October 24, 2020 - Slippedisc

Press release:

Fifty years have passed since Maestro Riccardo Muti last conducted the Teatro Massimo Orchestra. It was the beginning of his brilliant career when he stepped on the podium of the theatre’s orchestra for two concerts, the second one featuring Maurizio Pollini as soloist. The illustrious conductor will be back on Friday, 4 December, and Saturday, 5 December, at 8:30pm, to present the Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi with the Orchestra and Choir of the Fondazione Teatro Massimo and soloists Joyce El-Khoury, Martina Belli, Saimir Pirgu and bass Riccardo Zanellato.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is being held in near-prison conditions on Lantau Island after one player tested positive for Covid-19.

From the South China Morning Post:

They have been placed in the same section of the 1,080-room camp, each minimally furnished room the size of a standard shipping container. Jamming and group rehearsals are banned, obviously, given that nobody can leave their own rooms. But most musicians with smaller instruments have been trying to keep up with their daily practising habits…

For example, the first associate concertmaster and violinist Leung Kin-fung is woken up every morning around 3am because that is when the fire alarm system is tested, every day, and there is an alarm just outside his door. Some musicians who play larger instruments were banned from bringing them because the rooms are so small; a number of people were scalded by water that was too hot in the shower; and there is no Wi-fi.

One player who preferred to remain nameless says the food is “horrific” and that some colleagues had chosen to fast or just eat boiled eggs.

More here.

The Greek conductor is baseless since removing his Music Aeterna ensemble from the Russian city of Perm.

He has just accepted a February residency in Lucerne, but he’s looking for more in Moscow, Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Lucerne, New York, Tokyo and London.

Any offers?