Unless a Karita Mattila stride on stage and dispels all doubts, there will always be morning-after questions at any major competition as to whether the judges had picked the right winner.
Right, in two senses: that the trophy holder was the strongest of all talents available, and that he or she has the ambition and resilience to step out and conquer the world.
Those doubts are being heard this morning about Nadine Koutcher, 32, from Belarus, who overcame a wobbly start to convince the judges that she had greater staying power than the Mongolian, Amartuvshin Enkhbat (the audience favourite), or the Korean, Jongmin Park (the Song Prize winner), both of whom were very much the finished object – big singers, big personalities.
What did they do to lose? They took no risks. Koutcher, after seeming to be over-groomed, went for Delibes’s Bell Song totally exposed on the roof of Notre Dame, nailing every last note. Her daring won it.
Henrik Nánási has announced he doesn’t want to be Generalmusikdirektor of the Komische Oper any more. The Hungarian conductor will leave in 2017, when his contract expires, to pursue an international career.
photo: IMG
Probably not the first.
John Neumeier, director and chief choreographer of Hamburg Ballet since 1973, has been awarded the Kyoto Prize for 2015, along with Swiss astrophysicist Michel Mayor and Japanese chemist Toyoki Kunitake.
Neuemeier, 73, Wisconsin born and a protégé of John Cranko, has built many of his major works upon the music of Gustav Mahler.
We don’t know yet if it’s going to be coronation of a music director or abdication, but this message has just landed from the Berlin Phil:
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
die Berliner Philharmoniker laden Sie heute um 13.00 Uhr in das Foyer der Philharmonie zu einem Pressetermin mit dem Orchestervorstand und dem Intendanten ein. Für diejenigen unter Ihnen, die nicht persönlich anwesend sein können, wird der Termin live und kostenfrei in der Digital Concert Hall (www.digitalconcerthall.com ) übertragen.
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
the Berliner Philharmoniker invite you to a press conference today at 13.00 h in the foyer of the Philharmonie Berlin with our orchestra board and general manager. For all of you, who cannot be here in person, this press conference will also be streamed live and free in the Digital Concert Hall (www.digitalconcerthall.com).
Mit freundlichem Gruß,
With best regards,
You can follow the story all day on Slipped Disc.
Following Welsh National Opera boss David Pountney, speaking in Welsh, Dame Kiri te Kanawa has announced Nadine Koutcher, 32, from Belarus, as winner of Cardiff Singer of the World 2015.
In the final she displayed all the pluses and minuses of the old Soviet teaching system. Maximum technical command, minimum emotional intelligence. Fully developed instrument, not really a young singer. She’s exactly the type of singer opera managers pick for safety. But her performance of the Bell Song probably clinched it.
The audience prize went to Amartuvshin Enkhbat of Mongolia.
We are saddened to learn of the death of Gunther Schuller, aged 89. Christopher O’Reilly reports that he died at 7.55 on Sunday morning, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy playing by his bedside.
A composer who was equally at home in orchestral music and jazz, in 1957 he coined the term ‘Third Stream’ to point optimistically to a fusion future.
Gunther was a formidable advocate for fine music, a lucid writer and a generous teacher.
He leaves more than 160 scores.
By way of brief biography, he played principal horn in the Met orchestra in the 1950s, founded the Modern Jazz Society with John Lewis and served as president of the New England Conservatory. A rich and varied life.
UPDATE: First obit in the Boston Globe. Updated file obit from Allan Kozinn in the NY Times.
The rumour comes in Die Welt from Manuel Bruig, who can be unreliable, but it has legs. Brug says the players have chosen Kirill Petrenko, music director of the Bavaria State Opera. The Berlin Phil press office has promised ‘more tomorrow’ in an email to Slipped Disc.
Independent of his report we were informed last week that Petrenko had been offered the job on election day and turned it down. There is no sign yet that he has changed his mind – unless his recent Bayreuth anger at Thielemann has made it a point of honour to accept.
