Simon Woods, who resigned abruptly as head of the Los Angeles Philharmonic last September, has been named interim executive director of the recently troubled Grand Teton Music Festival
Music Director Donald Runnicles comments: ‘In securing the services of Simon Woods, the Grand Teton Music Festival is fortunate to be able to benefit from an experienced and enlightened executive, known across our business for his commitment to collaboration, who will provide us with valued leadership through this transitional period. Simon and I have been colleagues for many years both in North America and Europe – we are extremely excited to work together, committed to sustaining and further elevating the GTMF.’
In its new season, just being announced, the NY Phil has bagged the US premiere of Kurtag’s Beckettian opera fin de partie.
The production will be directed by Claire van Kampen, with Laurent Naouri, Rod Gilfry and J’Nai Bridges.
Also in the press kit:
Chick Corea as artist in residence;
8 new works by women composers: Du Yun, Mary Kouyoumdjian, Jessie Montgomery, Angélica Negrón, Caroline Shaw, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Joan Tower, and Melinda Wagner.
Yorgos Loukos, Greek director of the Lyon Ballet, has been dismissed after a hearing found that he discriminated against a dancer, Karline Marion, 34, during her pregnancy and after her return from childbirth.
Meet Alma, daughter of the inspirational Ingrid Fliter, who has waited quite late to start a family with husband, Anton Dressler.
This is Alma’s first appearance in world media, and I’m sure it won’t be her last. Her mother, as you can see, has begun sorting out her fingerings in the Moonlight Sonata.
Mazal tov to the lovely family!
London taxi drivers took part in an hour-long call-in yesterday on LBC, discussing the way Angela Hewitt’s piano was smashed in transit.
The story, broken on Slipped Disc on Sunday with Angela’s express permission, was picked up by newspapers and broadcasters all over the world – from CNN to Sky News to the BBC, to the Telegraph, Guardian, Stern and dozens more.
What made this item so heartfelt and universal is that we have all, somehow, been there.
Each of us has smashed the thing s/he loves, be it an instrument, a portrait, a vintage car, a parental heirloom.
Each of us has been smacked several times by disasters.
Some collapse in dismay.
Others emerge stronger.
Angela Hewitt has taught the world a moral lesson.
The Italian tenor, down with laryngitis, has cancelled a Valentine’s Day concert in Miami.
Thank you Turkish Airlines for taking such a great care for my double bass. You have done irrecoverable and non refundable damage. I was forced to sign a document at Washington Dulles Airport in which you gave up any responsibility for any kind of damage or loss of my double bass. You have also charged me $195 for oversize baggage although your website clearly says: “…We transport your large instruments like contrabass in the aircraft hold as checked baggage…The instruments you delivered during check-in are not loaded onto the conveyor belt, and we take special care to transport them safely.” During my tranfser at Istanbul I have witnessed along with the other passangers how you throwed it from approximately 4m of height into the truck.
I want to warn all my friends musicians around the world to boycot Turkish Airlines because they treat artists like rubbish. How they handled instrument is seen from the pictures. At the Zagreb airport I was told that I have no right to file a claim due to earlier signed document in Washington. Unfortunately, airlines don’t care about customers, and often treat artists like criminals saying that they are just doing their job. Well, how are we supposed to do our job?
Please share.
Interesting to see how many different kinds of protest this will arouse. Form an orderly line to register your protest application.
We are happy to announce that @PlacidoDomingo’s Operalia 28th Edition will take place in Tel Aviv, Israel, from Thursday, October 22 through to Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at The @IsraeliOpera
Past prize-winners include Sonya Yoncheva, Nina Stemme, Rolando Villazon, Joyce DiDonato and Pretty Yende.
The Guardian newspaper today published an obituary of Mirella Freni by Alan Blyth, my former neighbour up the road.
Alan died in 2007, aged 78.
He mass-produced singer obits for the Telegraph, Times, Independent and Guardian in his last active period, but this tribute must be at least two decades old, and the style has worn a bit thin.
Oh, and they used the same free picture that you saw three days ago on Slipped Disc.
Garry Walker has told the Rheinischen Philharmonie in Koblenz that he won’t renew his contract, which expires next year.
He said his new job in Leeds, as music director of Opera North, will require all his attention.
Good man.
Apollo Masters, one of two companies in the world to make lacquer for vinyl masters, has been all but wiped out by an overnight fire.
The only other producer, MDC, is based in Japan.
The first threatens to choke off the recent shoots of LP revival.
Apollo issued this statement: It is with great sadness we report the Apollo Masters manufacturing and storage facility had a devastating fire and suffered catastrophic damage. The best news is all of our employees are safe. We are uncertain of our future at this point and are evaluating options as we try to work through this difficult time.
