After an intensive search around the opera world, San Francisco Opera has announced that its No. 2, the Brit Matthew Shilvock, 39, Associate general director since 2010, will be the company’s next general director. Shilvock will succeed David Gockley, 72, at the conclusion of next year’s summer season.

I read in your autobiography that “the search for a proper tempo is not confined to the world of music; one must seek it in life as well”. What does it mean?
The question is very intellectual, but I will answer in a simple way. It takes time to find the good tempo: if you play five years, you’ll find it. It is a very important matter, if you have a wrong tempo, people will not follow you. You must be neutral, and this pursue will always be a long one. Read More →

Chinese pianist Zhu Xiao Mei* won an ICMA Special Award 2015 with her Bach recordings for Accentus**. ICMA Jury member Nicola Catto has made the following interview with her. Read More →

Czech pianist Ivan Moravec has died in his native town Prague, aged 84. His career spans nearly half a century. He was a pupil of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. His career was launched in 1964 after concerts with the Cleveland Orchestra and George Szell. He excelled in the works of Chopin, romantic composers and Czech music. The Jury of the Cannes Classical Awards (today known as ICMA Jury) honored the musician with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. Read More →

Canadian tenor Jon Vickers has died at the age of 88. His family published the following message: « It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Jon Vickers, after a prolonged struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. He is survived by one sister, his five children, 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His family and dearest friends remember him for his ringing laughter, warmth, and generous spirit. A man of the land who was the most at home on his farm, surrounded by nature and his family, he had an abiding search for the truths and essences of life. » Read More →

At the World Federation of International Music Competitions, WFIMC, a new Governance system with one Board, comprising the President and six members, replaces the former two-tiered structure of a Bureau and Committee. After the first elections for this new Board, the Federation announced the appointment of Didier Schnorhk, Secretary General of the Geneva International Music Competition, as its new President. Schnorhk succeeds Glen Kwok (International Violin Competition of Indianapolis) who held the position for six years. In addition to the Board, a full time Secretary-General based in Geneva will take on the role of Chief Executive Officer. Following an extensive, international search, Benjamin Woodroffe (Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition) has been appointed as the new Secretary-General (www.wfimc.org).

The Italian Renaissance has given us great music as well as great art. But the music, particularly the solo songs from the early sixteenth century, have not received the attention they deserve. When they are performed today, they lack vitality, the passion and urgency of their lyrics being poorly served by an overly cautious, stilted and under-expressive performance style. By contrast, five hundred years ago, the art of singing passionately was rooted in oration, and singers modelled their art on that of the orator or actor. Read More →

The next International Chopin Competition which will take place in October in Warsaw will be available live to music lovers around the world. The Application Chopin Competition will allow to watch all performances in Full HD on mobile devices (iOS and Android systems), smart TV and in web browsers. Read More →

After two years of search, the New York Philharmonic today announced Chinese-born American violinist, Frank Huang (36) as their new Concertmaster and successor to Glenn Dicterow. Huang is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Juilliard School and an award winner at the Walter Naumburg, Paganini, Hannover and Indianapolis Competitions. Huang is currently concertmaster of the Houston Symphony. He will commence his appointment in New York at the beginning of the 2015/16 season.

Maestro, have you been born into a musical family?
Not at all! My mother was a teacher and my father an engineer. However our house was next to the choir school of the St.Petersburg Boys Choir. Since my mother had noticed that I could sing and that I successfully tried to get some music out of our piano – it was kind of a toy for me at that time, just after the war, when real toys were not available – she let me take part in a competition. Read More →