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 →

Piotr Tchaikovsky: Symphonie Nr. 4, Capriccio Italien; Gürzenich Orchester Köln, Dmitrij Kitajenko; 1 SACD Oehms Classics OC 671; 2010/11 /62'12) - Rezension von Remy Franck

Was Tchaikovsky im Jahre 1877 durchmachte, lässt sich nur annähernd erfassen. Es war nicht nur der Umstand, dass seine Ehe mit Antonina Miljukowa nur wenige Wochen dauerte und den Komponisten in Depressionen stürzte, sondern der Fakt, dass er überhaupt – um seine persönliche Sexualität zu übertünchen – diese Ehe einging, die gesellschaftlich wohl ‘richtig’, für ihn, den Menschen Tchaikovsky aber falsch sein musste. Das ließ seine Psyche in ein Gefühlschaos ohnegleichen stürzen. Zumindest einen Teil seiner inneren Aufruhr teilt er uns im ersten Satz der Vierten Symphonie mit. Read More →

Bryn Terfel has signed a new, exclusive, long-term recording agreement with Deutsche Grammophon. As part of the deal the award-winning Welsh bass-baritone has affirmed his commitment to supporting the next generation of classical musicians by creating a unique joint venture label with Berlin-based Deutsche Grammophon. Read More →

Arizona Opera’s next season is secured: According to an article in ‘The Star’, the opera house in Phoenix has recently raised nearly $1 million to guarantee its 2013-14 season. The company is facing $3 million in long-term debt, including about $1 million to be paid back immediately. During the next season, Arizona Opera will perform Wagner’s ‘The Flying Dutchman’, Puccini’s ‘La Bohème’, Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’ and Donizetti’s ‘Don Pasquale’, among others.

The Minnesota Orchestra has canceled another six concerts initially scheduled from July 20 to Aug. 3 at Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis. Now, locked out musicians have not played a concert under the official auspices of the Minnesota Orchestra for more than a year. In May, Music Director Osmo Vänskä saidgthat he will resign if the Minnesota Orchestra is not playing again by September at the latest.

Oh yes, we are also in a Britten Year. Due to all this Wagner and Verdi the youngest of the composer trio is risking to get lost. However the Britten-Pears Foundation continues to celebrate Britten’s 100th anniversary and launches a new Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra App. This free App is to initiate a new generation to the orchestra and the music of Britten through the latest technology. The App comes with illustrations by Sara Fanelli and a recording of the music by the Royal Northern College of Music Symphony Orchestra under the baton of  Sir Mark Elder. Obviously, a number of games, quizzes, composition exercises and basic information about Britten’s life and work are included as well.

The App is available for free Download through iTunes. An interactive version will be available on the Britten 100 website from September 2013.

Yesterday, during an Audience Questions & Answers Event at the Boston Symphony Hall, Andris Nelsons, newly appointed Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director, signed his contract next to Ted Kelly (Chairman of the BSO Board of Trustees) and Mark Volpe (BSO Managing Director) at his first Boston appearance since his appointment. Read More →

Concerto Köln ist nun offiziell eine eingetragene Marke. Dies hat das Deutsche Patent- und Markenamt in Jena nun bestätigt. Die Schutzdauer gilt zunächst bis 31. Mai 2022. Read More →

At ‘classical:next’ in Vienna, which lasted from Wednesday to Saturday, one of the main discussion themes among professionals was the expected bankruptcy of Codaex and the possible consequences for the market. It locks however like the Dutch label Challenge will continue with the labels of Codaex within the structure New Arts International they already created with Codaex last year. Read More →

In an article published by Minnpost, publicist Emily Hogstad raises a lot of highly embarrassing questions about the financial performance of Minnesota Orchestra. According to what she found out and what she is questioning, the Board members of that Orchestra look like amateurs. Read Emily’s report here: http://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2013/05/questions-remain-about-fiscal-performance-minnesota-orchestras-board-manage