A student from one of the Baltic states is distraught at the loss of her instrument, a ‘Pietro Grulli’ full sized violin and two bows (‘Stephan Kuhnla’ and a ‘Voirin’ copy). They were left last night on a train in Cologne, Germany. If you have any information, please contact 015120178073.
Despite a heavy cold, the great mezzo goes on with the show.
Apparently, the Chopin tartan is the look of the season
… unless you prefer a more 1930s look. See Vogue.
Two Portuguese speakers played a recital at the Wigmore Hall in the dog days of last January when the world and its auntie are struggling back to consciousness from the annual binge.
We missed the recital. So did you.
DG didn’t. It was a five-star cracker. But it has taken the label almost two years to bring it out on record…. and with the dreariest bit of wrapping.
Read my review on Sinfinimusic.
More sad news. Lawrence Leighton Smith, emeritus music director in Colorado Springs, is in the care of a hospice team, the orchestra has announced. A Facebook page has been created at his wife’s request for friends and colleagues to send good wishes.
A winner of the Mitropoulos Competition, he served as music director at the Oregon Symphony1973-1980 and the San Antonio Symphony 1980-1985.
Larry suffered a massive heart attack on October 10, 2013. He was discharged from Penrose Hospital on Friday night and is under the care of Pikes Peak Hospice in his home.
We regret to report the death of Anne Collis, managing and artistic director of the National Symphony Orchestra.
A percussion player, Anne took charge of a pick-up orchestra that played both symphony concerts and accompaniment to popular singers – among them Hayley Westenra, Nicky Spence, Blake, Russell Watson, Goldfrapp, Gardar Cortes, Lesley Garrett, Kiri te Kanawa and Alfie Boe.
‘Anne runs the National Symphony Orchestra as a cross between a benevolent dictatorship and a club for top musicians,’ she used to say.
She helped many musicians in a tight spot and could turn her hand to anything musical, composing included.
Her daughter, Sally, tells us:
My mother passed away yesterday at 14:18. She was listening to “My love is like a red, red rose” performed exquisitely by Nicky Spence . It was one of her favourite songs. At the end of the song a Lynx helicopter happened to be passing our village and she obviously felt that her exit had been staged perfectly so she chose that moment to leave us, quietly, peacefully and with grace.
I miss her more than words can say. There will always be a piece missing.
Read Anne’s biography here. UPDATE: Sally has published the funeral arrangements:
My Mother’s funeral will be held on Monday 28 October at St Mary’s Church, Henley on Thames. All are welcome and full details can be found on the NSO website –www.nso.co.uk
Our New York operavores, Elizabeth Frayer and Shawn E Milnes, went to the Shostakovich opera on a special offer (there seem to be plenty of those about this season). Whaddaya know? They loved every dripping minute, especially the medicinal cough sweets.
Read them here.
(Reminder to Slipped Disc readers: Elizabeth Frayer and Shawn E Milnes are not professional critics. They are a young couple with a recent and fast-growing opera habit. We publish their fresh impressions as a counterweight to some of the wearier reviews that appear in print media.)
Christopher Seaman, author of the conductor’s vade mecum, reckons he’s been lucky with his agent and urges other to stick it out through thick and thin.
But he does quote another agent who complains of a conductor: ‘And to cap it all, he takes 80 percent of my money.’
Ralph Jones, principal double-bass of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, as died, aged 68. His wife, Gloria, is associate double-bass. Tributes here.
It sounds like Opera Australia is getting over-anxious about social media.
Here are the new house rules, posted on the company’s Fb page:
House Rules
We welcome and encourage open discussion and comments within the Opera Australia online community. This is a place for vibrant, friendly discussion about all things opera related.
This is where we share our love of opera with you through news about our work, behind the scenes updates, the occasional special offer and more. We enjoy engaging in relevant and respectful conversation with everyone from first-time audience members to dedicated opera buffs.
We value your feedback about your Opera Australia experience in all circumstances. However, we expect that your comments and posts will always be respectful of others. Differing opinions are welcome, but we have zero tolerance for any abuse of our artists, our staff or other online community members.
Remember, when you post a comment to a blog or social media site, it is published for the world to see.
Comments and posts that we consider offensive, defamatory, abusive, bullying or which unreasonably upset our community will be deleted. Participants who post offensive or inappropriate material will be reported and blocked.
Thank you for supporting and contributing to the Opera Australia online community.
Agency report:
ST. PAUL, MN – Today, State Representative Phyllis Kahn (DFL – Minneapolis) announced plans to introduce legislation designed to ensure the long-term viability of the Minnesota Orchestra.
Kahn, who chairs the House Legacy Committee responsible for appropriating state funds to support the arts, said her bill can help Minnesota retain its world-renowned orchestra and prevent the kind of uncertainty caused by the current lockout, which has now dragged on for over a year.
More quotes here.
