You could use a little bit of inspiration, and Vivien Schweitzer’s profile of violinist Augustin Hadelich in tomorrow’s NY Times will provide an excellent source. My sources tell me that his debut CD from Avie is impressive indeed, and once I snag up a copy I’ll put my two cents in…
Category Archives: Classical Music News
James Levine indisposed (again), setting off scramble at MET and BSO
James Barron has the details at the NY Times. Maestro Levine’s continuing struggle against multiple illnesses has many of his fans worried, but if there is any good news to come out of this it is that Italian conductor Fabio Luisi, who recently quit as director of the Staatskapelle Dresden, will be leading Tosca and Lulu at the MET. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: he’s one of the most exciting maestros in Europe, and I’d wager that he’d make a hugely favorable impression as a music director on this side of the Atlantic.
America’s Most Underrated Pianist?
The Boston Globe profiles pianist Russell Sherman. Go read. While you’re at it, get the recent DVD on Avie.
As if the Georg Ratzinger scandal wasn’t enough…
AP reports: “Two former members of the famed Vienna Boys’ Choir say they were sexually abused by their supervisors, a top Austrian newspaper reported Thursday.” Full story here.
The Alleged Sins of Georg Ratzinger
News stories concerning alleged abuse of children by Catholic clergymen have become almost routine, but this one is also sending ripples throughout the world of classical music: the Pope’s brother, Georg Ratzinger — who served for three decades as choral director of “the much-heralded Regensburger Domspatzen, a thousand-year-old male choir and boarding school” — was involved in a conspiracy to cover up allegations of clergy sex abuse. The Independent UK has the full story.
Bernard Coutaz, 1922-2010
Bernard Coutaz may not be a household name, but he was the founder of the influential harmonia mundi record label. The New York Times and AP have brief obituaries; Le Temps has more in French.
Wyn Morris, Champion of Mahler’s Music, 1929-2010
It has been a while since I spoke with Wyn Morris, the mercurial and brilliantly gifted conductor who made a number of pioneering recordings of the music of Gustav Mahler. I just learned this afternoon of his death at age 81. Click here to read his obituary from his own favorite Tory-leaning paper, The Telegraph.
Continue reading Wyn Morris, Champion of Mahler’s Music, 1929-2010
Kronos 25
Go read Steve Smith’s interesting NY Times feature on the Kronos Quartet — an ensemble whose revolutionary programming and concertizing laid much of the groundwork for the “alternative classics” championed by Bang on a Can, Absolut Ensemble and innumerable other adventurous ensembles and series — as they celebrate their 25th anniversary. To be honest, though, the more traditonal but often more daring Arditti Quartet deserves the same amount of ink.
Two major corruption scandals stun the classical music business
“Corruption scandals sully the LPO and the Salzburg Festival,” reads the headline to Charlotte Higgins’ latest article for The Guardian (UK). More than a few impressarios and managers must be starting to ask questions about the ease with which musical festivals and organizations are being looted.
Fabio Luisi abruptly resigns from Sächsische Staatsoper (and Staatskapelle Dresden)
Daniel Wakin has the details at nytimes.com, including details of a broadcast deal that was made behind Luisi’s back involving his successor, Christian Thielemenn.
Continue reading Fabio Luisi abruptly resigns from Sächsische Staatsoper (and Staatskapelle Dresden)