Who’s that girl? Simone Kermes – Fierce, Fabulous and Fearless – picture gallery from ‘Fearless Baroque’

More reasons to celebrate Rossini’s birth anniversary: Petite Messe Solennelle conducted by Riccardo Chailly Joyce DiDonato performing “Tanti affetti”, from Donna del Lago. William Tell Overture Riccardo Muti conducts the Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala.  

Nikolaus Harnoncourt, now 84 and retired from conducting has been made an Honorary Member of the Berliner Philharmoniker. Read more from Gramophone Magazine.

Did the ailments of composers influence the music they wrote?! Did Tavener’s life-threatening inherited disease Marfan’s Syndrome initiate the otherworldly sound of his music? Did Beethoven’s deafness cause him to focus on his physiological rhythms? Click here to read Tom Service’s feature in The Guardian.