Slipped Disc

Cecilia Bartoli, Artistic Director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, says: “For the first time in my career, I feel two hearts beat in my breast: the familiar singer’s heart, and the new heart of the artistic director. Who, if not I as a singer, can understand better how Anna feels? Due to an illness, one is forced to disappoint the audience and cancel an important concert. At such moments, one feels miserable and lonely… When Anna called me, both consolation and an immediate … [Read more...]

This has been under negotiation for much of the past year and there have been a number of legal obstacles to overcome. But I am thrilled to learn a few  minutes ago - there will be an official announcement Friday - that Valentina Lisitsa has signed an exclusive contract with Decca. The debut release will be her June 19 London solo recital at the Royal Albert Hall. Val, who has outscored every other classical pianist in Youtube with 43 million hits, is one of very few artists who can sell a … [Read more...]

Glenn Dicterow has stepped down as concertmaster after 34 years, heading for California sunshine. Glenn was America's highest-paid orchestral musician. Gushing NY Phil press release here. WSJ comment here. And here's the view from LA. … [Read more...]

Marcelo Lehninger has been named music director of the New West Symphony, based in Thousand Oaks, Ca. Lehninger was James Levine's assistant conductor at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, stepping in for several concerts when Levine's health failed. He was especially praised for saving the world premiere of Harrison Birtwistle's violin concerto. The moment you've been waiting for has arrived...  It's Marcelo! It is our great pleasure to announce that Marcelo … [Read more...]

The Feds were out in force when teachers at the Australian National University school of music met vice-chancellor Ian Young to argue for a rethink of massive cuts that will abolish instrumental teaching. Young refused. Outside, students demonstrated. Four of them were allowed to play a string quartet, Shostakovich's eighth, at a dinner of the university council. Franz Kafka is alive and well and living in Canberra. Here's the local Times report. … [Read more...]

The pressure group Index on Censorship made its first musical intervention this week when it protested Peter Gelb's attempt to gag Opera News. Now it has put up a petition to support free speech in Azerbaijan, which is about to stage the Eurovision finals. Read and click below. The dark side of Eurovision The Azerbaijani government hopes that hosting Eurovision will blind the international community to its shocking human rights record. Join people from around the world who are signing … [Read more...]

You may remember the video we ran of Daria van den Bercken cycling Handel all around Amsterdam. Well, her work has been nominated for the 35,000 Euro Amsterdam Art Prize 2012. Results expected in April. Meantime, Daria is looking for a good record label. Any thoughts? Oh, and she has now taken up flying pianos. … [Read more...]

The head of music has fled and the board has made a tiny climbdown, but the fate of music in the Oz capital is still in the balance. Here's the petition, just received: Dear Friends, Tomorrow the University Council, the highest decision making body of the university, will be meeting. This is where the Vice Chancellor will be held to account. We're asking the council to place a two year moratorium on changes whilst ANU goes back to staff, students and the community to develop real … [Read more...]

The diva received a degree yesterday at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh. They sent us this exclusive pic. … [Read more...]

The Russian diva is unwell. Having scratched two performances in Munich this week, she has just announced she cannot make it for the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, where she was meant to appear in the world premiere of Rodion Schchedrin's Cleopatra and the Snake. Mojca Erdmann will take over her role. Cecilia Bartoli, the festival's artistic director, will take over her concert. Unlike Munich, no refunds are being offered. … [Read more...]