They almost cancelled the Pharos chamber music festival when the European Union bailiffs trashed the local banks. Sponsors vanished overnight and the editors struggled to fill the programme's acknowledgements page . But the artists refused to give up. Asked to reduce their fees, they waived them altogether. Asked to rejig their programmes, they tore them up and started again. Michala Petri, the recorder virtuoso, had been planning a solo recital. So had Mahan Esfahani, the brilliant young … [Read more...]

No sooner has he opened the Mariinsky extension in St bPetersburg than Valery Gergiev has taken charge of plans to build a new concert hall in the capital. The appointment was announced by Moscow's culture chief, Sergei Kapkov. The hall will be built on the site of the demolished Rossiya hotel and will be the centrepiece of a new park beside the Moscow River. Phot: Putin on the site of the demolished hotel … [Read more...]

Extracts from Gottfried Wagner's Afp interview with Simon Morgan have been widely quoted in newspapers and, in some instances, traduced. We reprint the complete interview below, in which Gottfried takes issue not just with his ancestor and siblings but with conductor Christian Thielemann, who has declared Wagner's music to be apolitical.       As the musical world lavishly celebrates Richard Wagner's bicentenary, the composer's great-grandson insists he is no … [Read more...]

A couple of months back, we brought you the authentic sound of Sigmund Freud. Now, thanks to Paris Review, we follow up with the great English novelist, speaking on the BBC on the subject of new words.   … [Read more...]

My first novel is published today in Chinese. I shall attend a publisher's launch at the Shanghai Book Festival in August. … [Read more...]

Conspiracy theories are flourishing in New York - and in our mailbox - about James Levine's resumption of his duties as music director and the decision this week to scrap the last few dancers on the Metropolitan Opera payroll. The two are unconnected. Levine, as music director, limits his responsibilities strictly to repertoire, casting and orchestra. He has made life fairly easy for Joseph Volpe and Peter Gelb, at the top of the organisation.   … [Read more...]

Simon Halsey, director of the Berlin Radio chorus since 2001, is stepping down in 2016. His close friend Simon Rattle is leaving in 2018. Berlin journalists are unhappy that both made the announcement to quit in English. Simon Halsey, 55, has made it clear that he needs to spend more time with his family in England. He has been director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus for 30 years. Under the two Simons, the Berlin Philharmonic and the excellent radio chorus have coordinated their … [Read more...]

Outside of banking and pharma-deals, the Swiss are off the pace in most spheres of human endeavour. So don't blame the poor dears for getting excited about a flash mob six months after the rest of the world gave up on the gimmick. It's quite sweet. … [Read more...]

Jaap van Zweden is selling his Ritz Carlton apartment in Dallas for $2.9 million. He co-owns it with the violinist Michael Guttman. The two pals, apparently, are used to making joint investments. Whatever. You can get the home tour here. What caught my eye was the bathroom. If I was music director in Dallas, I'd settle for nothing less. Wonder why he's moving. … [Read more...]

An extra category has been added to the biennial contest, which started in 1978 but has been virtually wiped off mainstream television and print media.  The idea is that jazz might give it more screen cred. The last winner was the stunning cellist,  Laura van der Heijden. UPDATE:  The BBC has sent the following clarification to LondonJazzNews: It is a separate award with its own heats and final on 8 March 2014 and judging panel yet to be announced. Entry forms for the Jazz Award will … [Read more...]

Jaime Martin, until recently principal flute of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, is changing career. He has signed with one of the busier conductor agents, Nick Mathias at IMG. Release below.   20th May, 2013 IMG Artists is pleased to welcome conductor Jaime Martín to its roster for worldwide general management.  Mr Martín will be represented by Senior Vice President and Co-Director Nick Mathias and Vice President Bridget Canniere from … [Read more...]

The composer Nathan Currier has been given a green light by the state supreme court to sue the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra for stopping the premiere of his evening-long oratorio before it finished. Currier, 53, had paid $72,000 for the performance of Gaian Variations, but at 10.45, with overtime looming at 11 pm, the orchestra stopped playing. The composer wants his money back. The orch says that would cause them financial difficulties. Not the finest hour for either side. More … [Read more...]

Anders Eliasson died on Monday night, aged 66. Eclectic to a fault, admiring the outcast Allan Pettersson, he fought against every kind of conformity and orthodoxy. His major work in recent years was a music drama, Karolina's Sleep, for soprano and orchestra. He wrote four symphonies and was New York's second Nordic composer in residence. While Magnus Lindberg served the Philharmonic, Anders worked with the Arcos chamber ensemble.   … [Read more...]

Igor Stravinsky was fond of dismantling conductors who deviated from what he considered to be the only correct way to perform the Rite of Spring. Some of his caustic commentaries can be found on my Album of the Week on sinfinimusic.com. His own performances, however, differed widely from one another. He was certainly no judge of consistency. Still, why would we want a recording that the composer dismissed as 'excessive'? Because the composer does not always know best. Read on … [Read more...]

Elisabeth Kulman, leader of the Singers Spring, has bearded the Salzburg boss in his den, demanding to know why he refuses to pay non-stellar artists for rehearsals, or cover their travel and accommodation costs. Pereira was charm personified. I'd love to pay more, he said. Oh, read on....  vs      „Sie können sicher sein, dass mir die Künstler am Herzen liegen. Ohne euch geht gar nichts!“ "Rest assured, I have the best interests of the Artists at heart. We can … [Read more...]