Don’t ever accuse Manchester of Little Englandism.
The Halle Orch’s new assistant conductor, succeeding Jamie Philips, is Jonathon Heyward, from Charleston, South Carolina.
Jonathon, 23, recently won the Besancon conducting competition.
There has been much muttering about importing a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard to the home of a national opera company, but veteran critic Edward Seckerson was surprised last night to find the ENO orchestra highlighted as never before.
The ENO Orchestra was firmly part of the action in Lonny Price’s nifty staging, nestling among the steel walkways of James Noone’s set, and for once they were as much the star of the show as the lady everyone had come to see.
It’s been 20 years since I saw Glenn Close…
Read on here.
Production note: Sunset Boulevard is produced by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd and is based on the original Paramount film by Billy Wilder.
UPDATE: And this from Lloyd Evans in the Spectator:
Visually this production is immaculate. A huge orchestra, seated on stage, is partially concealed beneath a network of intersecting staircases that doubles as the movie-lot and as Norma’s sprawling home. Golden lights illuminate the musicians against an azure backdrop that creates the blue-orange formula beloved of unpretentious, crowd-pleasing designers. And the music, though not Lloyd Webber’s finest, is bashed out with faultless efficiency.
The Boston Symphony and Leipzig Gewandhaus chief has been awarded a 25k watchmakers prize. See below.
Andris Nelsons honored with the 2016 Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward
The Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward, which includes a prize of 25,000 Euros, is donated by watchmakers Glashütte Original and presented in cooperation with the Dresden Music Festival. Past winners include Gustavo Dudamel, Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, Hélène Grimaud, Hilary Hahn and fado singer Mariza.
The great Danish dancer and choreographer Johan Kobborg awoke today to find his name removed from the website of Bucharest National Opera and Ballet as if he never existed.
His dismissal comes within 24 hours of the appointment of an interim general director, an appointment published so far only in Slipped Disc.
Johan writes: ‘It is with heavy heart I find my name removed as artistic director of the ONB company. I have nothing but love for the company. I will dream one day of returning and finishing what we started. I am sorry dancers that I didn’t get a chance to tell you personally. You all beautiful (sic).’
There’s only one boss now in Bucharest. Just like the old days.
UPDATE: Ballerina threatens boycott.
Leonard Slatkin will cease to be music director at the Orchestre National de Lyon from September 2017. He will become Directeur Musical Honoraire, which means he can carry on conducting without administrative responsiblities. Slatkin, 71, has been music director in Lyon since 2011.
The move parallels Slatkin’s recent change from MD to emeritus from 2018 at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
It makes a lot of sense. Having put in the hard years, Slatkin can now fly Zubin Class and enjoy the ride.
Here’s what will be announced later today:
On September 1, 2017, Leonard Slatkin will become Directeur Musical Honoraire of the Orchestre National de Lyon. The recruitment process for a new music director has been launched.
Leonard Slatkin and the Orchestre National de Lyon have agreed to continue their collaboration beyond August 31, 2017. From this date, Leonard Slatkin will become Directeur Musical Honoraire – an honorary title awarded for the first time by the Orchestre National de Lyon – and will continue regular collaborations with the orchestra’s musicians for at least 3 additional seasons. Since arriving in Lyon, with support from CEO Jean-Marc Bador, the staff and the musicians, Leonard Slatkin has created unprecedented artistic vitality and influence around the Orchestre National de Lyon. In recent years, Auditorium attendance has increased by almost 40%, reaching 220,000 spectators in 2015 through innovative programming and attention paid to educational programs, cultural activities and new audiences.
Recording agreements led in particular to the ongoing release of a new collection of 11 discs of the works of Maurice Ravel on the Naxos label. International tours opened doors to prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall, the NCPA in Beijing, the Vienna Konzerthaus and the Philharmonie de Paris. “Leonard Slatkin’s enthusiastic presence during all these years has transformed the orchestra and created the conditions for artistic innovation and community projects. His role as ambassador has contributed to the attractiveness of our orchestra and our city. I am grateful to him for having agreed to a smooth transition as we plan for the arrival of a new Music Director at the Orchestre National de Lyon,” says Jean-Marc Bador, CEO of the Auditorium-Orchestre National de Lyon.
From 2017 to 2020, Leonard Slatkin will perform regularly with the Orchestre National de Lyon – a minimum of 6 weeks during the 2017/18 season, and 4 weeks during the following season – enabling the expected completion of the process to recruit a new Music Director by 2018.
“This new deal gives me the opportunity to continue a long-term arrangement with an orchestra I dearly love. The past five seasons have been extraordinarily rewarding. Extensive recording projects, video broadcasts, and outstanding new additions to the membership of the ONL are among the many recent initiatives and accomplishments. Also, by the end of my tenure as music director, we will have toured on three continents, thereby increasing the orchestra’s international exposure and further developing a worldwide audience. The public in Lyon has responded most favorably to our innovative programming with full houses populated by many young people. The future for this orchestra is bright indeed and I’m proud to be part of it. I fully expect to be busy guest conducting, writing books and music, and engaging in other activities both personal and professional,” commented Leonard Slatkin.