Filmed in 2011, uploaded tonight.
Such a good sport.
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has extended the contract of music director Gemma New to 2021.
Dear
As you will soon be attending a performance or event at the Royal Opera House we would like to draw your attention to some changes to our security measures in light of the tragic events in Manchester and the raised UK security threat level.
You will notice an increased security presence at the Royal Opera House and we will take time to search all bags on entry. You can help us to make sure that this has as little impact on your visit as possible by doing the following:
Please plan your journey and arrive as early as possible.
Please avoid bringing any bags with you.
If a bag is absolutely necessary, no bag larger than a small handbag please.
If you do have large bags we kindly ask you to make alternative arrangements for their storage.
Please be patient with our staff as they check you into the building.
Your safety is paramount to us and your understanding greatly appreciated as we go through this difficult time.
We look forward to seeing you at the Royal Opera House for what will still be a wonderful experience.
Yours sincerely
Alex Beard CBE
Chief Executive
You can do it at San Francisco Opera.
Good idea?
The only way to endure Parsifal?
The Aizuri Quartet took first prize, worth 3m Yen (£21,000).
The Ulysses quartet were second with 1.5m Yen (£10,500) and the Viano Quartet were third with 1m Yen (£7,000).
Glass ceiling?
Here are the 20 finalists, selected from a field of 255:
- M. Ivan DEMIDOV, Russia (26 years)
- M. Ben GLASSBERG, UK (23 years)
- M. Jordan GUDEFIN, France (28 years)
- M. Marc HAJJAR, France (33 years) *
- M. Mario HARTMUTH, Germany (29 years)
- Mme Wing Wun IP, Hong Kong (31 years)
- M. Victor JACOB, France (26 years)
- M. Hee-Beom JEON, South Korea (33 years)
- Mme Yuwon KIM, South Korea (29 years) *
- M. Andrew LING, Hong Kong (34 years)
- M. Gregor MAYRHOFER, Germany(29 years)
- M. Luigi MAZZOCCHI, Italy (30 years)
- M. Stefano NIGRO, Italy (26 years)
- M. Gabriel PHILIPPOT, France (29 years)
- M. Maxime PITOIS, France (29 years)
- M. Rui RODRIGUES, Portugal (29 years)
- M. Ngai Cheung SIT, Hong Kong (28 years)
- Mme Chloé VAN SOETERSTÈDE, France (28 years)
- M. Yuan XUE, China (29 years)
- M. Su-Han YANG, Taiwan (28 years)
Inbal Segev offers some useful advice.
This is the first picture released today of Nicky receiving the Queen’s Medal for Music, 2016.
UPDATE: Nicky tweets: I am humbled & grateful for this honour, & will continue to fight for people’s access to the arts. The soul of this country needs nurturing.
She is the youngest person to receive the award, which is for contributing to the musical life of the nation.
There are her predecessors:
2006 Sir Bryn Terfel CBE
2007 Judith Weir CBE
2008 Kathryn Tickell OBE DL
2009 Sir Colin Davis CH CBE
2010 Dame Emma Kirkby DBE
2011 Nicholas Daniel
2012 National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
2013 Sir Thomas Allen CBE
2014 Simon Halsey CBE
2015 Oliver Knussen CBE
The classical singer Sioned Terry attended the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester with her daughter Nel, aged 11.
As they were leaving the Arena, they heard an ‘enormous bang, which sounded like a really powerful firework’.
In the street she saw people covered in blood.
She tweeted: ‘Evacuated from @ManchesterArena. Heavy police presence. Very frightening. Me and Nel ok but can’t get to the car as roads blocked.’
Michael Dervan thinks they might be:
It’s just over a year since RTÉ lost the nearest thing it had to a sure-fire musical draw when the principal conductor of the RTÉ CO, John Wilson, exited his contract seven months early. Wilson was like the rising tide that lifted all boats for RTÉ CO concerts. Since then both RTÉ orchestras have been without the nurturing and stabilising force that a principal conductor can provide. It’s not a healthy situation.
More here.
Amid a negligible classical response, the chairman of Universal Music Group, Lucian Grainge, has written to all employees. UMG lost three employees in the Paris Bataclan bombing. Here’s what Sir Lucian writes:
Dear Colleagues,
Once again, we try to make sense of a senseless act of violence.
Today, our emotions are raw. We are deeply saddened by the awful events last night in Manchester. We extend our thoughts and prayers to all of those affected. And we grieve for all of those lost there, offering our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones.
We can report that no UMG employees were injured in the attack, and that Ariana Grande and her crew are safe. That said, the fact that such an unspeakable act can be committed at a place where innocent people – including so many young people – come together peacefully to enjoy music reflects a level of evil beyond comprehension.
This hits home for us as a music company—because so many of us, myself included, spend so much time out seeing our artists perform, let alone attending concerts as fans. That’s why we’ve chosen music as our career—or rather music has chosen us. Your safety and security is absolutely paramount to us. I want you to know that if, for any reason, you ever have any questions or concerns, we want you to reach out so we can resolve it. Our Security team and Human Resources staff stand ready to assist you. Please take advantage of all they have to offer.
Today is a day of remembrance, a day to pause and reflect, with thoughts for yesterday’s tragedy.
Thank you, as always, for everything you do.
Lucian
Happier days: Lucian signs Lang Lang
The Halle has issued no response to the atrocity, either on its website or via social media.
The first we heard from the BBC Philharmonic is a tweet: ‘This afternoon’s 2pm concert and broadcast will be going ahead as planned.’
UPDATE: The BBC have drawn our attention to this tweet:
— BBC Philharmonic (@BBCPhilharmonic) May 24, 2017
They further specify that the BBC Philharmonic’s first response was at 0859 on Tuesday morning with a tweet which read: Our thoughts are with all those affected by the attack at the concert at Manchester Arena last night. Music unites us in peace and love.
The Manchester Camerata responded: ‘Here at Manchester Camerata we know better than most how integral music is to the lifeblood of this great city and we are immensely saddened that so many young people experienced their first taste of live music in such tragic circumstances. Our thoughts are with the families of those affected by last night’s incident.
‘We also know the people of this city and they’re already proving that Manchester has an unshakeable proud core – it is a city of compassion and a city of kindness. Manchester we love you.’
