Sebastian Berner (born in 1994) solo trumpet in the hr-sinfonieorchester Frankfurt, won First Prize in the 7th Maurice André International Trumpet Competition in Paris. 2nd Prize went to Lennard Czakaj from Poland. The third Prize was not awarded, and French trumpeters Pierre Evano and Raphael Horrach won Fourth Prize. Read More →

The Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra, which called Founders Hall in Uptown Charlotte home for 20 years, has returned just in time for the holidays. Following a two-year break due to the pandemic, the city of Kannapolis, North Carolina, has offered the orchestra a new home at the Kannapolis Village Park as part of the Celebration of Lights. Read More →

Franco Fagioli
(c) Julian Laidig

After a single performance of Handel’s Messiah in his native country the Argentine countertenor Franco Fagioli, 41, will conduct the same work  from 15 to 18 December at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, and at the Royal Chapel of the Palace of Versailles. Read More →

Baritone Quentin Oliver Lee, 34, died on December 1 from colon cancer, his wide said. Lee was a respected opera singer with roles in operas by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini and many more, and he was also a thought after musical singer.

The latest Karajan Community Letter focuses on Karajan’s relations with tenor René Kollo who recently celebrated his 85th birthday and with stage director Michael Hampe who has died. Anton Bruckner is another topic of this week. Click here to be directed to the Newsletter. Read More →

Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg

Beim 46. Galakonzert der SOS Villages d’enfants Monde, das vom Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg (OPL) gespielt wurde, reagierte das Publikum am Schluss mit großer Begeisterung. Ebenso Pizzicato-Mitarbeiter Alain Steffen. Read More →

Among the winners of this year’s Russian Creative Awards (RCA) is Valery Gergiev, artistic director and general director of the Mariinsky Theater, TASS reports. Gergiev, a close ally of the brutal warmonger Putin is ‘Man of the Year’ in Russia. Read More →

The Mannheim Opera will not be able to open its replacement venue on time in April 2023. The interim venue is needed due to a general renovation of the main house. The delay is due to the insolvency and the closure of the building project developer. Statements on a new opening date are not yet possible, the National Theater Mannheim announced. The replacement opera house is to be used for five years.

British-Polish composer Roxana Panufnik has launched an unusual two-pronged, multinational festive project, in aid of refugees.  She has released on Signum Classics an Anglo-Ukrainian-Afghan Christmas refugee benefit single, in aid of the Refugee Council. Read More →

(c) Sébastien Grébille

Einen großartigen Opernabend in konzertanter Form erlebte unser Mitarbeiter Alain Steffen am Mittwoch im großen Saal der Luxemburger Philharmonie mit Mozarts La Clemenza di Tito. Read More →