The speaker of the US House of Representatives issued this statement tonight:
‘It is an honor to send my greetings to the men and women of the Chicago Federation of Musicians. Every day, your incredible talents and hard work enrich the community. Democrats stand in solidarity with you in asking the Chicago Symphony to come to the table with respect for the value of your work.’
The much-loved Libor Pesek is stepping down at 85 as music director of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held for 12 years.
The players have elected an American, Steven Mercurio, to succeed him.
Mercurio has recorded with the orchestra for various labels.
Apart from the last-minute substitute professor, the tenor was under the weather and the baritone was six months late.
First review here:
On Monday night, the Met went to its bench again, when Jennifer Rowley, set to lead a new cast of Tosca, fell ill.
Replacing her was Iulia Isaev, a Romanian soprano who was making her Met debut, despite having an established career. Given the circumstances, her performance on Monday was impressive: she displayed a warm, focused tone that was remarkably consistent throughout the night, save for a little tightness at the top, which forced her to cut short the climactic A in “Vissi d’arte.” Without much chance to rehearse, Isaev’s portrayal was generalized yet effective, sweeping majestically about the stage…
Joseph Calleja was announced as being under the weather, as well, and indeed there was clear evidence of phlegm on his top notes…
Read on here.
The Polish violist Barnaba Jan Poprawski won today’s audition for a viola section vacancy in the State Opera orchestra, gateway to the Vienna Philharmonic.
Poprawki, 35, has been subbing in the Vienna Phil for a while and is a member of Sinfonia Varsovia.
He will take the seat of Heinrich Koll, who is retiring in September.
The Estonian Kristiina Poska was today named chief conductor of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra in Belgium, in addition to her other new job as music director at Theater Basle.
Some might say she’s collecting jobs just like a male maestro in the bad old days. Others will applaud her enterprise.
Poska, 40, recently received some poor reviews in London for The Merry Widow at ENO.
UPDATE: We have been informed that the Basle job is just for one year. Happy to clarify that.
We have been informed of the death of Viktor Moucka, cellist of the Vlach Quartet and its last surviving member. He was 93.
The quartet played from 1949 to 1975 and was extensively recorded.
Jennifer Rowley called in sick for last night’s performance.
Meet understudy Iulia Isaev, who made a last-minute Met debut.
UPDATE: First review here.
Isaev has been singing for years at Bucharest National Opera and teaching at the university there. She was made full professor in 2012.
