In an end-of-festival symmary, upbeat director Martin Egstroem is calling it ‘our fourth best year’, after 2013, 2007 and 2011. But there’s no denying that numbers were down. Only 17 percent of tickets were sold during the festival itself, despite stellar attractions.

Engstroem blames bad weather. That’s Verbier for you.

verbier

 

The Munich Philharmonic has patched together a concert season following the death of their music director.

Semyon Bychkov will open, spending three weeks with the orchestra after the summer break and conducting four programmes.

Others deputising are the 2015 music director Valery Gergiev, along with Zubin MehtaAsher FischMichael SanderlingPietari InkinenEivind Gullberg Jensen and Christoph Eschenbach. Three young conductors make their debut: Michał Nesterowicz Robert Trevino and Andris Poga.

A concert of Maazel’s compositions scheduled for his 85th birthday in March has been replaced with Richard Strauss.

bychkov

 

 

This just in from the Seattle Symphony. I’m in trouble by the end of the second row.

 

 

12-tone sudoku

In honor of Arnold Schoenberg, whose Piano Concerto will be performed tomorrow and Sunday by Jonathan Biss, we present: 12-tone sudoku. Submit a photo of your completed puzzle to facebook@seattlesymphony.org and you could win tickets to the Seattle Symphony’s June 20 performance of Stravinsky’s “Firebird.”

Stefan Bown, the general manager, has sent a note around the business saying he has left.

Stefan was in charge of classical releases and backlist, working to chief exec John Kelleher.

The label is nowhere near finding a role and an identity in a shrinking market.

stefan-bown-general-manager-warner-classics

The Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library at the University of Melbourne is claimed to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere.

Not for much longer, if university administrators get their way. They want to downgrade the library and merge it with other collections.

Sign this petition to stop the philistines… Here’s one of the library’s exceptional treasures, collected by a luminous benefactor.

 

Music_XXXII

 

Rule number three: don’t try to be somebody else….

joyce didonato audition

… Sacramento.

Both the philharmonic and the opera have cancelled their fall seasons after mounting losses. No resumption is presently forecast.

Sacramento is the capital and sixth largest city of California. It has a popuation of 478,000, according to the 2011 census.

Culturally speaking, it has just gone mute. Or dumb.

sacramento

 

Once you get over the pedantic introduction, it’s a gripping ceremony.

 

She’s playing with Daniel Barenboim’s peace orchestra in Buenos Aires, their shared birthplace, and the announcement followed a spectacular concert. The pair have known each other since childhood. See video at 6:30:

barenboim argerich

Local report here.

Chatting to Sarah Willis of the Berlin Philharmonic, the maestro talks of dealing with midges at the Hollywood Bowl and the Berlin Waldbühne.

Fast-forward here to 07:00.

dudamel horn

 

 

There’s widespread mourning in the brass world for Bill Zehfuss, principal trombone of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Tributes are pouring into his Facebook page.

Reports suggest that he drowned in Lake Lanier while water-skiing. We have not been able to confirm this.

The orchestra has posted this notice:

It is with great sadness that we inform you all that Bill Zehfuss, long-time principal trombonist of the CSO, passed away last Thursday at his home on Lake Lanier, GA. This is a tremendous loss for the CSO. Those of us who knew and worked with Bill over these many years will sorely miss his dedication to his craft, his generosity, his gregariousness, and his willingness to help anyone at any time, no matter the situation or the need. Bill was a pillar of the CSO brass section for nearly three decades, leading his colleagues in many fine performances over the years. His presence, both on- and off-stage, will be terribly missed. The family will likely have a private memorial service at some point this fall. Condolences may be sent to his Mother via the CSO offices.

 

bill zehfuss

 

 

 

 

 

The maestro, 78, has given an ebullient press conference at the Saito Kinen festival, which is to be renamed after him:

“That somebody like me, who has suffered a major illness and underwent surgery, can speak casually about death is proof that I’ve really recovered,” he said. “Either that, or I’m really dumb – but please think of me as being recovered and active.”

Full report here.

ozawa geneva