EXCLUSIVE: Classicalite Q&A with André "King of the Waltz" Rieu >>
By now, we all know André Rieu. That exceptional Dutch violinist and impresario who has made a name for himself, near literally, as the, quote, "King of the Waltz." However, if you've somehow not yet had the pleasure to take in all that maestro Rieu and his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra (founded 1987) are about, you're in luck, indeed. This Tuesday, October 20, all that musicianship and magic that was on stage for Rieu and band's one-night-only "2015 Maastricht Concert" is coming to movie theaters all across this country.
Lang Lang Plays Mozart, Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conducts Strauss for Philadelphia's Season Opener at Kimmel Center >>
The Philadelphia Orchestra, under the baton on music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, will kick off its 2014-15 season with superstar pianist Lang Lang in the Verizon Hall at Kimmel Center. The three-day run will begin on Friday, September 26 at 8 p.m.
Joan Rivers' Top Ten Operas Found on Twitter: Includes Puccini, Bellini, Strauss >>
Entitled “Joan Rivers Comedienne,” what lies below is a top ten list of operas.
Classicalite's Five Best: Opera Films >>
A dying art? James Inverne picks five of the best cinematic opera adaptations.
Classicalite's Five Best: Unsurpassed Recordings >>
There are some, very rare, instances where a recording of a work is so special as to generally be considered--well, definitive is probably the wrong word, as any masterpiece is open to so many interpretations, but at least they are unlikely to be unsurpassed.
Sir Mark Elder Further Commits to Hallé Orchestra, Until 2020 >>
Some conductors--or, for that matter, orchestras--have commitment issues. Not so Sir Mark Elder, one of the U.K.'s most successful maestros. His tenure leading English National Opera (the so-called "powerhouse" regime alongside Peter Jonas and David Poutney) lasted for some 14 years. And now, he has signed a contract extension with the Hallé Orchestra that will keep him at the helm of the Manchester-based ensemble until at least 2020.
Dame Felicity Lott Closes a Chapter at Wigmore Hall >>
Dame Felicity Lott, one of the great sopranos of our time, is about to bow out as a solo recitalist. Her performance at Wigmore Hall tomorrow, always a favorite venue for her, will be her farewell.
CALLED IT: Kent Nagano Re-Ups at Montréal Symphony Orchestra >>
No surprise that the Montreal Symphony Orchestra's announcement of music director Kent Nagano's contact renewal says very early on, "Since its association with Maestro Nagano, the OSM has consolidated its standing among leading North American orchestras..." In this case, though, there's little doubt about the release's honesty. It's pretty well bang on.
UPDATE: Stream Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Riccardo Muti's Verdi Bicentennial Concert >>
UPDATE: The concert is streaming live at www.cso.org/verdi and on the CSO's Facebook page.
Veni, Vidi, Verdi: Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Riccardo Muti Celebrate the Composer's Bicentennial >>
This season of notable composer anniversaries continues with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's tribute to Verdi's 200th anniversary over the next four weeks, starting with their season-opening concert at Symphony Center on Thursday.
Classicalite's Five Best: Sir Simon Rattle Recordings >>
With the reports that Sir Simon Rattle will be taking over the London Symphony Orchestra will inevitably come a renewed surge of attention around the British maestro. If you only have time or cash for a handful of his recordings, these five--in no particular order--give a fabulous introduction to his art...
Movie Scores with Live Orchestras Flood the Festivals and Halls of New York, Chicago, Indiana and Virginia >>
More and more U.S. orchestras are playing famous movie scores while the movie is shown above. But is this a positive or negative development in symphonic music?
London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus to Pay Tribute to Late Conductor Sir Colin Davis at Barbican Hall >>
Following the sad news of the death of Sir Colin Davis on April 14, today, the London Symphony Orchestra announced that the two closing concerts of the LSO's season--on June 16 and 18 in Barbican Hall (which Davis was due to conduct)--will now be a tribute to the orchestra's former president, principal conductor and great friend.
