Lesson #2 in Leonard Slatkin’s how-to-conduct series.

This is Jeroen van Veen’s latest creation.

It has been on Dutch television so it must be real.

It plays like a … Lego piano.

How long before Lang Lang comes by to play?

I can find nothing right about this Hallelujah tribute.

Unidiomatic, unmoving, vacant.

And the closing phrase? Absurd.

See what you think.

Statement from English National Opera:

Earlier this year the Opera House at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool and Blackpool Council invited us to perform The Mikado in Spring 2017. 

They have now asked us to postpone our planned schedule of performances next year with a view that these will take place in 2018.

Given that this is an important collaboration for us we have agreed to postpone our planned performances.

What this means is that ENO has to scramble extra work for its orchestra in Spring 2017, at very short notice.

The Multnomah County Medical Examiner has identified a body found in an area of natural beauty as that of Annie Schmidt, daughter of Jon Schmidt, a member of the Piano Guys group. The cause of death was accidental.

Annie went missing four weeks ago, after telling her father she was going for a hike.

Jon has thanked all who helped in the search: ‘There is no way to thank our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ for the support we have felt through you. You have searched with us, prayed with us, hoped with us, fasted with us, supported us and sacrificed for us. We thank you from the very bottom of our hearts!!!!’

Marion Ralincourt, solo flute of Quintette Aquilon and Les Siècles, reports the theft of ten flutes from her house at  Fontainebleau.

She has posted the following appeal, with serial numbers of the instruments.

Please share.

Chers tous,

The Russian bass-baritone has confirmed that he will sing Giorgio Germont at the Vienna State Opera on November 19, 23, 26 and 29. He has asked to be excused from the final performance so that he can continue cancer treatment.

The Welsh diva, a formidable ambassador for opera, turned 80 on November 7.

Helene Grimaud has been told not to fly in for the BNY Mellon Grand Classics Thanksgiving concert. Nor will there be any other music events at Heinz Hall before December 5.

The board of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has dug itself into a winter trench.

The musicians are giving private concerts around town.

The strike is in its seventh week with no talking going on, and no end in sight.

Israel has fallen off the itinerary of Europe tours by North American orchestra in recent years. The causes are not political. It’s all to do with cost – unusually high insurance premiums – and low expected revenues.

But Toronto has decided to take the plunge, and it’s a timely one. The year 2017 marks the centenary of the Balfour Declaration that created the possibility of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East, as well as the 150th anniversary of Canadian statehood.

Here’s the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—November 14, 2016: The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is pleased to announce a major tour of Israel and Europe under the leadership of its Music Director, Peter Oundjian, that will run from May 7 to 22, 2017.

The TSO will make its first-ever touring appearances in Israel, with performances in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, before travelling to Europe and appearing in Vienna, Prague—as part of the famous Prague Spring International Music Festival—Regensburg, and Essen. The TSO will perform seven concerts in four countries.

Peter Oundjian stated, “The TSO is pleased to be returning to Europe as well as visiting Israel for the first time. A dynamic and world-class city like Toronto should export its excellence. We are proud to represent Toronto and Canadian culture with our outstanding Orchestra.”

This is a rare sighting of Andreas Knapp, Sir Simon’s assistant at the Berlin Philharmonic, who is also a professional photographer and does not like to come out much from behind the camera.

Andreas (left in the picture) is active with Hangar Music (hangarmusik.de), a program that gives refugees coming to Germany the chance to learn an instrument and become involved in music.

On the Berlin Phil’s current US tour – Rattle’s last – Andreas arranged with Professor Mark Clague to stage a photo exhibition of his work with dispossessed children and their families, at Ann Arbor, Michigan.

press release, just in:

(ST. LOUIS – November 14, 2016) – At its Annual Meeting today, the St. Louis Symphony celebrated its significant artistic achievements and community impact during the 2015/16 season. The Symphony also reported the strongest financial results in many years and balanced cash operating budget for the first time this century.

Barry Beracha, Chairman of the St. Louis Symphony Board of Trustees, said: “The fact that we enjoy a world class orchestra in St. Louis is a testament to the devoted work and commitment of many people.  Thanks to our growing audiences and generous donors and sponsors, we just completed one of the most successful years in recent Symphony history.”

The Symphony announced significant increases in both attendance and ticket revenue during its 2015/16 season. Overall ticket revenue increased by nearly 4%, to $6.87 million. Live at Powell Hall concert attendance and sales reached their highest numbers since the inception of the series in 2010. And counter to the experience of many American orchestras, classical audiences and sales in St. Louis increased for the second consecutive year.

The Symphony also reported solid growth in philanthropic support. FY16 produced its best ever Annual Campaign total of $7.68 million from 5,394 donors — 30% whom were new. Impressive results were also achieved in building the St. Louis Symphony’s Endowment Trust. Significant contributions have been received over the past three years as part of ongoing efforts to secure endowment funding commensurate with the orchestra’s needs. As of August 31, 2016, endowment related assets under management exceeded $200 million.