Daniel Hope
(c) Harald Hoffmann

After 16 years of serving as Associate Artistic Director of the Savannah Music Festival (SMF), Danel Hope has decided to step down at the end of the current season. He will be succeeded by the violist/conductor Philip Dukes. Read More →

An unknown intruder has severely damaged the historic organ at Saint-Denis in Paris, Le Parisien reports. The two doors of the buffet have been broken and the organ’s engine was also damaged.  The organ of the basilica is unique. Designed by the organ builder Cavaillé-Coll between 1834 and 1841, it is listed as historic monument. It is one of the first romantic organs. At the same time two glass windows have been broken. The policed has started an investigation.

Beethovenhalle Bonn

Die Sanierung der Beethovenhalle wird zur üblichen Farce: immer länger und immer teurer. Statt, wie ursprünglich geplant, im Jahr des Beethoven-Jubiläums, also 2020, wird die Halle nun erst wieder ab 2022 bespielbar sein. Wenn nicht noch weitere Missgeschicke passieren. Read More →

Die Preise des diesjährigen Deutschen Musikwettbewerbs gehen an Konstantin Krimmel (Bariton), Friedrich Thiele (Violoncello) sowie Sebastian Fritsch (Violoncello). Read More →

Der Streit zwischen dem Management und den Musikern des Staatlichen Mexikanischen Symphonieorchesters eskaliert. 21 Musiker des Orchesters haben einen Brief an die mexikanische Menschenrechtskommission unterzeichnet, in dem sie gegen die, wie sie sagen, unmenschliche Behandlung von Musikern durch das Management berichten. Die Rede geht gar von ‘Arbeitsterrorismus’ (« Nos encontramos con una situación de terrorismo laboral »).

Riccardo Muti

Riccardo Muti, Music Director at Chicago Symphony Orchestra, has issued a statement in support of the CSO union musicians in an ongoing contract dispute with orchestra management. Read More →

(c) Nicole Junio

In its Laureate Series, Naxos publishes this month the first CD of the Complete works for Flute by French composer André Jolivet, played by flutist Hélène Boulègue and pianist François Dumont (Naxos 8.573885). The official presentation took place in Luxembourg, where the recording was made by producer Marco Battistella. Read More →

Patricia Petibon
(c) Sébastien Grébille

Dass ein Konzert in der Reihe Zeitreise eine unbeschwerte Unterhaltung auf höchstem künstlerischem Niveau bieten würde, hatte wohl nicht jeder erwartet. Dass es neben Streichorchesterklang und Gesang auch noch sonst allerlei zu hören und zu sehen gab, weiß Pizzicato-Mitarbeiter Uwe Krusch zu berichten. Read More →

Sofia Gubaidulina
Photo: Remy Franck

The world premiere performance of Sofia Gubaidulina’s The Wrath of God, a Festival commission, has been postponed from 2019 to 2020 by the Salzburg Easter Festival. The organizer says: « Despite her advanced age, Sofia Gubaidulina has for many months been devoting all her energies to her commission from the Salzburg Easter Festival, a fact to which the Festival would like to pay tribute. Read More →

Opéra Comique, Paris

French newspaper Le Monde has revealed the incredible gift which King Louis XVI made to the Duke of Choiseul: the exclusive use of a box at the Opéra Comique in Paris. This box is reserved since 1781 to the heirs of the Duc de Choiseul and apparently it is used all the time. About twenty descendants are owners and « do not miss any representation, » writes journalist Pascale Nivelle. Read More →