Lawrence Perelman, managing director of Semantix Creative Group, is a strategic adviser to performing arts institutions has advised musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra to quit their ensemble and to create a new one. In the newspaper Star Tribune he wrote: « Follow Maestro Vänskä’s lead and resign from the Minnesota Orchestral Association. Immediately announce the creation of the Minnesota Symphony, a self-governing orchestra modeled on the Vienna Philharmonic. Read More →
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Photo: Toshiyuki Urano
Polish conductor Stanislaw Skrowaczewski celebrates today his 90th birthay. Skrowaczewski studied piano, conducting and composition at the Music Academies in Lviv and Krakow. A hand injury ended his promising career as a pianist. In 1946, became the music director of the Wroclaw Philharmonic, then the Katowice Philharmonic, the Krakow Philharmonic and finally the Warsaw National Orchestra. He studied composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. In 1956 he won the Santa Cecilia Competition for Conductors. Read More →
The National Opera in Paris signed an agreement with the Assocation of the French Mayors which will allow the willing cities to show transmissions from the Opera house in local theatres, cultural centers or even in open air events.
Thomas Dausgaard
Photo: Ulla C. Ekblom
Danish conductor Thomas Dausgaard, 50, has been named the Seattle Symphony’s principal guest conductor for three years, beginning in the 2014-15 season. Dausgaard is currently the Chief Conductor of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra and Honorary Conductor of the Danish National Symphony. Read More →
Benjamin Britten
British Hallé Orchestra in Manchester performs tonight (3/10/13) the public premiere of music written by Benjamin Britten for radio broadcasts during World War II. The concert led by Music Director Mark Elder opens with ‘Britten in Wartime’ which journeys back to 1942 when an anxious public in Britain and America tuned in to a special CBS radio broadcast jointly commissioned with the War Office – ‘An American in England’. Read More →
Andris Nelsons
Entering into his sixth season, Andris Nelsons (34), the music director for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, has decided not to renew his current contract from the end of summer 2015. Nelsons says: « With an extremely heavy heart I have reached the decision not to continue in my role as music director with my beloved CBSO after the 2014-2015 season. Read More →
Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Photo: Marco Borggreve
The Philadelphia Orchestra will not play tonight at Carnegie Hall under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Joshua Bell will no be the soloist. « This concert has regrettably been cancelled due to a strike by Carnegie Hall’s stagehands », says the Hall on its web page. They give the following explanation: « Carnegie Hall has been engaged in talks with its stagehands for some time, working toward a new contract. Read More →
Aaron J. Kernis
After Music Director Osmo Vänskä composer Aaron Jay Kernis also quits the dying Minnesota Orchestra. Here is his letter of resignation: « It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I submit my resignation as Director of the Composer Institute at the Minnesota Orchestra. I admit total bafflement and dismay at what has been done to allow the dismemberment of this superb orchestra at the height of its powers. Read More →
Steven Sloane
Photo: Christoph Fein
Steven Sloane ist neuer Professor für Dirigieren an der Universität der Künste Berlin und künstlerischer Leiter des Symphonieorchesters dieser Universität. Am gestrigen Dienstag wurde ihm die Ernennungsurkunde zum Professor für Dirigieren an der UdK Berlin übergeben. Der 1958 geborene US-Amerikaner tritt damit die Nachfolge des im vergangenen Jahr pensionierten Prof. Lutz Köhler an. Zum Auftakt seiner Berufung dirigiert Steven Sloane das diesjährige Konzert für die Nationen der UdK Berlin am 15. November 2013. Read More →
Toledo Symphony musicians have approved a new labor contract that brings pay cuts ranging from 5 to 20 percent. The minimum annual salary was reduced to $23,703. The Symphony Orchestra in Toledo (Ohio) is currently directed by the German conductor Stefan Sanderling.
