Franco Fagioli
(c) Julian Laidig

After a single performance of Handel’s Messiah in his native country the Argentine countertenor Franco Fagioli, 41, will conduct the same work  from 15 to 18 December at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, and at the Royal Chapel of the Palace of Versailles. Read More →

Baritone Quentin Oliver Lee, 34, died on December 1 from colon cancer, his wide said. Lee was a respected opera singer with roles in operas by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini and many more, and he was also a thought after musical singer.

The latest Karajan Community Letter focuses on Karajan’s relations with tenor René Kollo who recently celebrated his 85th birthday and with stage director Michael Hampe who has died. Anton Bruckner is another topic of this week. Click here to be directed to the Newsletter. Read More →

Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg

Beim 46. Galakonzert der SOS Villages d’enfants Monde, das vom Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg (OPL) gespielt wurde, reagierte das Publikum am Schluss mit großer Begeisterung. Ebenso Pizzicato-Mitarbeiter Alain Steffen. Read More →

Among the winners of this year’s Russian Creative Awards (RCA) is Valery Gergiev, artistic director and general director of the Mariinsky Theater, TASS reports. Gergiev, a close ally of the brutal warmonger Putin is ‘Man of the Year’ in Russia. Read More →

The Mannheim Opera will not be able to open its replacement venue on time in April 2023. The interim venue is needed due to a general renovation of the main house. The delay is due to the insolvency and the closure of the building project developer. Statements on a new opening date are not yet possible, the National Theater Mannheim announced. The replacement opera house is to be used for five years.

British-Polish composer Roxana Panufnik has launched an unusual two-pronged, multinational festive project, in aid of refugees.  She has released on Signum Classics an Anglo-Ukrainian-Afghan Christmas refugee benefit single, in aid of the Refugee Council. Read More →

(c) Sébastien Grébille

Einen großartigen Opernabend in konzertanter Form erlebte unser Mitarbeiter Alain Steffen am Mittwoch im großen Saal der Luxemburger Philharmonie mit Mozarts La Clemenza di Tito. Read More →

Ensemble Esperanza

Im Rathaussaal von Vaduz spielte das Kammerorchester Ensemble Esperanza gestern Abend als nunmehr selbständiges Unternehmen das Auftaktkonzert, das es in eine neue Ära führen soll. Remy Franck berichtet. Read More →

Klaus Mäkelä
(c) Heikki Tuuli

Philharmonie Paris and Orchestre de Paris as well as the Concertgebouw and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam have announced a musical partnership. These institutions will work together in different areas over the course of the coming years. At the heart of the partnership is the Finnish conductor Klaus Mäkelä, Music Director of the Orchestre de Paris and Artistic Partner and Chief Conductor Designate of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Read More →