Dalton Baldwin, favourite piano partner of Jessye Norman, Gérard Souzay, Elly Ameling, Arleen Auger, and many more, has died while on tour.

He was about to turn 88 next week. First reports say he died on his way home from teaching in Myanmar and Japan.

Dalton made more than 100 recordings.

We have lost several legends today.

The death has been announced of Mario Salvagiani, ‘padre’ of culture in Ravenna, founder of its festival and creator of the Cherubini youth orchestra for Riccardo Muti. He was 89.

Read his creative life’s story here.

 

The former BBC presenter will ‘share his own stories and reflections on his favourite composers and their music’ on Sunday afternoons on the commercial station, starting 5 January.

Classic FM is a licensed care home for retired newscasters, with John Suchet, Moira Stuart and Bill Turnbull also on the books.

The Philadelphia Orchestra has done a five-year deal with the China Conservatory of Music to accompany the now-annual China International Music Competition.

In the next contest, held in Beijing next May, 24 violinists from around the world, aged 16 and 28, will contest a first prize worth US$150,000, with second and third prizes of US$75,000 and US$30,000.

The inaugural Competition this year, won by Canadian pianist Tony Siqi Yun, had Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting the Phillies in the final.

 

In the years to come, players from the Orchestra will also be involved in coaching, master classes, and joint music-making opportunities with the students and faculty of the China Conservatory of Music.

The International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn has selected three pianists for the final.

They are Cunmo Yin (China), Shihyin Lee (South Korea, pictured) and Yuto Takezawa (Japan).

The jury is chaired by Pavel Gililov, who has form.

None of the finalists appears yet, however, to be his pupil.

 

 

 

Now that she is no longer distracted by declining fortunes in Australia, the Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra can direct her full attention to her German profile, which just grows and grows.

It is reported that 1.5 million watched her Advent concert on ZDF – and just look what’s coming up:

3SAT zeigt am 1.1.2020, 20.15 Uhr Beethoven-Film mit Alondra de la Parra
Im Hauptabendprogramm des Neujahrstags trifft das 3SAT Publikum in Brisbane auf die Dirigentin. “Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt – Beethoven heute” heißt der Film von Lisa-Marie Schnell und Alexandra Hardorf. Hauptprotagonist in dieser Erstausstrahlung ist das meistgespielte Komponisten Ludwig von Beethoven. Was bedeutet Beethoven jungen Leuten in aller Welt heute? Eine Abenteuerreise auf den Spuren des Genies rund um den Globus. Die filmische Reise beginnt in Australien, wo Beethoven gerade in einer großen Umfrage zum nationalen Lieblingskomponisten gewählt wurde. In Brisbane trifft das Filmteam Alondra de la Parra, die während der Drehphase Chefdirigentin des Queensland Symphony Orchestra war. Ihr Orchester in Brisbane spielt im Film die 6. Sinfonie, die “Pastorale”. Über Beethoven sagt Alondra de la Parra, dass er in der DNA jedes Musikers sei – auch in ihrer eigenen. Musikalisch gesehen sei er so etwas wie ihr bester Freund.

Musica Maestra – Neue Folgen auf Deutsche Welle
Die Deutsche Welle startete mit Alondra de la Parra im Juli 2017 das multimediale Klassikformat “Musica Maestra”. Sie ist Protagonistin wie auch Reporterin in dem ungewöhnlichen Web- und TV-Projekt. Der jüngste veröffentlichte Clip zeigt Alondra de la Parra und Martin Grubinger wie sie sich auf die Uraufführung von Fazil Says Schlagzeugkonzerts mit der Kammerphilharmonie in Bremen vorbereiten. Die Deutsche Welle veröffentlicht ab sofort wöchentlich einen neuen “Musica Maestra” Kurzfilm auf deren neuen Youtube Channel und 2 Wochen zeitversetzt auf Facebook.

www.youtube.com/dwclassicalmusic
08. Dezember 2019 Meeting Martin Grubinger
15. Dezember 2019 Thamos with La Fura dels Baus in Salzburg
22. Dezember 2019 Interview with Rolando Villazon in Salzburg
29. Dezember 2019 Flying Alondra in Salzburg
05. Januar 2020 Interview with Guy Braunstein
12. Januar 2020 Interview with Edicson Ruíz

No conductor of any gender or eminence is getting this kind of exposure on German TV. How did that happen?

