The Dutch Government has agreed to splash out 12.4 million Euros towards staging the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam next spring.
The total costs are 26.5 million.
The minister responsible is called Arie Slob.
Adds a whole new meaning to the term ‘going Dutch’.
There is a clutch of French conductors who are making fine careers around the world.
Louis Langrée in Cincinnati
Philippe Auguin at Washington National Opera
Emmanuel Vuillaume at Dallas Opera
Francois-Xavier Roth in Cologne
Stéphane Deneve in St Louis
Alain Altinoglu in Brussels and Frankfurt
Sylvain Cambreling, ex-Frankfurt now at Yomiuri Nippon Symphony
Ludovic Morlot formerly in Seattle
Lionel Bringuier formerly in Zurich
Yan-Pasal Tortelier in Iceland
Natalie Stutzmann in Dublin and Norway
Fabien Gabel at the Quebec Symphony
Ariane Matiakh in Halle.
None of them is in France.
Why is that?
San Francisco Opera has just rolled out its next music director.
She is Eun Sun Kim, 39, and she comes recommended by Kirill Petrenko of the Berlin Philharmonic and Daniel Barenboim of the Berlin State Opera, having served as assistant to both men.
She succeeds Nicola Luisotti, whose nine-year term ended in 2018.
Kirill Petrenko published this message: Eun Sun Kim is a colleague who not only exhibits the level of seriousness necessary for a conductor, but also one who has continually developed her talent and abilities through tireless effort and the appropriate self-critical approach to her work. I believe that now is the right moment for her to bring her extensive experience from recent years to a high-level opera house and to have the opportunity to realize her own artistic vision. Likewise, I am convinced that with the appointment of Ms. Kim the San Francisco Opera is getting a remarkable personality as its next music director.
And Daniel Barenboim said: While observing the development of Ms. Kim’s international career, I have always found her to be a musician who takes the role of conductor with the utmost seriousness and who holds the responsibilities thereof above all else. Accordingly, she continues to retain her curiosity for music and her desire to improve in all aspects of her career. I was delighted to hear of Ms. Kim’s appointment as the new music director of the San Francisco Opera and wish her and the company all the very best.
UPDATE: Kim was married for a while to Michael Lewin, Petrenko’s agent, a situation which she described once as a mixed blessing for her career. The marriage ended in divorce 4-5 years ago.
For the first time in Peter Gelb’s experience, the Metropolitan Opera actually has a sellout hit.
So he’s added 3 more shows.
JUST ANNOUNCED: We’re adding three additional performances of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess—starring bass-baritone Eric Owens and soprano Angel Blue—on February 4, 12, and 15! Don’t miss you’re chance to see this season’s electrifying new production of one of America’s greatest operas. Tickets go on sale Monday, December 9, at 12PM ET.
The Italian tenor was found culpable today of an alleged offence against a chorus singer while on tour with the Covent Garden company in Japan three months ago.
The ROH conducted an investigation and took disciplinary measures against him.
As soon as the first charge was made public, Peter Gelb suspended Grigolo from the Met. Now he has fired him.
Why?
Whatever Grigolo did took place with another company on a different continent. No other opera house has taken any measures against him. Why was it necessary for the Met to be holier than how and declare that his shadow will not darken its doorstep again?
Cruel and unnatural punishment? You could say that.
Within an hour of Covent Garden declaring that the Italian tenor had been found guilty of ‘inappropriate and aggressive behaviour’ on stage, the Metropolitan Opera announced that he would not be singing there again in the forseeable future.
The ROH said that his conduct at a curtain call in Japan ‘fell below the standards we expect of our staff and performers’ and he had been dropped from next year’s programme.
Grigolo was accused in media leaks of manhandling a chorus member, which he denied.
The tenor, 42, said in a statement: ‘I am truly saddened that my behavior towards everyone in the cast, people whom I have always respected and continue to respect from the bottom of my heart, was perceived to be below the Royal Opera House standards… It was not my intention to offend anyone… I recognise that my personality can be very exuberant at times and I am willing to make sure that what happened will not happen again in the future.’
The Estonian National Symphony Orchestra has upgraded its principal guest conductor to be its next music director from next season.
The new chief is Olari Eelts, 48, home grown.
Neeme is named Honorary Conductor For Life and his son Paavo is Artistic Advisor.
No pressure, then.
Thomas Hampson, in London for a recital tonight and masterclass tomorrow at the Wigmore Hall, has cancelled both.
He’s got flu.
It’s too late for the Hall to find a replacement.
He says: Dear friends and fans, I came to London and tried but unfortunately I have had to cancel tonight’s recital and tomorrow’s master class at Wigmore Hall due to the flu… I am sorry about not being able to perform tonight and hope that we can find a replacement date soon.
The opening music that played in Philharmonic Hall was Mahler’s second symphony, infinitely meaningful for Mariss.
The body lies in state in an open coffin.
(If the video doesn’t work, click direct here.)
The ceremony lasted three hours.
The live video has now been taken down.
Frankfurt Radio – the HR Sinfonieorchester – has just named Alain Altinoglu as its next chief conductor.
He will replace Andrés Orozco-Estrada as soon as 2021.
The Colombian, who’s in charge at Houston, is heading that year to the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. He will have served seven years in Frankfurt, but it was not a happy match.
Altinoglu, 44, has just extended his contract as music director of La Monnaie in Brussels.
This is where Fred Gaisberg set up shop in August 1898.
Music has never been the same since.
The only other studio at the time was Edison’s in New Jersey.
The wording on the plaque hardly conveys its historic importance. The ground floor is now home to a pizza parlour called Fire & Stone.
Caryn Tomlinson, Chair, EMI Archive Trust adds: ‘The pioneering work of Fred Gaisberg and The Gramophone Company expanded the emerging music industry rapidly across the globe. He was part creative, part scientist, part explorer, skills he traversed with ease. His personality and expertise still shine through in his beautifully preserved diaries, held by the Trust. Seeing London’s first recording studio acknowledged with this plaque and by Roger [Taylor]’s presence, reminds us of how today’s inventive musicians, producers and engineers continue to capture our imaginations.’
The prolific Lera Auerbach changed managements again today.
She’s now with Marianne Käch in Hamburg.
Why jump ship if it’s not sinking?
Press release:
Käch Artists & Promotion is delighted to announce the worldwide general management for internationally renowned conductor, pianist and composer Lera Auerbach. Lera Auerbach is one of today’s most sought after and exciting creative voices. She is not only among the world’s leading composers but also an impressive virtuoso pianist, conductor, visual artist and writer.
