Tulsa Opera are claiming this is the first time a trans woman has taken to the US opera stage.
Announcing its new season, Artistic Director Tobias Picker says: ‘Making history, Tulsa Opera presents baritone, Lucia Lucas in her American operatic debut as a transgender woman. Lucia Lucas’ appearance here will mark the
first time a trans woman has performed a principal role on the operatic stage in the United States. In the coming season we will also bring home artists whose stars rose in Tulsa and now shine throughout the world.’
We have been saddened to learn that the Toronto accordion virtuoso Alexander Sevastian, died on Friday in Ajijic, Mexico, a few hours before he was due to give a concert with the Quartetto Gelato. He apparently died in his sleep from a massive heart attack.
Alexander Sevastian started out in Moscow, touting Europe with the Russian Radio Orchestra. Moving with his family to Canada in 2002, he studied at the University of Toronto and joined the Quartetto Gelato.
In April 2008, Alexander Sevastian he played the Malcolm Forsyth Accordion Concerto with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Peter Oundjian, touring the work across Eastern Canada.
Alex is survived by his wife Anya, their children Vladimir and Maria, his brother Vitali and his mother Nadya.
The Russian conductor Vasily Petrenko made his Berlin Philharmonic debut this weekend, together with the violinist Michael Barenboim. Kirill Peterenko – the orchestra’s incoming music director – was in Israel, with another Philharmonic.
And at La Scala tonight, the great Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire will make his debut.
Good things come to those who wait.
Just when you thought you were safe from the soi-disant opera singer – it’s seven months since her last Slipped Disc appearance – we’ve been hit by a wave of links to her TV account of David Bowie’s Heroes.
Now KJ has never said she’s an opera singer. Nor has she ever corrected mass media that describe her as such.
But one thing’s sure: no properly trained opera singer would ever go up an octave this way.
The Opéra de Paris has posted the following notice:
Due to illness, Anna Netrebko will not be performing the role of Violetta Valéry in La Traviata on Wednesday 21, Sunday 25 and Wednesday 28 February. The role will be performed by Marina Rebeka.
This is the jury at the Reine Elisabeth competition in 1959.
No points for recognising Menuhin (3rd left) and Oistrakh (3rd right).
But who are the others?
(right click on picture and open image in new tab to enlarge)
Jody Ellis co-founded the Santa Fe Community Orchestra in 1982.
Almost up to her death last week, she was still turning up in the cello section.
If you check in a guitar with Japan Airline, this is what you’ll get.
It’s a huge gesture in the right direction.
They are trialling the case with guitars. Let’s demand an upgrade for cellos.
The French strings world is in mourning for Didier Lockwood, a household name both as a jazz violinist and as a campaigner for music education.
He suffered a heart attack early Sunday morning, after performing that evening at Bal Blomet.
A disciple of Stéphane Grappelli, Lockwood, who was half-Scottish, set up his own school for improvisation near Paris and was a vastly popular performer. Crossing all genres and with immense charm, he exercised a widespread and wholly benign influence on French music and society.
He is mourned by his wife, the opera soprano Patricia Petibon, and three children.
President Macron tweeted: Hommage ému au violoniste Didier Lockwood, ami et partenaire des plus grands, aussi soucieux de nouer le fil entre les cultures que de transmettre au plus grand nombre. Son rayonnement, son ouverture d’esprit et son immense talent musical nous manqueront.
The classical violinist Renaud Capucon writes: Quelle tristesse d’apprendre le départ de l’incomparable violoniste de jazz Didier Lockwood. La France perd un musicien d’exception,un homme aux qualités rares. Il nous manquera énormément. Affection pour sa famille et ses proches. Et profond respect.
