Andris Nelsons Extends Contract with Boston Symphony Orchestra Through 2022 >>
Earlier this year, a fake tweet by Lang Lang had people believing that Andris Nelsons would lead the Berlin Philharmonic. However, the tweet was a hoax and the Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor has extended his five-year deal and additional 2 years to carry him through 2022.
Berlin Philharmonic Introduces Kirill Petrenko, New Chief Conductor, Via Website >>
The Berlin Philharmonic's newly appointed chief conductor, Kirill Petrenko, has already had to deal with anti-Semitic abuse over his new position. While he remains tight-lipped on all matters, the orchestra has taken the opportunity to introduce their new leader via a free website.
Jewish Conductor Kirill Petrenko Greeted with Anti-Semitism in Germany Appointment >>
Having been appointed to the Berlin Philharmonic beginning September 2018, Kirill Petrenko has expressed his enthusiasm for taking over a most astounding symphony. However, his enthusiasm was met with anti-Semitism on Northern German Radio (NDR) and other German news outlets.
Berlin Philharmonic Elects Kirill Petrenko of Bavarian State Opera to Chief Conductor >>
With the Berlin Philharmonic's chief conductor position still outstanding, it appears a decision has finally been reached. As of Monday, Russian-born conductor and music director of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Kirill Petrenko, will take the reigns and succeed Simon Rattle.
Lang Lang Tweets Congratulations to Boston's Andris Nelsons for Landing Berlin Philharmonic Gig >>
Perhaps a tweet misfire, Chinese pianist Lang Lang may have misspoke when he congratulated Andris Nelsons on his appointment with the Berlin Philharmonic. The orchestral world's own pope-naming, maybe, but we've been on our haunches awaiting the announcement regarding Berlin's forthcoming maestro. Having been delayed a handful of times only to result in a hung jury, it appears that the suits in Germany are milking the tension.
Simon Rattle Named Music Director of London Symphony Orchestra >>
After months of speculation, it has been announced that Sir Simon Rattle has been appointed the new music director of the London Symphony Orchestra starting in 2017.
Claude Frank, Pianist and Interpreter of Beethoven, Dead at 89 >>
Timeless American pianist Claude Frank, one of the greatest interpreters of Beethoven, died in his home in Manhattan Saturday, Dec. 27, three days after his 89th birthday. The cause of death is said to be complications due to dementia, according to his daughter, Pamela Frank, a violinist and his only immediate survivor. Frank was born in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1925. His family, which was Jewish, moved to Paris once the Nazis came to power, and it was there where he studied at the Paris Conservatory. As the political situation in Europe worsened, he escaped by way of a hide-out in the Pyrenees Mountains and then Lisbon, where, with help from the Brazilian embassy, he made it to the United States. Frank studied under Austrian-born master Artur Schnabel in New York in the 1940s, but his studies were interrupted by military service. He became an American citizen in 1944. As a performer, He concentrated on the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms, but Frank was not only a world-renowned performer. As a teacher, whose students included veteran figures like Richard Goode and rising artists like Benjamin Hochman, he was encouraging of a wide-ranging repertory, including contemporary music.
Simon Rattle and Berlin Philharmoniker to Break Up, Expected to Make New Appointment Come May 2015 >>
From the mouth of Norman Lebrecht and "several trustworthy sources," the Berlin Philharmonic, apparently, wants to get on with making an appointment. Simon Rattle, though, will remain music director until the summer of 2018.
Lincoln Center's 'White Light Festival' Opens October 7 at Drill Hall with Simon Rattle, Berlin Phil, Peter Sellars in Bach >>
Lincoln Center's White Light Festival has come a long way from its inception in 2010. A spiritual journey inward, the festival returns this season with a similar imagination.
Baby Booming: Berlin Philharmonic Appoints Youngest Trumpeter to Date, Florian Pichler, at 18 Years Old >>
If appointing musicians to orchestras was like the NFL draft, then perhaps the Berlin Philharmonic just lucked out on a first-round rookie with it's new 18 year-old Austrian trumpeter, Florian Pichler.
Top Pittsburgh Symphony Violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley Picked as New Berlin Philharmonic Concertmaster >>
After three seasons in the first violin stand of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley is leaving the Steel City to become concertmaster for perhaps the world's most prestigious orchestra--the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Classicalite's Five Best: Facebook Musical Moments >>
But it has become so omnipresent in so many of our lives, in so many aspects of our existence, that it seemed only fair and right to compile Classicalite's Five Best classical music Facebook moments...
Berlin Philharmonic's Sir Simon Rattle, Age 60, Fathers Yet Another Child >>
Rattle, 60, already has two sons--Sacha and Eliot--from his first marriage to American soprano Elise Ross. His latest marriage to Czech mezzo-soprano, Magdalena Kožená, brought two more boys--Jonas and Milos. And now, another Rattle will soon enter rank.
GRAMMY: Lang Lang Mixes Prokofiev, Bartók with Rock 'n' Roll, Hip-Hop >>
The Chinese piano superstar has a very different take on the classical masters.
Classicalite's Top 10 of 2013: James Inverne on the Headlines >>
Any year brings its share of joy, sadness, triumphs, tragedies and just plain weirdnesses. We journalists are there to document them all. And yet we enjoy a good story, or feel emotion at a heart-wrenching one, as much as anyone, so in looking back at 2013 these are what spring to mind. At a time of political and economic upheaval (for all that various experts speak of an economic recovery starting to take hold), sadly many of the ones that ran and ran are of a rather melancholy vein.
