Category: music

“The north-west London zebra crossing traversed by the Beatles one bright morning 41 years ago” – for the cover photo on their album “Abbey Road” – “has has been granted Grade II listing” by the UK Heritage Minister.

“Renowned Czech conductor Jiri Belohlavek is to take over as the new chief conductor at the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2012.” The 64-year-old, currently chief conductor at the BBC Symphony, will be taking the reins of a greatly admired ensemble which has suffered several years of major political upheaval.

“Jorge Mester’s contract as music director with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra will end at the completion of the 2011-12 season.” Last May, Mester left the same job (under disputed circumstances) at the Pasadena Symphony, which nearly went bankrupt in 2009; he also holds the music directorship of the Louisville Orchestra, which declared bankruptcy earlier this month.

Editor James Inverne: “I’m afraid the ‘we’re Brits waving the flag’ charge is a red herring. Our jury included judges from (deep breath) Russia, Germany, America, Brazil and Australia as well as the U.K. and even the non-British judges tended to vote overwhelmingly for British choirs.”

The Facebook-based campaign to push a rock-n-roll cover of John Cage’s silent masterwork to the number one spot on the UK pop charts for Christmas was a bust: sales were only 16,000 units, putting the track at no. 21.

“Not long ago this essential company, grappling with accumulated financial problems, came close to going under. Though things are still dicey, Mr. Steel has brought renewed energy and vision to the company.”

“After years spent building spectacular, state-of-the art opera houses in major metropolises and unheralded backwaters, China is experiencing a boom in opera production, opera education and original opera creation.”

“The sites were shut over the Thanksgiving weekend as part of ‘Operation In Our Sites,’ a crackdown on 82 domains, or Web addresses, suspected of copyright infringement and selling counterfeit handbags, sunglasses and other consumer goods. The investigation is continuing. Unlike most previous similar government crackdowns, the domains were seized with no warning.”

“The challenges are huge. Classical music is a centuries- old form steeped in tradition, and change doesn’t come easily. Some people in the field are uncomfortable with even the mention of coolness and classical music in the same sentence.”

“Eight of 49 full-time musicians will be on unpaid leave come January, with some pursuing careers outside music or seeking positions with other orchestras.”