Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Chinesische Wissenschaftler um Prof. Yao Dezhong wollen einem Ende Januar veröffentlichten Bericht zufolge den Mozart-Effekt bewiesen haben. Das hätten ihre Studien mit der originalen Sonate KV 448 und einer rückwärts gespielten, bzw. rhythmisch und in der Tonhöhe veränderten Version der Sonate gezeigt. Read More →

Henryk M. Gorecki

The oratorio Sanctus Adalbertus by the Polish composer Henryk Górecki will have its world premiere tonight in Krakow, Poland. The work is scored for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and symphony orchestra and will be performed by the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Polish Radio Choir from Krakow and the Krakow Philharmonic Choir conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk, with Wioletta Chodowicz and Artur Ruciński as soloists. Read More →

Laurent Petitgirard

After wandering through various halls in the French capital, the Orchestre Colonne will finally take a residency at Salle Wagram, not so far from Pleyel, where it used to play before that hall was stupidly closed to classical music. Read More →

Martin Fröst
(c) Nikolaj Lund

Swedish clarinettist Martin Fröst, 44, has cancelled his upcoming appearances with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra due to Meniere’s disease, an inner-ear disorder. Fröst was scheduled to make his debut as SPCO’s artistic partner on November 11 and 12 and join the orchestra on an Asian tour as well. Fröst cancelled all his concerts through December. At SPCO he will be replaced by Alexander Fiterstein. Read More →

Dennis Russell Davies
Photo: SOB

Conductor Dennis Russel Davies who had to undergo surgery after he hurt his knee badly when he fall just 90 minutes before a concert in Austria, will return on the podium on November 25 for a rehearsal with the Bruckner Orchestra Linz. Currently the maestro still walks on crutches.

Der russische Pianist Alexey Sychev (*1988) gewann den 1. Preis des 8. Internationalen Franz Liszt Klavierwettbewerbs Weimar-Bayreuth. Den 2. Preis erspielte sich die 20-jährige Russin Dina Ivanova. Den 3. Preis gewann der 26-jährige Weißrusse Arseni Sadykov. Der Sonderpreis für die beste Interpretation der Sonate h-Moll von Franz Liszt ging ebenfalls an Alexey Sychev – wie auch der Publikumspreis. Read More →

Seong-Jin Cho

Yesterday evening (20 October) the Jury of the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw announced the prizes for their 2015 edition. Winner of the First prize and gold medal ist Seong-Jin Cho, 21, from South-Korea. The Canadian pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin won Second prize and silver medal, Kate Liu (USA) took Third prize and bronze medal. Read More →

The Chopin Museum in Warsaw
(c) Remy Franck

Miami-based Chopin Foundation of the United States has donated a Pleyel upright piano dating from 1847 and containing Chopin’s signature to the Chopin Museum in Warsaw. The instrument has been on display in the Polish museum for the past few years as a deposit, but now the Chopin Foundation of the United States transferred the property rights to the Chopin Museum. The piano was selected by Chopin himself at the Pleyel factory in Paris for one of his pupils and it was at that person’s request that the composer put his signature inside the instrument so that it could be easily recognized.

The reform of the system of presidential grants in Russia has been postponed indefinitely after the Ministry of Culture refused the idea of distributing grants on the basis of a contest. The Ministry prepared a list of grantees for 2016, which consists, as previously, of the 83 leading cultural institutions. In total, they will receive 5 billion roubles (ca. 71 million Euros).

The Philadelphia Orchestra Association announced the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement with their musicians, effective September 14, 2015, through September 11, 2016. Under the terms of the agreement, annual salaries for the musicians will rise 3%. Read More →