Thomaskirche, Leipzig
(c) Remy Franck

Gestern endete in der Leipziger Thomaskirche das Bachfest Leipzig 2023. 160 Veranstaltungen in elf Tagen wurden von Musikliebhabern aus mindestens 56 Nationen besucht. Read More →

The 46th edition of the Dresdner Musikfestspiele ended yesterday after 63 concerts and a total of approximately 60,000 visitors. The program comprised classical music, jazz, world music and international protagonists of the singer/songwriter and electronic scene. Read More →

Orchestre de la Place de l'Europe
(c) Alfonso Salgueiro

Nach seiner Gründung im Jahr 2022 spielte das von Benjamin Schäfer geleitete Orchestre de la Place de l‘Europe (OPE), ein Amateurorchester, sein erst zweites Konzert, von dem Pizzicato-Mitarbeiter Alain Steffen mit großer Begeisterung berichtet. Read More →

The winners of the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival were announced on Saturday evening. First Prize: Seokyoung Hong, 15, South Korea; Second Prize: Yifan Wu, 14, China; Third Prize: Jan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia; Audience Award: Seokyoung Hong.

Elim Chan
(c) Simon Pauly

Conductor Elim Chan, 36, is stepping down as Chief Conductor of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra to focus on her international career. Her last concerts as the orchestra’s Chief Conductor will be those with Midori, scheduled for May 2024. She is in this position since 2019. Read More →

Andras Schiff
Photo: Sheila Rock

Über musikalische Interpretation darf und soll man auch diskutieren, meint Pizzicato-Mitarbeiter Alain Steffen in seinem Bericht über das Konzert des Luxembourg Philharmonic mit Andras Schiff, der als Artist in-Residence an diesem Abend zugleich als Dirigent und als Pianist auftrat. Mit diskutablem Resultat. Während einige Zuhörer am Schluss des Konzerts lautstark Bravo riefen, verließ ich schnell den Saal. Read More →

Anna-Maria Helsing
(c) Timo Heikkala

The BBC Concert Orchestra has announced Swedish-Finnish conductor Anna Maria Helsing, 51, as their new Chief Conductor. Officially starting in the role on 1st October 2023, Anna-Maria is contracted until 2026. As Chief Conductor, Anna-Maria joins a distinguished line of predecessors including the late Bramwell Tovey and Barry Wordsworth. Read More →

© Philharmonie Luxembourg / Eric Engel

Available on Deutsche Weller’s YouTube channel since April 2002, the live recording of the ICMA Gala 2022 made in the Philharmonie Luxembourg was seen now by one million people. This makes this video with winners of the International Classical Music Awards 2022 one of the most successful productions of classical music in the Internet. Read More →

Ivan Valbuena Paez

Clarinetist Ivan Valbuena Paez who performs with the San Antonio Philharmonic has been awarded the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture’s Fund for the Arts grant for 2023. Valbuena was selected for the A Dos Music Project, a clarinet duet he co-created with his wife, Luz Sarmiento, DMA, to expand the horizons of Latin music. Read More →

Janina Fialkowska, chairman of the Jury for the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival taking place June 8–17 in Dallas, has announced the three pianists advancing to the Final Round: Seokyoung Hong, 15, South Korea, Jan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia and Yifan Wu, 14, China