…. and prove that the Philistines were almost certainly Canadian…

Si comunica che a causa di un’indisposizione del tenore Francesco Meli la parte di Radamès nell’esecuzione in forma di concerto di “Aida” di lunedì 19 ottobre (serata Promozione culturale), sarà sostenuta da Jonas Kaufmann.

Il Teatro alla Scala ringrazia Jonas Kaufmann per la cortese disponibilità e augura a Francesco Meli una rapida convalescenza.

It is announced that due to an indisposition of the tenor Francesco Meli, the part of Radamès in the performance of “Aida” in concert form on Monday 19 October (Cultural Promotion evening), will be supported by Jonas Kaufmann.

Teatro alla Scala thanks Jonas Kaufmann for his kind availability and wishes Francesco Meli a quick recovery

In a Covid year, everybody is free. Everyone needs the work.

UPDATE: Francesco Meli has posted online that he has tested positive with Covid-19.

One early comment reads: Che culo!

The Berlin-based organist Cameron Carpenter has been one of the heroes of the Covid era, taking his instrument around care homes in lockdown to bring joy to lonely and frightened residents.

But Cameron has now lost the maintenance facility for his instrument and will have to put it in storage. He was due to receive an Opus Klassik award this weekend. This is his acceptance speech – the saddest we’ve ever heard.

 

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Sending best wishes to my colleagues for a successful Opus Klassik tomorrow night, which I will have to miss as we move the International Touring Organ to storage following the disbanding of its Berlin facility. #cameroncarpenter #internationaltouringorgan #musicagainstcorona #savethearts 🙏🏼 @opusklassik @camimusic_ny @kd_schmid @sony.classical @sophiabacelar @alexander_shelley @theresavibberts @susan_slaymaker @bartfeld.orgue @lukas.hasler.organist @thomas_mellan @konzerthausberlin @bbmberlin @buendnisbuergerstiftungen @buergerstiftungberlin @berlinphil @laphil @eltonjohn @editionpetersgroup @boardwalkorgans @classicfm @doctorchriss92 @musical_olympus @futurestopspodcast @felixhell @idenstamorganist @sebastianorganist @juilliardschool @jasonbae1029 @olka.organistka @tobytumarkin @newyorktos @natsuki27 @leonart.music @orgelseite @thomasquasthoff @russell.jackson.organ

A post shared by Cameron Carpenter (@cameronorganist) on Oct 17, 2020 at 2:29pm PDT

From Zurich Opera:

Unfortunately we have to inform you that the performances of our new production of Sleeping Beauty on October 17 and 18 cannot take place due to a Covid case in the ballet company. 

Today, after a member of the company tested positive for the corona virus, all dancers have to go into quarantine for 10 days for safety reasons according to the protection concept of the Swiss theaters, which implements the specifications of the FOPH for the theaters. Training and ballet performances with a 1.5 meter hygienic distance and without physical contact are unthinkable for the Zurich Ballet. For this reason, the dancers have agreed to train and perform as a so-called “fixed group”. All participants were aware that a positive test result of one member of the ensemble would mean quarantine for the whole group. Unfortunately, this case has occurred today and we wish the sick person a quick recovery. We hope that the Zurich Ballet will soon be able to return to the stage …

We hear that there is more than a little intimacy in Zurich between ballet dancers and orchestra musicians. Stand by for opera difficulties.

The pianist says: ‘I am so excited to announce that Gina and I are expecting our first child. We could not be happier to welcome our new family member to the world.’

Looks like early days yet.

The couple married in June 2019. He is 38, she 26.

Stephen Kovacevich gave a Covid-rules recital last night to mark his 80th birthday.

Radio France has published a list of forthcoming concerts which start anywhere between 2.30 pm and 6.30 to meet the curfew hour of 9pm.

The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées starts at 6 or 6.30. The Philharmonie de Paris has moved to 6.30.

And no going out to dinner afterwards.

The singer and actor Ilana Rovina has died on Covid while receiving treatment for cancer. She was 86.

The daughter of Hanna Rovina, one of the founders of Habimah theatre, she studied voice in Milan.

Her biggest hit:

It’s Lola.

Donald Trump’s favourite pianist is back.

And she’s soaked right through.

Thank goodness she’s safe.

But those pedals will be shot.

From the Lebrecht Album of the Week:

You’ll often hear me telling people a couple of generations down the line that they should listen to new music of our time rather than Beethoven and Mahler, which they will enjoy better once they are in their 50s. Can’t say I’ve made many converts. All the usual excuses: get home from work, make supper, put the kids to bed, veg out on the sofa, no concentration left for the squeaks and squawks of contemporary composers.

Yeah, been there, done that. But I’m not giving up trying to persuade younger people to listen to the new. Wrap your ears, for instance, around …..

Read on here in Ludwig Van Toronto.

And in The Critic.

In French on scena.org.

In Spanish.

And in Czech.

The Lebrecht Album of the Week appears every week in four major languages.

Musicians of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra, who have been upaid since April 1 this year, say 30 percent of their number can no longer afford to live in the New York area and are seeking new lives elsewhere.

Peter Gelb, the Met general manager, has said he will only pay the musicians if they agree to radically reduced rates.

Federal support for the musicians is non-existent.

The musicians have commissioned a study with Princeton University on the safety of singing opera during Covid-19. It’s a work in progress, but the virus is not going away any time soon. We’ll keep you posted.