The English composer and broadcaster Michael Berkeley, whose wife the literary agent Deborah Rogers died in May 2014, has announced his remarriage, to the former Bloomsbury publishing editor, Elizabeth West.

‘We have known each other for over twenty years,’ says Michael.

We wish them every happiness.

michael berkeley wedding

 

The ‘Vienna Boys Choir International School’ will open in 2018.

Next a stud farm for Lippizaner horses?

DPA report: Wien – Die Wiener Sängerknaben gründen erstmals eine Musikschule im Ausland. 2018 solle die internationale “Vienna Boys Choir International School” in Hongkong öffnen, teilte die für Einrichtung am Donnerstag in Wien mit. Präsident Gerald Wirth betonte, dass sich die Sängerknaben als künstlerische und pädagogische Institution verstünden, in der Musik, Schulbildung und soziale Verantwortung groß geschrieben werde.

 

vienna boys choir

Elisabeth Braw asks some pertinent questions in The Economist:

Does Oman need one? And what about Dubai, traditionally an Arab trading town? Performing opera in countries that are not part of the Western cultural history may be cultural imperialism initiated by the countries’ rulers rather than an enlightened offering to their residents. And in the case of Dubai, the opera house may further accelerate the emirate’s shift from commercial centre to expat hub: foreigners already make up 80% of the population.

dubai-opera-district01

Read on here.

The Baltimore Symphony has negotiated a new one-year deal with its musicians, just before its president Paul Meecham shuffles off into the Utah saltlands.

 

paul meecham

Tim Smith reports that players will get a 1.33 percent rise in September, with an extra 2.63 percent on May 1, 2017.

Base pay in Baltimore will rise to $1,560 a week.

Meecham is not the only one heading to the Utah Symphony. Associate concertmaster Madeline Adkins goes, too.

madeline adkins

They are compiling an album of songs to represent each state.

If next week’s outcome is Brexit, we’re out (unless you believe that Brexit will change nothing).

Read press release below, and click on the link to vote now.

european parliament

 

With less than a week to go until the polls open for the EU referendum, the British public are being invited to participate in another European decision – on which six songs will represent the UK in the inaugural European Union Songbook.

Founded in Copenhagen last year, the European Union Songbook aims to showcase the best music to have originated in all 28 EU member states throughout history, combining national sentiments with an underlying European identity.

Already more than 13,000 EU citizens from Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Greece, Latvia and Cyprus have voted and chosen their songs, with the UK vote opening on Tuesday 14 June and closing on Thursday 14 July.

 34 songs representative of Britain and its musical heritage have made the UK shortlist, following a vote last year by music teachers and students from British music academies.

 

It’s the festival season. Everyone’s in summer productions. Things happen.

Sexi Soprano issues a timely warning.

 

la linea sexy

You’re so excited to have a gig this summer or to be going to your first Young Artist Program. There will probably be some attractive baritones, maybe a tenor, or MAYBE even a hot conductor or profoundly interesting director!

Backrubs during breaks… long days of rehearsing followed by a drink at the local pub… joking around backstage… being away from home… Sounds like a perfect recipe for a steamy summer romance!

But there are a few REALLY good reasons NOT to hook up at your next gig.

Read on here.

sexi soprano

It has just been announced that Shanghai Opera have booked the London Coliseum, home of English National Opera, in August.

We are going to see a lot more of this kind of thing.

 

coliseum eno

press release:

Shanghai Opera House make their UK debut – presenting the European premiere ofThunderstorm, based on the famous Chinese drama by Cao Yu

Following a successful visit to the London Coliseum by Shanghai Ballet in 2015, Shanghai Opera House make their UK debut with four performances of Thunderstorm, an opera by Chinese composer MO Fan, based on the famous play written by CAO Yu. Conducted byZHANG Guoyong and directed by ZHA Mingzhe, Thunderstorm opens at the London Coliseum on Thursday 11 August for four performances.

