…… in news from the US, the Philadelphia Orchestra which shocked the music world by filing for bankruptcy last year aims to revive itself after court approval of its financial plans:
……. on the flip side, the Seattle Opera is forced to slash its programme for 2012-2013:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/budget-woes-prompt-cuts-at-seattle-opera/
The board of the Birgit Nilsson foundation has announced that the 2014 Birgit Nilsson Prize has been awarded to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The tri-ennial prize which is being awarded for only the third time in history, is a purse of $1 million for outstanding achievement in opera, concert, Lieder or oratorio. Previous winners are Placido…
Omega Ensemble announces the release of a new collection of recordings in conjunction with ABC Classic. Over the coming weeks, the recordings will explore the masterworks that have defined chamber music across history. In celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Beethoven, what better way to start than with his glorious Quintet for Piano and Winds….
Jessye Norman – The Unreleased Masters, is a 3-CD set with never-before-heard recordings of one of the greatest classical singers of all time. Available on Decca Classics in late January. it features music by Wagner, R Strauss, Haydn, Berlioz and Britten.
BBC correspondent Peter Day spends time in Cremona, Italy, the home of hand crafted stringed instruments for 5 centuries, looking at how these instruments were created then and now.
The Choristers of St James’ are packing their bags and fishing out their passports as they prepare to embark on the choir’s very first tour to Europe, singing in some of the world’s most historic and iconic buildings. Sydneysiders planning a visit to Europe might want to check out these dates to hear the choir…
Violinist Nicola Benedetti will release a new album, Baroque, on the Decca Classics label on 16 July. This is the first album that the Grammy Award- winning Benedetti has released on a period set-up, including gut strings. She is joined by a leading group of freelance baroque musicians, forming the inaugural Benedetti Baroque Orchestra.