teodor Currentzis
(c) Anton Zavjyalov

The contract of conductor Theodore Currentzis as artistic director of the Perm Opera has not been extended. His former contract ended on January 10. According to Russian press reports, Currentzis refused to sign even the second version of the new contract over differences on guaranties, the conductor wanted see included in his contract, notably the preservation of the funding of his opera house at current levels and the decision to undertake a complete renovation of the stage.

Pierre Boulez
Photo: ICMA

Am heutigen Mittwoch findet in der Stiftskirche in Baden-Baden eine private Trauerfeier für den am 5. Januar im Alter von 90 Jahren verstorbenen Pierre Boulez. Anschließend ist die Beisetzung im engsten Familienkreis geplant. Boulez wohnte seit vielen Jahren in Baden-Baden. Eine offizielle Trauerfeier ist für den Donnerstag in Paris geplant.

Theater an der Wien

Ab dem 13. Januar startet das ‘Theater an der Wien’ mit der Premiere der ‘Dreigroschenoper’ einen Jubiläumsreigen: Das traditionsreiche Theater wurde 2006 zum innovativen Stagione-Opernhaus. Drei Opernaufführungen stehen im Zentrum des Festprogramms. Read More →

Philippe Jaroussky
Photo: Erato/Marc Ribes

French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky (37) has announced the death of his father Daniel Jaroussky (1941-2016) and cancelled a tour of Handel’s Partenope with performances in Paris, La Coruna, Amsterdam, Pamplona Essen and Madrid. Lawrence Zazzo will replace Jaroussky in Paris. The rest of the tour is on jeopardy.

Alexander Liebreich
(c) Bruno Fidrych

Der deutsche Dirigent Alexander Liebreich (47) hat seinen Vertrag mit dem Nationalen Symphonieorchester des Polnischen Rundfunks in Katowice (NOSPR) verlängert und führt damit die erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit bis 2018 fort. Die Position übernahm er 2012. Liebreich ist auch Chefdirigent des Münchener Kammerorchesters und hat eine Gastprofessur an der Hochschule für Musik und Theater München. In Katowice leitet er das Musikfestival ‘Katowice Kultura Natura’.

Boston Symphony Hall

Casual Fridays, a new young audience initiative will be introduced next Friday at the Boston Symphony Hall. With those concerts on three Friday-evenings, January 15, February 12, and March 18, the Boston Symphony Orchestra wants to make concerts more affordable and accessible for the next generation of attendees. Read More →