The publishing arm of Decca – a bigger moneyspinner these days than the recording business – has signed three rising talents.

If you’ve heard of them, say so.

Decca Publishing is thrilled to announce the signing of three exceptional artists: award-winning film composer Amelia Warner; singer, songwriter and producer Kieran Brunt; and experimental producer and DJ Laurel Halo. Each of these artists is a leading voice in their field, creating music which is pushing the boundaries of contemporary composition.

Amelia Warner began her music career as a singer, writer and collaborator under the name ‘Slow Moving Millie’. She was widely acclaimed and enjoyed great success as a performer (her voice can be heard on the 2011 John Lewis advert) but became increasingly sought-after as a TV and film composer, releasing her first soundtrack Mum’s List in 2016. Most recently, she penned the score for historical drama Mary Shelley, starring Elle Fanning and Douglas Booth – earning a nomination as Discovery of the Year at the World Soundtrack Awards and winning Breakthrough Composer of the Year at the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA).

Kieran Brunt is a London-based singer, songwriter, producer whose music crosses a broad range of genres. He is in demand as a collaborator and has worked with artists including Nils Frahm, Terry Riley, Anna von Hausswolff, Luke Howard and The King’s Singers. He established the electronic duo ‘Strange Boy’ with composer and producer Matt Huxley, and in 2016 he created the 12-strong vocal ensemble ‘Shards’ – the group released their debut album earlier this year. Entitled Find Sound, the recording was praised by DIY Magazine for its “mesmerising soundscape that’s unlike anything you may have heard”.

Michigan-born and Berlin-based artist Laurel Halo completes the trio of new signings to Decca Publishing. Her work ranges from live performance and DJ-ing to composing albums and scores. In 2012 she released her acclaimed debut album Quarantine, a powerful juxtaposition of raw vocals and cold electronics, named ‘Album of the Year’ by Wire magazine. It was followed by three LPs: 2013’s Chance of Rain, 2015’s In Situ and 2017’s Dust (featuring Eli Keszler, Julia Holter, Lafawndah and Klein). Halo’s body of work also includes Still Be Here, a collaborative installation piece starring the Japanese virtual popstar Hatsune Miku, and the score to 2018 documentary Possessed, directed by the Dutch design group Metahaven. Her latest project is the mini-LP Raw Silk Uncut Wood, which is a classically-inspired collection of instrumental tracks.

 

 

With a piety worthy of the Vatican, the Salzburg Mozarteum has announced the acquisition of a certified lock of Mozart’s saintly hair, among a collection of Mozart family artefacts.

(So he didn’t go bald, then.)

The collection was bought from descendants of Carl Wilhelm Doell, an engraver of coins and medals in Karlsruhe.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra told its patrons last night: ‘The conductor has changed for your concert tomorrow.’

Wonder why? This morning:

We are sorry to announce that Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla has had to withdraw from the concert this week due to illness. We are very grateful to Christoph Koenig, who will be replacing Mirga at such short notice. The programme remains the same as advertised and we very much hope that you enjoy the concert.

The programme?

Elgar Two Part Songs, Op. 26, 10′

Jörg Widmann Das heisse Herz (CBSO Centenary Commission: UK Premiere), 32′

Brahms Symphony No. 3, 37′

 

Koenig had 24 hours to learn the new work.

Toi bloody toi!

 

UPDATE: Check the review tomorrow, only in Slipped Disc.

Flutemaker Peter Noy, the husband of Courtney Westcott, has reported her death from cancer.

She was in her 60s.

Courtney was soloist or principal flute with Seattle Baroque, NYS Baroque (Ithaca), and Tafelmusik, admired as both player and scholar.

Friends are reporting the early death from cancer of Laura Liepins, a popular figure in music administration.

Laura went from being Vice President, Artists and Conductors, at Opus 3 Artists to becoming Director of Artistic Administration and Career Development at Colburn School in Los Angeles.

She leaves a son, a family and many friends.