The Dutch violinist Janine Jansen, who gave up three Vienna performances the week before last, is still unwell.

She has cancelled the Sibelius concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic next week ‘aus gesundheitlichen Gründen.’

Lisa Batiashvili steps in.

James Gaffigan has withdrawn from tomorrow’s Finnish RSO concert in Helsinki because he is about to become a father.

His replacement is Taavi Oramo, son of Sakari Oramo (and soprano Anu Komsi), making his conducting debut in a major city.

Taavi is 27.

The country’s leading record prize will not be given again, it has just been announced.

The decision follows an international uproar over this year’s award to a rapper duo with an Auschwitz joke.

Here’s the confirmatory tweet:

 

It was announced today that Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cellist at the Royal Wedding, will be one of three artists in residence at the Royal Liverpool Phil next season. The others are piano due Anderson & Roe and harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani.

The season features no fewer than five women conductors -Anu Tali, Elim Chan, Nathalie Stutzmann, Jessica Cottis and Holly Matheson – and a joint War Requiem with Hannover to mark the end of the first World War.

Vasily Petrenko, in his 13th season as music director, says: ‘I’m looking forward to our new season, with the opportunity to perform such a wide variety of repertoire, from Brahms’ complete symphonies to new works by our Composer in Association, Gary Carpenter. I’m delighted to work with artists new to Liverpool as well as returning friends. This diversity represents what is distinctive about Liverpool Philharmonic, and is something that I cherish.’

 

The much-loved pianist, 71, cancelled his US tour last month.

Now he has called off London in midsummer ‘due to ill health’.

We wish him better.

press statement:

We regret to announce that unfortunately Murray Perahia has had to withdraw from his Barbican recital on 21 June 2018 due to ill health. We look forward to welcoming him back to the Barbican Centre for his recital as part of our 2018-19 season on 3 June 2019. All ticketholders will receive a full refund 

Here’s a list of other roles that should be cast to type:

Otello – must be a Moroccan, preferably from the south.

Falstaff -has to be genuinely fat, well over 220 pounds, no padding.

Violetta – this role is reserved for retired sex workers.

La Juive – goes without saying.

Carmen (pictured) – strictly for Roma women.

Flying Dutchman – only licensed KLM pilots need apply…

Any more?

These are the likely consequences of the withdrawal of the BBC’s intended Maria in West Side Story in order, she said, to give more opportunity to singers of Latin origin.

The excuse offered by Sierra Boggess is ridiculous. The BBC should sue her for breach of contract.

 

The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra has announced a cycle of all ten Mahler symphonies next season, rare in the land of Sibelius.

‘No one symbolises Europeanism more fully than Mahler,’ says chief conductor Hannu Lintu. ‘Woven into his life and work are all the inter-nation traumas and dreams that have moulded our modern and civilised Europe.’

The cycle will kick off in August with a Helsinki Festival performance of the Symphony of a Thousand with an all-Finnish soloist line-up including Camilla Nylund, Johanna Rusanen-Kartano, Lilli Paasikivi, Tommi Hakala and Mika Kares, cunducted by Lintu. Other batons in the series are Sakari Oramo, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Manfred Honeck, David Zinman and Ryan Wigglesworth.

Mahler in Finland, September 1907

 

Nadine Sierra, 29, was last night named winner of the Met Opera’s annual Beverly Sills Artist Award.

It’s worth $50 grand.

She has previously won the $50k Richard Tucker Award, the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the Marilyn Horne Competition.

Does anyone else get a look-in?

 

 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s orchestra will be made up of musicians from the Philharmonia and English Chamber orchestras, both pet projects of Prince Charles.

The conductr will be Christopher Warren-Green, sometime leader of the Philharmonia Orchestra, latterly music director in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The soprano is Elin Manahan Thomas.

And there’s a cellist, too…

A message from the French soprano Julie Fuchs, sacked by Hamburg Staatsoper for being four months’ pregnant.

 

 

Dear everyone,

Thank you for your huge support during the last few days a little difficult! My intention was not to create animosity or a “media storm”, but simply to be honest with my friends, fans and followers on why I will not sing pamina at the Hamburg opera this month. However, this post made me realize that I was far from being a single case, and I am saddened to hear that many of my colleagues have lived and live in similar experiences, without having the opportunity to express themselves freely.

I do not want to debate every detail but I would like to clarify some of the points already mentioned in my press release: I have informed the theatre of my pregnancy one month before the beginning of the rehearsals so as to allow everyone time to solve all the necessary points . I was assured until the last moment that the few minutes of the stage of a possible change could be adapted to allow my participation. Then, on Thursday, 19 April, I learn that the theatre is sacking me, and this one finally decided that the changes induced by my involvement harmed the artistic integrity of the show. To be clear, my rehearsals had to start 4 days later, Monday, April 23th, yesterday. You would easily understand that I did not feel respected as an artist and be human. It also made me realize how easy it was for a theatre to return an artist without even offering compensation.

Although I understand, of course, that theatres are subject to the law, I firmly believe that a woman is able to decide in agreement with her doctors about what is dangerous for her or her baby. Especially since we all know that scenes are commonly modified for an injured artist, sick or even on personal preferences.

My team is working on this case and I hope you will understand that I am not in a position to comment more accurately at this time.
I sincerely hope that progress will be made in all areas to ensure that all those who work in the arts, both men and women, are respected in their work.

I kiss you and tell you soon for new adventures, I hope, more musical!

Earl Lee is the new associate conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony, replacing Francesco Lecce-Chong.

He is presently resident conductor of the Toronto Symphony and artistic director of its youth orchestra.

 

Sheku Kanneh-Mason has been asked by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to play at their wedding.

Sheku, 19, won the BBc Musician of the Year title in 2016. Prince Harry saw him later at a charity concert.

He has tweeted:

 

 

UPDATE: And the conductor is…