The Joseph Haydn Privatstiftung Eisenstadt has acquired a portrait of the composer made in 1785, when he was a provincial kapellmeister on a visit to Vienna.

Five years later, with the death of his Eisenstadt patron, Haydn became a world traveller, settling for two long periods in London and earning continental acclaim.

The portrait, by Christian Ludwig Seehas, was found in a US antique store.

haydn 1785

The portrait was his ticket to publicity.

Elina Garanca has crashed out, ordered by her doctors to take a week’s break.

She is replaced on July 22 and 24 by the Russian mezzo Ekaterina Gubanova – a fine artist but not quite the same fire-power as the other stars on show: Anja Harteros, Jonas Kaufmann and Bryn Terfel.

elena garanca

He just couldn’t say no, he gushes to the New York Times.

Mr. Domingo, who moved to Mexico as a child and maintains strong ties there, said that he was drawn partly by the chance to appear with Mr. García Bernal, a Mexican actor whose career he has followed since the film “Y Tu Mamá También” more than a decade ago, and partly because he was intrigued by a new series that shines a light on the field.

So Mr. Domingo, who remains one of the hardest workers in opera, recorded his vocals for the duet, “Là ci darem la mano,” this month at a midnight session at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, right after finishing a performance there in the title role of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra.” (The soprano part, which Ms. Bellucci, who is playing a fiery diva known as La Fiamma, lip-synced to, was recorded in San Francisco by the rising star Ana María Martínez.)

Could be the series is running out of steam.

domingo latin grammy

Musikmarkt is shutting down after 57 years.

‘Despite many innovations, many new ideas and the permanent adaptation to market developments, the economic situation means the continuation of the title is no longer [viable],’ writes the publisher.

No money in music any more, right?

 

Musikmarkt-wird-eingestellt

The billionaire musicals mogul has pledged £15,000 to the Mayor’s Music Fund in London to help young musicians from deprived backgrounds.

He has also given £10,000 to Scottish Opera for the training of two repetiteurs.

 

Worthy causes.

andrew lloyd webber

Rob Wasserman, who has died at 64, longed to join the double-bass section of the San Francisco Symphony, but the teaching at SanFran Conservatory put him off.

‘I had these crusty old teachers that wanted to see things done a certain way, and I drove them crazy,’ he told Guitar.com. ‘I held my bow wrong and really sawed at the strings. I started coming up with my own approach to tonality, using an almost Indian sitar feel in moving from note to note. Basically everything that was interesting to me was going to make me not a very successful orchestral player.’

He went on to play bass guitar for Lou Reed, Jerry Garcia, Stephane Grapelli and Van Morrison.

rob wasserman

cashmere toilet paper

Cashmere toilet paper?

Garry Marshall, who has died at 81, directed reams of popular films and TV series, none more impactful than the 1990 Julia Roberts-Richard Gere vehicle Pretty Woman in which a hedge-funder takes a prostitute to the opera to watch La Traviata.

Aside from his blockbuster screen career, Garry found time to direct opera. Grand Duchess opened the Los Angeles Opera’s 2005 season and in 2008 he directed L’Elisir d’Amore at San Antonio Opera.

pretty woman

Four hand with Martha Argerich on ZDF TV.

 

martha argerich lang lang

This is an ode to broken friendship, rather than sexual love. A distinct improvement on the original.

The other difference is about 770 million hits.

 

Reverend Reuben Turner, former president of the Association of Minister (Chazanim) of Great Britain, has died. He was 92.

 

reuben-turner

press release:

Philadelphia, July 19, 2016)—Kensho Watanabe has been named assistant conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, beginning in the 2016-17 season, succeeding Lio Kuokman, whose term ends at the end of the 2015-16 season. The two-year appointment includes conducting select concerts, participating in residency, touring, and educational activities, and serving as a cover conductor. The assistant conductor position also provides assistance to Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin on artistic matters in preparation for and during rehearsals, as well as assisting visiting guest conductors. Watanabe joins the distinguished conducting roster of The Philadelphia Orchestra, including Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denèveand Conductor-in-Residence Cristian Măcelaru.

“The Philadelphia Orchestra is proud to support and develop the best conducting talent, providing a broad array of artistic experiences and community engagement opportunities,” said Orchestra President and CEO Allison Vulgamore. “We have full confidence that Kensho will flourish in this role and contribute meaningfully to the music and culture of Philadelphia.”

“Kensho Watanabe’s appointment is the result of a highly involved audition process both on and off the podium with the musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and we are delighted to work with him in his role as assistant conductor,” said Yumi Kendall, Orchestra assistant principal cello and the chair of the Musicians’ Artistic Committee. “His sincere sense of personal and musical growth aligns with how we identify as a group of artists, and we look forward to our collaborations ahead. Congratulations, Kensho!”

“We are thrilled that Kensho will be the new assistant conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra,” said Roberto Díaz, president of the Curtis Institute of Music. “This is a remarkable opportunity for a young conductor and an incredible vote of confidence from the entire Philadelphia Orchestra. He has the skills and versatility required for a position like this and has already worked closely with Yannick, the mentor conductor for the Curtis conducting program. This is a wonderful boost for Kensho and we are happy he’ll continue to conduct in Philadelphia.”

“The Philadelphia Orchestra has played an enormous part in my development as a musician,” said Watanabe. “I am incredibly honored to join them as assistant conductor, and look forward to continuing my musical growth while supporting Yannick, the musicians, and the organization as a whole.”

yannick with kensho

Credit: Pete Checchia