Oh yes, we are also in a Britten Year. Due to all this Wagner and Verdi the youngest of the composer trio is risking to get lost. However the Britten-Pears Foundation continues to celebrate Britten’s 100th anniversary and launches a new Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra App. This free App is to initiate a new generation to the orchestra and the music of Britten through the latest technology. The App comes with illustrations by Sara Fanelli and a recording of the music by the Royal Northern College of Music Symphony Orchestra under the baton of  Sir Mark Elder. Obviously, a number of games, quizzes, composition exercises and basic information about Britten’s life and work are included as well.

The App is available for free Download through iTunes. An interactive version will be available on the Britten 100 website from September 2013.

Yesterday, during an Audience Questions & Answers Event at the Boston Symphony Hall, Andris Nelsons, newly appointed Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director, signed his contract next to Ted Kelly (Chairman of the BSO Board of Trustees) and Mark Volpe (BSO Managing Director) at his first Boston appearance since his appointment. Read More →

Concerto Köln ist nun offiziell eine eingetragene Marke. Dies hat das Deutsche Patent- und Markenamt in Jena nun bestätigt. Die Schutzdauer gilt zunächst bis 31. Mai 2022. Read More →

At ‘classical:next’ in Vienna, which lasted from Wednesday to Saturday, one of the main discussion themes among professionals was the expected bankruptcy of Codaex and the possible consequences for the market. It locks however like the Dutch label Challenge will continue with the labels of Codaex within the structure New Arts International they already created with Codaex last year. Read More →

In an article published by Minnpost, publicist Emily Hogstad raises a lot of highly embarrassing questions about the financial performance of Minnesota Orchestra. According to what she found out and what she is questioning, the Board members of that Orchestra look like amateurs. Read Emily’s report here: http://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2013/05/questions-remain-about-fiscal-performance-minnesota-orchestras-board-manage

Im Jahre 2003 erschien die ersten Profil-CD mit der Produktionsnummer PH03001 unter dem Label Profil: Die Heidelberger Symphoniker  präsentierten die Werke für ‘Viola d´amore and orchestra’ von Stamitz mit dem Solisten Gunter Teuffel. Zwei weitere Produktionen folgten kurze Zeit später: Joseph Schmidt, ein Porträt zum 100. Geburtstag, eine CD, die heute noch ein Bestseller ist und Mozarts Klavierkonzerte mit Rudolf Buchbinder und den Wiener Symphonikern. Gefeierte Referenzeinspielungen zum Start eines Labels – eine Geschichte nimmt seinen Lauf. Nach 10 Jahren sind alle internationalen Schallplattenpreise eingefahren und heute mehr als 500 CDs veröffentlicht. Read More →

Sergei Prokofiev: Symphonie Nr. 6, Lieutenant Kijé (Suite), Die Liebe zu den drei Orangen (Suite); Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Litton; 1 SACD BIS 1994; Rezension von Remy Franck

Prokofievs zwischen 1945 und 1947 entstandene Sechste Symphonie ist ein Werk des Zweifelns, der Unsicherheit, die auch das Ende des Weltkriegs nicht aus dem Weg räumen konnte. Das macht die Musik komplex und schwer verständlich, was die Rezeption seit jeher belastet. Read More →

Der österreichische Cellist Friedrich Kleinhapl ist einer der interessantesten und eignwilligsten Cellisten unserer Zeit. Remy Franck hat sich mit ihm unterhalten. Read More →

In Minneapolis and Saint-Paul, the future of the Twin Cities Minnesota Orchestra is more and more uncertain. The musicians write in an open letter: « Now, our world-renowned Music Director, Osmo Vänskä, has publicly said that he will resign if the lockout doesn’t end. Our top players are being offered positions throughout the country, and we are already down more than 20 musicians from our full complement. Read More →

Minnesota’s ‘Star Tribune’ reports that Music director Osmo Vänskä will resign if the Minnesota Orchestra is not playing again by September at the latest, and ideally by this month. Vänskä’s contract normally would run through the 2014-15 season. Read More →