(Credit: W.Hoesl) It was particularly notable to watch Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s opera, “Die Passagieren” in Munich, even all these years after World War II. To walk the same streets where once goose-stepping Nazi soldiers rallied round Hitler and to visit the elegant, rebuilt National Theater to see an opera about the tragedy of that very subject intensified the experience. “Die Passagieren” {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced the extension of its Intendant and General Generalmusikdirektor. The company noted that Bayerische Staatsoper’s Generalmusikdirektor Vladimir Jurowski will extend his contract until 2028 with an option to renew for a further year and Intendant Serge Dorny will renew his contract until 2031. In a statement, Dorny said, “I would like to thank Minister of State Blume {…}
Vladimir Jurowski has been named Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The Bayerische Staatsoper announced the news and noted that “Vladimir Jurowski was greeted by His Majesty King Charles III. appointed Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. We warmly congratulate you!” Jurowski was named the Music Director of the Glyndebourne Festival {…}
The Lucerne Festival has released a statement after Climate Activists from Renovate Switzerland interrupted a performance on Sept. 8. The statement by Lucerne Festival Director Michael Haefliger said, “We regret that yesterday’s concert was interrupted by ‘Renovate Switzerland’ climate activists. In general, we support standing up for environmental issues. However, we have no sympathy at all for the way the two {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond / Metropolitan Opera) One hundred and nineteen artists and conductors are signing a petition to end the war and end the boycott against boycotting Russian artists. The petition, which is signed by such prominent artists as Antonio Pappano, Mark Elder, Simon Rattle, Franz Welser-Möst, Cornelius Meister, Dmitri Tcherniakov, Barrie Kosky, Matthew Rose, Fabio Luisi, Barbara Hannigan, and {…}
Following the attack against Ukraine by the Russian government on Feb. 23, 2022, several Russian and Ukrainian artists are voicing their support for Ukraine and asking for peace. Russian soprano Olga Peretyatko took to social media and posted a picture against war and said, “God, how can I stop this?” Russian Tenor Maxim Mironov also took to his social media {…}
(Credit: Chris Christodoulou) Vladimir Jurowski has received the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal, one of the highest international honors in music. The conductor received the medal on August 12 following a performance at the BBC Proms. RPS Chairman John Gilhooly gave the medal to Jurowsk at the end of a performance with the London Philharmonic Orchestra which was broadcast live on BBC {…}
The London Philharmonic Orchestra has canceled its upcoming Ring Cycle. The orchestra announced that “Götterdämmerung” will be programmed at the earliest time possible in order to complete the Orchestra’s first-ever Ring Cycle with Maestro Vladimir Jurowski. David Burke, Chief Executive of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, announced the news stating, “With deep regret and heartfelt sadness I must inform you that {…}
(Credits: Sigtryggur Ari Jóhannsson / Sim Canetty-Clarke / Victoria Cadisch) The London Philharmonic Orchestra has announced that it will present 13 full-length concerts from September 30 to December 30, 2020. The concerts will be filmed live and will be broadcasted on the Marquee TV. All the concerts will be free to access for 7 days after the original broadcast date. {…}
The London Philharmonic has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of important soloists around the world. For this article we will highlight the vocal performances. The season opens with a program entitled Fantastic Symphony with Edward Gardner leading a program of works by Tchaikovsky, Lutosławski, and Berlioz. Gerald Finley will be the featured soloist. Performance Date: Sept. 23, 2020 Edward {…}
(Credit: Simon Jay Price) Wagner’s biography and character are all over his operas, often transparently so: the wandering, embittered outcast in “The Flying Dutchman;” the revolutionary artist in “Die Meistersinger;” the sensuous hedonist in “Tristan und Isolde.” This may be one of the reasons that some people find his work overbearing and suffocating. Rarely is he identified with the dwarf {…}