Na'Zir Mcfadden

The Jacksonville Symphony has announced the appointment of 25-year-old Na’Zir McFadden as assistant conductor, beginning with the 2025-26 season. McFadden joins the Jacksonville Symphony from Detroit, where he recently served as assistant conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra. Read More →

Solistes Européens Luxembourg

Der Intendant (offiziell Administrateur Délégué) des Orchesters Solistes Européens Luxembourg (SEL), Serge de Cillia, ist zurückgetreten. Das meldete Radio 100,7.

Ein Grund für den Rücktritt wurde vom Orchester nicht mitgeteilt. Read More →

Esa-Pekka Salonen
(c) Andrew Eccles

Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen has withdrawn from his three scheduled appearances with the Boston Symphony at their summer residence in Tanglewood this month, allegedly « for personal reasons ». The orchestra was able to engage longtime artistic partner Thomas Adès to replace Salonen.

The director of the Conservatoire in Esch/Alzette (South Luxembourg), Jean Halsdorf, was reported to the investigating judge on Monday. This was confirmed by a spokesperson for the judiciary. Halsdorf, a well-known cellist, is accused of misconduct, the mayor of the city said. The director is currently dispensed from his duties.

Nachdem die Hochschule für Musik in Weimar beschlossen hatte, das Institut für Alte Musik zu schließen, haben sich andere Weimarer Institutionen aus dem Bereich Alter Musik auf den Weg gemacht, um Zukunft zu gestalten. Read More →

With Los Paladines, 62-year-old German stage director Christof Loy establishes a company dedicated to the revival and promotion of the Spanish Zaruela. The company is not based in Spain, but in Austria. The press release says: « The company does not see itself as a nostalgic project, but as an artistically independent force that interprets the multifaceted tradition of Zarzuela in a contemporary way. (…) The goal is not only to free Zarzuela from clichés and prejudices abroad, but also within the Spanish-speaking world, giving it renewed cultural relevance and resonance. » Read More →

Musikverein Wien

Die Staatskapelle Berlin, an deren Spitze Christian Thielemann steht, war zum Saisonende mit ihrem Chef zu Gast in Wien. Uwe Krusch erlebte, wie sie die 6. Symphonie von Anton Bruckner und mit der Sopranistin Erin Morley Lieder von Richard Strauss präsentierten. Read More →

Dmitri Shostakovich

Zweimal, 1960 und 1972, weilte Dmitri Shostakovich zur Erholung im idyllischen Kurort Gohrisch in der Sächsischen Schweiz. Hier komponierte er u. a. sein berühmtes 8. Streichquartett. Seit 2010 ist ihm in Gohrisch ein eigenes Festival gewidmet. Michael Oehme berichtet. Read More →

Jakub Hrusa
(c) Eric Engel

Czech conductor Jakub Hrusa, 43, will become the Czech Philharmonic’s Chief Conductor and Music Director from September 2028. His initial contract is for five years, with both parties seeing the appointment as the beginning of a long-term relationship and expecting that they will wish to continue the collaboration further into the future. Read More →

Colin Pütz
(c) Peter Rigaud

In der Villa Serdang in Feldbrunnen bei Solothurn (Schweiz) wurde der Schweizer Klavierpreis Prix Serdang an den jungen deutschen Pianisten Colin Pütz verliehen. Die Auszeichnung überreichten Kurator Rudolf Buchbinder und Initiator Adrian Flury. Read More →