An opening set of two Italian arias and one Wagner has put Amartuvshin Enkhbat top of the leader board in the Cardiff Singer of the World final.
Showing neither nerves nor emotion, Amartuvshin played his set straight down the fairway and set a tough challenge for the remaining four contestants.
Amartuvshin Enkhbat was first prize winner in Placido Domingo’s 2012 Operalia competition. Apparently, that was not enough to get him out of Ulanbator and onto the world stage.
He conducts interviews through an interpreter. Language may have been his drawback until now.
Lauren Michelle from Los Angeles has a lovely instrument and a convivial stage presence, but she suffered pitch lapses early on and never saturated Korngold’s 3-hankie aria from Die Tote Stadt.
Money’s still on Mongolia.
Oleksiy Palchykov, 29, tenor from Ukraine, has got what it takes. Voice in good shape and presentation vivid. He totally nailed Una furtiva lagrima. He’s a definite contender, probable winner of audience vote. Real showman in Lehar. Collects football scarves. Has he got enough up front?
Nadine Koutcher, 32, from Belarus,displays all the pluses and minuses of the old Soviet teaching system. Maximum technical command, minimum emotional intelligence. Fully developed instrument, not really a young singer. She’s exactly the type of singer opera managers pick for safety. If they go for a compromise winner, she’s in with a chance.
Her Bell Song rang out to perfection.
Jongmin Park, 28, Korean winner of the Song Prize, is the finished article. He sang without fear or favour, full of confidence. He’s the finished article. A fine bass, though not overwhelming.
The conductor, 79, is worried about militarisation in the Far East and worsening relations between China and Japan.
He calls on Japan to ‘demonstrate itself to the world as a good example of a country that does not wage war.’
Seiji is summering with his academy in Switzerland and France.
The US mezzo opens tonight in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi, her mind shadowed by violence and war.
Joyce writes: I dedicate my run of performances as Romeo here in Zurich to my fellow human beings who have had to suffer the continued effects of rampant racism in my Country; to the mothers who have to explain to their beautiful young sons, that because their skin is dark, they must expect to be targeted and therefore must constantly be on the defense; to the utterly misguided, ill-educated, lost and fearful people who thing eradication is a solution; to the devastated, grieving families of the 9 human beings slaughtered in their place of worship, who, within HOURS of losing their loved ones, stood in front of the world and the person who murdered their family members and taught us what love is by simply saying “We forgive you”.
The author Marina Evreison Arshinova, who used to work at the competition, assesses the mood at the end of Week 1.
The first stage of the Piano #tch15 is over, the second has begun.
The Russian-Lithuanian pianist Lukas Geniusas, 24, second prize winner at the 2010 Chopin Competition, has been winning the media vote. His playing in the first round was cheering and revitalizing indeed.
By contrast, the Queen Elisabeth winner Yury Favorin, 29, fell victim to the system of refereeing and did not pass to the second round which was very disappointing.
For certain circles of audience Andrey Korobeinikov, 29, was one of the most wanted participants; however, he was absolutely unwanted by the major part of the jury. He made it easier for both groups – his performance was weak and unfocused, and even those who admire him, agreed that he сouldn’t go any further in the Competition.
Among those who will be playing in the second round Muscovites very much liked the second Lukas – French pianist Lucas Debargue, 24, particularly his inspiring interpretation of Beethoven’s Sonata op.10/3 . Maria Mazo, 32, born and raised in Moscow now lives in Germany. Under the guidance of the prominent piano teacher and juror Aryeh Vardy she achieved international recognition. In the second stage of the Competition she will play Beethoven’s Hammerklavier. The American George Li, 19, has excellent fingers. His depth has yet to be proved.
Daniil Kharitonov, 16, a student of Central Music School, pupil of Denis Matsuev’s teacher Valery Pyassetsky, is in with a chance. Kharitonov is strong in Rachmaninov, and has framed his second repertoire around that composer.
So what will the jury do? We shall see, and judge them all.
