Classical music in cinema – Gramophone’s top 10

Gramophone magazine nominates its top 10 classical music moments in cinema: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/focus/top-10-classical-music-moments-in-cinema Do you have favourites that aren’t on this list? We think that playing the opening bars of the Kyrie from Mozart’s Requiem at the end of Shekar Kapur’s Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett, is pretty potent.

News from the US: Philadelphia and Seattle

…… 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: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/bankruptcy-court-gives-blessing-to-philadelphia-orchestra-reorganization/ ……. 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/

MSO appoints a new CEO

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has a new chief executive. Andre Gremillet comes to the MSO after serving as president as chief executive of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra since 2007. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/music/french-canadian-to-helm-mso/story-fn9d2mxu-1226428527010 http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/new-jersey-symphony-president-goes-down-under/?ref=music

The Barenboims: the second generation

Musical dynasties have made their mark in music from the days of the Scarlattis and the Bachs, through to the Shankars and the Lennons. Pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim’s 26 year old violinist son Michael, has for 9 years, been the leader of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, (WEDO) created by Barenboim senior as an act of middle eastern reconciliation. The WEDO…

Pianist bridges the political chasm

  This week, Richard Tognetti along with ACO2 and guest artists have packed their surf gear and travelled the country presenting The Reef. which comes to Sydney on Monday July 23rd.  Back in Sydney, three core members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra are performing Schubert’s Trout Quintet and Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time with…

Accolades for Carolyn Watson

  Sydney conductor Carolyn Watson’s star continue to rise as she has headed off to Europe for the northern summer. She sent  Sounds Like Sydney a ‘postcard’ from Berlin. “I’m writing this from Berlin where I’ve just arrived. Very fortunately, I was named as the recipient of Opera Foundation Australia’s 2012 Berlin New Music Opera Award,…

More news….

There are changes  afoot in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, aimed at improving the acoustic. More at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/opinion/acoustic-alterations-at-the-opera-house-must-retain-the-architectural-harmony-of-the-hall/story-fn9n9z9n-1226420429346     What’s the obsession with expecting musicians to have the stamina of an athlete, the technique of the possessed and the looks of a deity? http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/making-beautiful-music/story-fn9n8gph-1226416992126     Review the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s current touring…

Hot off the press….

How will we access music over the next decade? http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mp3s/music-revolution-20120705-21jmo.html     A new organ in unveiled in Sydney: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/traveller-over-seas-and-years-20120707-21nqz.html     A review of the weekend’s Sydney Symphony concert conducted by conductor designate David Robertson: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/shifting-layers-have-rewards-20120705-21jt9.html