Thunderstorm began life as a play, written by CAO Yu and premiered in 1935. It is one of the most popular Chinese dramatic works of the period. The story unfolds in the space of one day and centres around the disastrous effects of rigid traditionalism and hypocrisy on the wealthy, modern Zhou family. The operatic version of Thunderstorm was premiered in May 2006 at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center to celebrate Shanghai Opera House’s 50th anniversary. The performances at the London Coliseum mark the European premiere of Thunderstorm.

ZHOU Puyuan, master of the Family of Zhou has a son ZHOU Chong with his wife Fanyi, but his elder son ZHOU Ping was born by his former maid Shiping. Fed up with her imperious husband, Fanyi starts an affair with ZHOU Ping her stepson. The fearful ZHOU Ping seeks solace in his relationship with Sifeng the young maid, who then becomes pregnant. One evening during a thunderstorm, Shiping comes to the family house by accident, and then it becomes clear that she is also the mother of Sifeng. Sifeng, finding it hard to accept that her lover is in fact her brother, runs into the thunderstorm and is stuck by lightning. ZHOU Chong, who has always been Sifeng’s secret admirer, dashes out to save her but is also killed instantly. ZHOU Ping kills himself in despair, while Fanyi and Shiping become mad. ZHOU Puyuan loses his whole family within one day.

Composer and librettist MO Fan has written a wide variety of works including operas, dance dramas, cantatas, tone poems and concertos. His works have been performed across Europe and Asia. MO Fan has twice been the recipient of the prestigious Wenhua Prize – winning forThunderstorm at the 8th China Arts Festival in 2007 and for another opera Tu Lou in 2013 at the 10th China Arts Festival in 2013.

Vice President of the National Theatre in China, ZHA Mingzhe is one of China’s most accomplished directors. Known for his moving portrayals of the ordinary lives of Chinese people, ZHA Mingzhe has won many national awards, including “Excellent Director in the New Century” by the Chinese Dramatists Association and the magazine Chinese Theater in 2005.

ZHANG Guoyong is the Principal Conductor of Shanghai Opera House, Professor and Dean of Conducting at Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Vice Chairman of the China Musicians Association. He has conducted throughout Europe and Asia including with Russian State Orchestra, Russian Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic and Hong Kong Philharmonic and is an expert in Russian works, especially the music of Shostakovich. In 2006, he was invited to sit on the jury of the 8th Cadaques International Conducting Competition.

 

On May 3, 1943, one of Germany’s most gifted young pianists was expected to give a recital at Heidelberg University. Karlrobert Kreiten never turned up.

He had been arrested by the Gestapo for making anti-Hitler remarks, reported by a zealous neighbour. Tortured and abused, he was tried by the Nazi judge Roland Freisler and condemned to death by hanging, along with 185 others.

Kreiten, a Dutch citizen, was 27 years old.

Next week, the pianist Florian Heinisch and author Moritz von Bredow will tour Germany with what should have been Kreiten’s Heidelberg recital – works by Bach-Busoni, Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven and Liszt.

Tour dates: Bonn (19th), Cologne (21.6), Dusseldorf (22.6), Bremen (24.6). Heidelberg (26.6), Hamburg (27.6), Munich (29.6), Berlin (30.6)

kreiten

The Scottish tenor Nicky Spence has rounded up some of his busiest stage partners to raise £25,000 for the charity Help Musicians UK.

Ailish Tynan, Nicky Spence, Mary Bevan, Louise Alder and more will pump their legs from Glasgow to London, starting July 24 and winding up with a performance on the steps of the London Coliseum on 31 July.

They’re calling it SongCycle (geddit?).

To support the good cause click here.

songcycle_press_release_photo_cropped_for_web

Eleanor Sokoloff, teaching piano into her second century.

eleanor sokoloff

Pictured today with ex-student Leon McCawley.

There were warnings early this year that Soundcloud might have to close after suffering heavy losses.

Now Twitter, which once tried to buy the site, has chipped in $70 million to keep Soundcloud alive.

Details here.

soundcloud

The Philharmonie de Paris will project live coverage of Croatia vs Spain during next Tuesday’s scheduled concert.

paris football concert

Believe it or not. Read here.