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The London Symphony Orchestra performs in Trafalgar Square
The pigeons of Trafalgar Square rightly had their feather ruffled when they had to make way for the musicians of the London Symphony Orchestra. The musicians, who were looking very cool gave their first open air concert in Trafalgar Square, with their conductor Valery Gergiev. Here’s the link to the gallery: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/gallery/2012/may/15/lso-trafalgar-square-concert#/?picture=390137981&index=2
Australia Council update
Arts Minister Simon Crean has made two new appointments to the Australia Council for the Arts as a review calls for its reform: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/how-to-finance-a-cultural-utopia/story-e6frg8n6-1226362737526 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/appointments-follow-a-review-of-the-australia-council/story-e6frg8n6-1226362844473
The ANU School of Music contoversy continues
The conroversy continues over Professor Adrian Walter’s appointment to the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts: http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=37ddbd1435657310VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong+Kong&s=News
Hot off the press….
More background on David Robertson, who will take over as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Sydney Symphony from 2014: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/boulez-protege-has-a-postromantic-perspective-20120515-1yp2t.html http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/buried-treasures-to-be-unearthed-after-orchestra-passes-the-baton-20120515-1yp2u.html http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/new-sso-chief-strikes-right-notes/story-e6frg8n6-1226356619844
David Robertson to lead the Sydney Symphony from 2014
There is tremendous excitement at the announcement by the Sydney Symphony that American conductor David Robertson will be its Chief Conductor and Artistic Director from 2014 succeeding the much loved Vladimir Ashkenazy. David Robertson has a string of impressive orchestral appointments to his name having been Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony since 2005…
George Benjamin – a composer with a story to tell
Later this year, Halcyon in collaboration with Sydney Chamber Opera presents the Australian premiere of Into the Little Hill, by British composer George Benjamin (b 1960). Benjamin has a substantial contemporary output. He has worked with Messiaen and Boulez and his opera Written on Skin premieres at Covent Garden next year. He speaks to Alan…
Latest reviews
…and another review
Murray Black reviews the same performance (SSO/Mahler 2) for The Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/epic-conclusion-to-brilliant-cycle/story-fn9d2mxu-1226205361821
Mahler2/SSO:’A thrilling valediction’
Peter McCallum reviews the opening night performance of Mahler’s Symphony No 2 ‘Resurrection’ by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra with soprano Emma Matthews, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung and the Sydney Philhamonia Choirs, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/a-rich-and-brooding-farewell-to-majestic-mahler-odyssey-20111124-1nwtb.html The performance is repeated on Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Monday 28th November, with a live broadcast on ABC Classic…