A former Presbyterian church that stopped services during Covid has been confirmed as the new home of the Ulster Orchestra.
The orchestra has received £268,000 from the Foyle Foundation, a charity created by the owners of the London bookshop. Additional money is coming from the National Lottery and Belfast City Council.
The Townsend Street church, its former school and Memorial Hall will undergo extensive renovation over several years.
The fabulous Portuguese singer Misia died in Lisbon of cancer last week. She was 69.
Portugal’s Culture Minister Dalila Rodrigues called her ‘a fundamental voice in the renewal of fado’.
This is what we’ll miss.
Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin has renewed hi contract at the Metropolitan Opera until 2030.
There was never any doubt that he would.
General manager Peter Gelb said, ‘The Met is very fortunate to have one of the world’s greatest conductors as its Music Director and is even more fortunate to now have him on board through the 2029–30 season. His extraordinary achievements to date with both new works and classic repertoire are a preview of what is to come. Yannick’s tenure will be defined, in part, by the new Ring cycle that is created under his watch. My job is to deliver a new Ring to Yannick that has the potential to be one for the ages in terms of casting and production. With Yannick conducting, Lise Davidsen as Brünnhilde, and Yuval Sharon directing, the possibilities are unlimited.’
Gelb has also confirmed a new Ring cycle, directed by Yuval Sharon, starring Lise Davidsen as Brünnhilde.
Church sources report that Ian Keatley, director of music at Southwark Cathedral, has collapsed and died while on holiday. Ian was 42.
Message from Southwark Cathedral:
An announcement regarding our Director of Music.
It is with great sadness that today we learned the sad news of our dear Ian Keatley’s death. As a Cathedral community we are so deeply shocked and are finding it hard to believe. Our hearts go out to Ian’s family, who were all here at the Cathedral with him just a couple of weeks ago, as proud of him as he of them.
Funeral arrangements will be communicated when they have been decided. In the meantime, please join us in praying for Ian’s loved ones in these difficult days.
Ian was an incredibly talented musician, and he loved his work here at the Cathedral and had many friends. Whilst an Organ Scholar here, from 2002-2004, he founded the Merbecke Choir. After then working at Westminster Abbey Choir School, the Chapel Royal in the Tower of London, and Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, he returned to Southwark five years ago. He absolutely loved choral music and was a passionate and skilled director, as well as a guide and mentor to the choristers. None of us will forget him recently conducting lots of choirs from all over the Diocese for a special diocesan Evensong, filling the nave with beauty and joy. His passion for church music was infectious, and it was a true gift and blessing to our community.
Ian was also a lover of life, a bon vivant, a man whose laughter filled a room, and whose hospitality was legendary. Colourful, stylish, a person of substance and reflection, he loved wine, good food, travel, and his many friends. He also took his faith seriously and understood his choral direction as a vocation, translating our faith into sound. We are all the better for him and all that he gave us. We will miss him deeply.
May Ian rest in peace and love, and rise in glory.
Mark Oakley
Dean
The former opera singer Nikola David has been named as the victim of a violent crime in Augsburg on Friday. Police say there did not appear to be an anti-semitic motivation.
David, who came from Novi Sad in Serbia, sang Tamino at the national theatre in Belgrade, before moving to Germany. From 2000 to 2008, he was a soloist at the opera houses in Augsburg and Dessau.
Then he met a rabbi who persuaded him to train for a career as Germany’s first post-war professional synagogue cantor. At the time of his death, aged 55, Nikola was head cantor of the liberal Jewish community Beth Shalom in Munich and Stuttgart. Charlotte Knobloch, President of the Bavarian Jewish community, wrote: “My thoughts in the midst of this tragedy are with his family. His death marks a painful loss for the Jewish community in Munich.’
The police investigation continues. UPDATE: The victim’s son has been arrested.
The world’s most sought-after dramatic soprano joins me for 45 minutes of hard talk this weekend.
Lise Davidsen discusses her sports career, getting rejected by the best conservatoire, living with a huge instrument … and the wedding she’s planning.
BBC Radio 3. This Saturday at 10pm.
Tune here.
photo: Paul Frankl
English National Opera (ENO) is seeking a Social Media Manager for a full-time, two-year fixed-term contract.
Reporting to the Head of Digital Communications, the role involves creating and managing social media content to engage audiences and promote ENO’s activities across its online platforms. Candidates should have significant experience in social media management, proven success in growing channels, and strong communication skills. An understanding of current social media trends and the ability to adapt content for various audiences are essential.
The role is based at the London Coliseum with potential requirements to work at other ENO sites. The salary ranges from £30,000 to £35,000 per annum, depending on experience. To apply, submit a CV and cover letter to workwithus@eno.org by midday on 9 August 2024.
AI image: Queensland SO
It’s Karajan vs Lenny in the final of the medley.
Want more? Solti gives a masterclass to Dudley Moore:
Chicago psychologist Dr Gerald Stein, in his latest post, recalls his brief encounter with a Dutch conductor of ephemeral fame.
….I looked up at the baton-smith, maybe 10 feet away.
He looked down at me, which can be understood in two ways, both true: I was beneath him and a lowly usher in a crappy uniform who intruded on his art, to boot.
W’s expression was the equivalent of a slap in the face while simultaneously sticking out your tongue. It was the dirtiest look I have ever received.
To call it a sneer sounds too mild. A momentary fit of disgust. His visage displayed contempt as if he were uttering, “What in God’s name are you doing here? Do you know who I am”…
Read the full article here.
Philadelphia Orchestra has just signed Esteban Batallán as principal trumpet, starting next month.
The Spanish virtuoso, 40, has put in five years in the role at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he was recruited by Riccardo Muti.
He sounds pleased: “The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and the entire management team, make for a historic organization unique in its commitment to the musical arts,” said Batallán. “The combination of excellent musical and personal standards make The Philadelphia Orchestra a truly great musical family.” / “La Orquesta de Filadelfia junto a su Director musical y artístico, y toda la pirámide administrativa, hacen de institución histórica que sea única en su compromiso con el arte de la música. La combinación entre excelentes estándares musicales y personales hacen de la Orquesta de Filadelfia una gran familia musical.”
Yannick Nézet-Séguin issued a yelp of triumph: ‘From the first moment I heard Esteban play, I knew he was the perfect match for The Philadelphia Orchestra. This is a historic appointment that will have a generational impact on the sound of the Orchestra. We look forward to welcoming Esteban to our Orchestra family and to experiencing his contributions to our work.’
This is a power play, plain and simple.
Happy birthday to People’s Artist of the USSR, artistic director and principal conductor of the Tchaikovsky Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Fedoseyev.
All round, the best Tchaikovsky conductor of his time.
Certainly in the ballets and operas, arguably in most of the symphonies
He has concerts coming up on September 19 at the Zaryadye Hall and on October 10 at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.
The German-based pianist has pulled out of Wednesday’s Israel Philharmonic concert in Tel Aviv. He was due to play the second Brahms concerto.
According to the orchestra, Levit sends his regrets and says he hopes to return soon. The cancellation may be connected to air traffic issues after Lufthansa pulled all flights from Israel this week in fear of an Iranian attack.
Lahav Shani has replaced the Brahms with Beethoven’s triple concerto in which he will play the piano part and conduct from the keyboard.
