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 {…}
Komische Oper Berlin has announced its 2019-20 season. This season will celebrate Dionysus, the forefather and protagonist of Greek theatre, with new productions reflecting the entire spectrum of musical theatre. Chief Director Barrie Kosky comments, “. . . [O]nce we believe in the power of theatre and music, believe in their intoxicating, seductive, physical, emotional, and ultimately community-building impacts, once {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its new intendant and music director. The company announced that starting in 2021, Belgian Serge Dorny will be the company’s intendant and Russian conductor Vladimir Jurowski will serve as music director. Dorny currently works with the Opéra de Lyon and also worked for a short period in Dresden. Meanwhile, Jurowski served as music director at the {…}
