Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

According to ‘The History Blog’ an unpublished song written by Felix Mendelssohn that has been lost for 142 years has been found in the United States. The signed manuscript was discovered by the current owner among his grandfather’s papers. The song is a short 29 bars for alto voice and piano entitled ‘Des Menschen Herz ist ein Schacht’. Mendelssohn wrote it in 1842, using a Rückert poem. The manuscript will be sold at Christie’s later this month, where it is expected to bring £15,000 – £25,000.

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider
(c) George Lange

Danish tax authorities have accused violonist Nikolai Znaider of ‘gross negligence’ and ‘evading tax in Denmark in the period from 2006 to 2010′. Znaider claims he lived mostly abroad in that period, namely in Jerusalem, Vienna, Monaco and Boston and went to Denmark only to stay with his parents. However he lives officially in Denmark since 2011.

Quatuor Henri Pensis
© James Chan-a-Sue

Innerhalb des Philharmonischen Orchesters Luxemburg, wo es bereits einige Kammermusikensembles gibt, hat sich  ein neues Solistenquartett gegründet. Angela Münchow-Rathjen und Andrea Garnier, Geige, Aram Diulgerian, Bratsche, und Sehee Kim, Cello, haben ihrem Quartett den Namen ‘Quatuor Henri Pensis’ gegeben. Henri Pensis (1900-1958) war der erste Dirigent des Luxemburger Radio-Symphonieorchesters, aus dem 1996 das Philharmonische Orchester hervorging. Das erste  Konzert des neuen Quartetts findet am 25. Mai um 11 Uhr in der Luxemburger Philharmonie statt.

Peter Sellars

The 2014 Polar Music Prize will be awarded to two Americans: Peter Sellars, the American opera and theatre director, and Chuck Berry, rock ‘n’ roll singer. Both laureates will be presented with their prizes by King Carl XVI of Sweden at a gala ceremony in Stockholm’s Concert Hall on 26 August. The Polar Music Prize celebrates this year its 25 anniversary. Read More →

Sir George Christie
(c) Glyndebourne Opera

Sir George Christie, a major figure in UK classical music has died today at the age of 79. The only son of Glyndebourne founders John Christie and Audrey Mildmay, Sir George Christie succeeded his father to become Chairman of Glyndebourne in 1958 when he was just 23.  He held the position until 1999, during which time he and his wife Mary transformed his family business into the world-renowned opera house it is today. Read More →

Sidney Opera House

Due to decreasing revenue from the box-office (down $3.1m from 2012 to $51.7m) and fundraising, Opera Australia had a $2.4 million operating loss in 2013. However income from the Opera Australia Capital Fund of $2.8m compensated the operating loss to get, at the end, a consolidated surplus of $467,539.

Die Deutsche Orchestervereinigung (DOV) wird für ihr nachhaltiges Engagement in der Musikvermittlung mit der Leo-Kestenberg-Medaille 2014 ausgezeichnet. Mit dem alle zwei Jahre verliehenen Preis würdigt der Verband Deutscher Schulmusiker (VDS) besondere Verdienste um die Musikerziehung in Deutschland. Read More →

Der Kaufmännische Geschäftsführer der Sächsischen Staatstheater, Wolfgang Rothe, der gleichzeitig auch die Funktion des Intendanten der Staatsoper Dresden wahrnimmt, stellte gestern neue Mitarbeiter vor, die helfen sollen, die intendantenlose Zeit zu überbrücken.  Ronald H. Adler wurde als Künstlerischer Berater und Anna Melcher als Chefdramaturgin der Öffentlichkeit vorgestellt. Read More →

Metropolitan Opera New York

The first round of the labor negotiations between the Met Opera’s management and the American Guild of Musical Artists showed very divergent positions. The Met’s General Manager is asking to cut the pay and benefits of its workers – for the first time in decades – by between 16 and 17 percent. The union says the cuts would be even more important. The beginning of the meeting was rather stormy since the union had invited journalists to join them, which was unacceptable for the Met. The reporters finally had to leave.

According to the San Diego’s arts commission the City Council shut cut the funding of the financially troubled San Diego Opera by almost 60%. The argument is that San Diego Opera’s Board first voted to close and then to stay open, and thus is to be considered unstable. If the council follows this advice, the funding will be $160,000 for the next fiscal year instead of  $383,322. Read More →