News
Need a Requiem? Ask a busy man
5+ hour, 14+ min ago (76+ words) The Cleveland Orchestra has called in Klaus M'kel', music director of four other orchestras, to conduct its April 23, 25, and 26 performances of Britten's War Requiem at Severance Music Center. He replaces Daniel Harding who "is indisposed for family reasons'. A new…...
Dear Alma, Why can't I be concertmaster?
3+ day, 11+ hour ago (179+ words) From our agony aunt's mailbag: My question is if I can ask my orchestra director to put me concertmaster instead of second chair first violin. I am still clearly a stronger violinist and feel that I deserve a chance at…...
How many symphonies changed the world? Not more than 10
5+ day, 5+ hour ago (95+ words) From my new essay in The Critic: Jean Sibelius described his symphonies as "clear, cold water. Others, he said, "manufactured cocktails of every hue and description. Gustav Mahler, a cocktail man, responded that the symphony must contain everything. Each man…...
Italian pianist goes to US prison
1+ week, 1+ day ago (154+ words) The concert pianist Filippo Gorini has initiated a tour of jails in the US to play for inmates. Oregon is the only state that gave him permission. Gorini played at Eastern Oregon Correctional Facility on March 13 and at Coffee Creek…...
Boston showdown: Chad Smith pleads for a rebuild of trust
1+ week, 5+ day ago (216+ words) The Boston Symphony CEO, facing an orchestra that has unanimously tejected his sacking of music director Andris Nelsons, is trying out a softer line in an interview with the Globe. In his first extensive remarks since the dismissal of conductor…...
A $20 million gift buys Curtis a new teaching organ
2+ week, 1+ day ago (246+ words) The Curtis Institute of Music will premiere its new 100 RANK pipe organ next Tuesday in Field Concert Hall. Designed by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders of Lake City, Iowa, it replaces the 1941 Aeolian-Skinner organ and has a dedicated auxiliary console solely…...
Who'd have thought? Stockhausen for 6 year-olds
3+ week, 3+ day ago (146+ words) Hamburg, 16 March 2026 " Stockhausen for Children: Michael's Journey invites young audiences from age 6 and their families to an extraordinary musical expedition at the Hamburg State Opera. In collaboration with the University of Music and Theatre Hamburg, the opera stabile is transformed…...
Ex-Berlin Phil principal opts for California
4+ week, 2+ day ago (89+ words) The Swiss soloist S'bastian Jacot has been named principal flute of Camerata Pacifica, an international ensemble based in Santa Barbara. Jacot, 38, was principal flute of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from November 2022 to November 2024 and, before that, of the Gewandhaus Orchestra…...
Oakland: To these shores
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (71+ words) THIS FRIDAY (February 20) at 8: 00pm, the Oakland Symphony at The Paramount (2025 Broadway, Oakland). Tickets priced for all. Slipped Disc readers can enjoy a 25% discount on all other priced tickets with this promotional code: DISC022026 The world-famous Bach conductor Helmut Rilling died today…...
Conductor wins Superbowl on a time-out
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (208+ words) Those who count such things have reported that the Grant Park conductor Giancarlo Guerrero got far more screen time at the Superbowl this week than his colleague Gustavo Dudamel in 2016. Whatever happened to that fellow, Dudamel? Guerrero is presently Music…...