The American Guild of Musical Artists AGMA has launched its own investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the Spanish singer Placido Domingo, stating that one cannot be sure that the involved opera companies will examine the allegations sufficiently themselves. The Guild says its investigation was prompted by two Associated Press stories in which multiple women accused the opera legend of sexual harassment or other inappropriate conduct. Read More →
American Ryan Bancroft, 29, has been appointed as Principal Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales from September 2020. Born in Los Angeles, where he studied trumpet at the California Institute of the Arts, he went on to study conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Read More →
A long negotiating session between the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and its musicians ended Monday without an agreement, and yesterday the musicians have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the management of unfair labour practices. This means that the first performance of the 2019-2020 season, scheduled for next Saturday is likely not to take place. Read More →
Beim 25. Internationalen Louis-Spohr-Wettbewerb in Kassel gewann der 23-jährige Belgier Martijn Dendievel am Wochenende den mit 5.000 Euro dotierten Louis-Spohr-Förderpreis sowie auch den Publikumspreis. Im Jubiläumsjahr war der Wettbewerb von der Internationalen Louis-Spohr-Stiftung erstmals für Dirigat ausgeschrieben worden .Aus 30 Bewerbungen hatte die Jury zwölf Kandidaten aus Argentinien, Italien, Belgien und Deutschland zwischen 22 und 32 Jahren zum Louis-Spohr-Wettbewerb eingeladen. Read More →
Die Jürgen Ponto-Stiftung zur Förderung junger Künstler vergibt ihren mit 60.000 Euro dotierten Musikpreis Preisträger 2020 an das Goldmund Quartett aus München. Read More →
Die Deutsche Orchester-Stiftung präsentiert die deutschen Rundfunkchöre vom 12. bis 15. September 2019 auf der chor.com in Hannover. Dazu wurde ein gemeinsames Positionspapier zur Stärkung des Ensemblegesangs im Gesangsstudium erarbeitet um dem Beruf professioneller Chorsänger im Gesangsstudium an deutschen Musikhochschulen eine wichtigere Rolle zu geben. Read More →
Die zweite Edition des vom Geiger Linus Roth gegründeten Festivals Ibiza Concerts war sehr erfolgreich, teilt der Veranstalter mit. Im Innenhof des mit perfekter Akustik ausgestatteten ehemaligen Dominikanerklosters in Eivissa, gelegen an den Klippen in der von der UNESCO zum Weltkulturerbe erklärten Altstadt Dalt Vila auf Ibiza, musizierten Cellist Jens-Peter Maintz, Pianist José Gallardo und Gitarrist Petrit Çeku in drei nahezu ausverkauften Open Air-Konzerten. Read More →
Swiss violinist Simon Wiener (*1994) was awarded First Prize at the 26th Johannes Brahms Violin Competition organized by the Johannes Brahms Gesellschaft in Pörtschach (Austria). Wiener recently also won the special price from the Critics Jury (Anna Picard, Remy Franck and Jens Laurson) at the Leopold Mozart Competition in Augsburg. Read More →
American conductor Michael Stern, 59, has extended his contract as Music Director of the Kansas City Symphony through the 2022-23 season. Then he will step away from his position after 18 years, the orchestra announced. He will remain connected with the Kansas Symphony as Music Director Laureate.
Due to bad health, Russian conductor Yuri Temirkanov, 80, has cancelled the autumn tour of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. He is replaced by Romanian born Austrian conductor Ion Marin, 59. The tour goes from September 11 to 21 with several concerts in Italy, in Lugano, Bucharest and Paris.