Officials in Chechnya, a conservative republic in the south of Russia, have announced a ban on music that is deemed the “wrong” tempo. According to Classic FM, the region’s Ministry of Culture said, “From now on all musical, vocal and choreographic works should correspond to a tempo of 80 to 116 beats per minute.” The new ban comes after the head {…}
There’s always a place for a bittersweet sentimentality at the end of the year when we sum up our best and worst moments to see what place this year gets in our personal tops. This year, many people cannot think about anything like this, at all. Quite obviously, they are the people of Ukraine. Those who live with only two {…}
As the Russian war on Ukraine continues to escalate, more performers are canceling their planned performances in Russia. According to Tagesspiegel, after the announcement of a “Tristan und Isolde” in Moscow, three of its cast members distanced themselves from the commitment. The performance, which is set for November, saw tenor Andreas Schager remove his name from the announcement while baritone {…}
(Photo: Azat Satlykov) Every Friday, Polina Lyapustina delivers a short essay on some of the most sensitive topics in the industry with the intent of establishing a dialogue about the opera world and its future. On February 9, violinist Misha Nodelman recorded and published the Musicians’ Open Letter on the Eve of the Civil War, addressed to the Russian Government. {…}