With a budget of – at a low estimate – over 10 billion euros, of which the public sector contributes over four billion, the Olympic Games in Paris are quite an expensive event. After all, the state contributes as much to this fortnight-long event as it does to the entire cultural life of France over the course of an entire year. The opening ceremony alone is said to have cost around 125 million euros, almost as much as the annual budget of the Paris Opera. Read More →

The vocal competition BBC Cardiff Singer of the World has been postponed until 2027 because its usual venue, St David’s Hall, is closed for since September 2023 after an inspection found that the roof could collapse. Cardiff Singer of the World is usually held every two years, with the most recent competition in 2023.

Corum, Montpellier

70,000 spectators, 700 artists, 50 venues, 109 musical events, 3.5 million radio listeners: these are the key figures for the Festival Radio France de Montpellier. The French festival recorded a 25% increase in attendance over the previous edition.

Philip Glass

American composer Philip Glass has protested the not allowed use of his music in a new production scheduled to open in Russian-occupied Crimea. Read More →

Benjamin Levy
(c) Yannick Perrin

The Orchestre National de Cannes announces the extension of Benjamin Levy as Music Director until the end of the 2025/2026 season. In this position since 2016, the 50-year-old French conductor has contributed to the Orchestra being awarded the « Orchestre national en région » label in January 2022. Read More →

Mit einem Orchesterfestival, Shifting Futures, eröffnet die Junge Deutsche Philharmonie ihre Jubiläumssaison zum 50-jährigen Bestehen. Shifting Futures vereint diverse Veranstaltungsformate und verschiedene Kunstformen. Read More →

John E. Gardiner
Photo: Rock/Universal

John Eliot Gardiner, 81, founder of the Monteverdi Choir, the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique has stepped down as Artistic Director of the organization. In a message form his agent, he writes: « After a long period of deep consideration and reflection, I have decided to step down as leader and Artistic Director of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras (MCO) with immediate effect. Read More →

Jacques Lacombe
(c) M&M Photographie

Canadian conductor Jacques Lacombe has been abruptly dismissed at the end of the season by the Orchestre Classique de Montréal. His departure, demanded by the OCM, was announced by the chairman of its board of directors without any explanation, either to the musicians or to the public. The separation comes after just one season during which Lacombe was Music Director. Read More →

Die Konzert- und Kongresshalle Bamberg, Residenz der Bamberger Symphoniker muss saniert werden. Die 30 Jahre alte Halle habe bauliche Defizite, wurde mitgeteilt. Eine genaue Analyse der Situation soll in den nächsten zwei Jahren klären, welche Baumaßnahmen an der Halle notwendig sind. Read More →

Leonhard Baumgartner
(c) Andrej Grilc

Austrian violinist Leonhard Baumgartner (*2007), ICMA Discovery Award winner in 2023, just won the Ilona Fehér competition in Budapest. Read More →