If you’re planning to see the Royal Opera’s cinema version of Bellini’s Norma which opens in Sydney this weekend then this feature from The Guardian is essential background reading.
The opera is directed by Àlex Ollé from La Fura dels Baus and is conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano with Sonya Yoncheva as Norma and Jospeh Calleja as Pollione.
The Guardian reported last month that two original works by Gustav Holst have been discovered in the library of New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty Symphonia. Written in 1906, Folk Songs from Somerset and Two Songs Without Words were authenticated by matching the handwriting, address and signature of Holst with internet sources. The discovery was verified by…
A second Grammy for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s album Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Barber: Adagio with its win for Best Engineered Album, Classical: Mark Donahue, engineer (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra). The recording also won the Grammy for Best Classical Recording. Other nominees: Danielpour: Songs Of Solitude & War Songs — Gary Call, engineer (Thomas Hampson, Giancarlo…
Gramophone magazine reports that the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will not be axed with the nation’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister describing the move as ‘unthinkable’: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/minister-denies-axing-new-zealand-symphony-orchestra
Exactly a year ago, mezzo-soprano Margaret Plummer packed up her family, said ‘goodbye’ to friends and relocated to Vienna to follow her dream. A familiar face – and voice – on the Sydney opera stage, she had been awarded the Vienna State Opera Award from Opera Foundation Australia and opportunity beckoned. A graduate of the Sydney…
Violinist Harry Ward and chamber music ensemble Partridge String Quartet are the Musica Viva Australia FutureMakers for 2020-2021. This two-year, part-time initiative in leadership was launched by Music Viva in 2015, and aims to discover and enable brilliant early career artists to become Australia’s musical leaders of tomorrow offering artists a comprehensive professional development curriculum…
“Intensity and virtuosity are the hallmarks of this orchestra”. Read the New York Times review of the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s performance with soprano Dawn Upshaw at Carnegie Hall early this week. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/arts/music/australian-chamber-orchestra-at-carnegie-hall.html?_r=1&ref=music Benefactors, a Stradivarius and The Glide build the bottom line for the ACO: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/rare-violin-lifts-aco-bottom-line-20120502-1xz60.html http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/acos-subscription-switch-wins-surplus/story-e6frg8n6-1226345172062