He's 75 today.Who knew?Not many men are recognised the world over by their first name. … [Read more...]
The case of the missing Master
April 29, 2011 By
Far be it from this space to cavil at the power and the glory that was the Royal Wedding. The event was immaculate and uplifting, every component came in on cue, the chorus and musicians were outstanding and no-one left the Abbey or their living-room unmoved. And that's before we even got to the street parties.During the course of the ceremony I wondered what had happened to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. Max holds the title of Master of the Queen's Musick, a role that goes back to the 14th … [Read more...]
Poignant appeal by eminent soloist to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
April 29, 2011 By
As I reported yesterday, the RLPO management are going ahead with a concert conducted by Roberto Minczuk, who has sacked half the musicians in the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, describing some of them as 'amateurs'.Tomorrow, the distinguished pianist Cristina Ortiz will give a concert in Rio with the dismissed musicians. She has asked me to post the following appeal to the RLPO in the hope that its management and musicians will reconsider the Minczuk engagement.Here is what she … [Read more...]
Newest royal music goes up online
April 29, 2011 By
Before anyone heard it at the wedding.... FROM DIVINE ART RECORDINGS GROUP Royal Wedding Music available online! It was confirmed yesterday morning on the official British Royal Blog that as a central part of the Wedding Service for Prince William and Kate Middleton, after the Anthem, the choirs will sing 'Ubi Caritas' by Welsh composer Paul Mealor. Mr Mealor is Reader in Composition at the University of Aberdeen, but his composing studio is on the Isle … [Read more...]
Won’t donate to the opera? We’ll sue you…
April 29, 2011 By
The case of the missing Lucerne Opera House is heading for the courts.Briefly, and in order not to tangle myself in legal ribbons, a very rich German called Engelhorn promised more than $100 million to the Swiss lakeside town to build a flexible, modern opera house, styled a Salle Modulable. He died, and the trust controlling his estate won't give the money. So the Swiss are suing.Lucerne is not a poor town. Nor is anyone else in the story (especially the lawyers).If there's a morality tale … [Read more...]
Sell a violin and save Japan
April 28, 2011 By
The Nippon Music Foundation has put one of its most exclusive violins up for sale to raise money for earthquake and tsunami relief. The Lady Blunt Stradivarius was bought for around $10 million in 2008 and is expected to fetch at least as much at auction in June via online dealers, Tarisio. The Lady Blunt, once owned by a descendant of Lord Byron, dates from 1721, prime period for the Stradivarius workshop in Cremona.It is one of 16 Stradivarius instruments owned by the Foundation. Most are … [Read more...]
Brazil crisis – some applause, please, and some boos
April 28, 2011 By
Which do you want first? The 44 musicians fired by the Brazil Symphony Orchestra (OSB) will give a free concert this Saturday with Cristina Ortiz as soloist at the Salao Leopoldo Miguez - a protest of the best kind against an authoritarian management and conductor. Put yours hands together, please, and let's hear it for Cristina and the honest musicians of Rio.Less happy news comes from Liverpool, where the orchestra intends to go ahead with its concert in May with OSB conductor Roberto Minczuk. … [Read more...]
Is this the first woman to conduct at La Scala?
April 28, 2011 By
According to Italian news agencies, Susanna Mälkki broke an age-old taboo when she led the world premiere of Luca Francesconi's opera Quartet. The work, based on a Heiner Müller, derives from Les Liaisons Dangereuses and runs til May 7.Could that really be true? Has Scala run 11 years into the 21st century before allowing a woman to do what they have been doing the world over for two generations? Apparently so.Big hand for Susanna. No hand at all for La Scala … [Read more...]
Nastiest opera ever?
April 28, 2011 By
The Schwetzingen Festival is staging the world premiere tonight of a new opera by Georg Friedrich Haas, the contemporary Austrian composer. Titled Bluthaus (Blood House), it describes the sale of a house where two murders were committed. 'We waded in blood,' said librettist Klaus Händel. Others are drawing explicit comparisons with the Kampusch child rape and abduction scandal. It sounds like exploitation opera at its worst.Sarah Wegener sings the heroine, Nadja. … [Read more...]
Looted Klimt – the Mahler connections
April 28, 2011 By
The Klimt painting restored this week to its rightful owners after 70 years of Nazi dispossession has untold connections to the Gustav Mahler story.Victor Zuckerkandl, the original owner, was a property developer in Vienna who built, among other amenities, the strikingly modernist sanatorium at Purkersdorf. photo: http://www.alma-mahler.com/engl/gallery/spielort_wien.htmlHis brother, the anatomist Emil Zuckerkandl, was married to the media heiress and art critic Berta; both were close … [Read more...]
Recent Comments
richard carlisle on Rub your eyes: a Jewish orchestra has been invited to open the new Wagner Museum
Good news-- thanks for bringing it to us Mr. Lebrecht.richard carlisle on Jackie Evancho sings ‘Ave Maria’ on Dancing with the Stars (video)
CJ, The 1958 youtube of Vissi d'arte seems magnificent to me -- the way she soars to her high range...william osborne on Rub your eyes: a Jewish orchestra has been invited to open the new Wagner Museum
The New Jewish Chamber Philharmonic Dresden has undertaken a wonderful initiative to revive the works of Jewish composers whose careers...cabbagejuice on Natalie Dessay – are we losing her?
@La Cieca I don't know if you're talking about me cherry-picking but if it is, I assure you my knowledge...La Cieca on Natalie Dessay – are we losing her?
My issue here is that a writer's pet theory of "how to sing properly" is backed up with cherry-picked data....Sixtus on Finisher of Mahler’s 10th takes Mahler’s former job
From what I've seen of the Mahler 10 sketches, the work is pretty much actually "finished" in that it has...cabbagejuice on Jackie Evancho sings ‘Ave Maria’ on Dancing with the Stars (video)
@richard carlisle I have the Stassinopoulos and the Michael Scott books on Callas. The Greeks during the war did not...Norman Lebrecht on Auditor General attacks financial chaos at the Arts Council
It's an outstanding spin job by the ACE, burying financial incompetence in a flurry of Whitehall cover-ups. Any other org...Kit Baker on Just in: John Cage sells out on the Ruhr
I was lucky enough to see Europeras I & II in the late '80s at the Summerfare festival in Purchase,...cabbagejuice on Natalie Dessay – are we losing her?
I would beg to avoid getting into disputes about Beverly Sills as her fans are as fiercely protective of her...