Category: News
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Central, vital, and gone
News out on Twitter this evening that classical music PR Dvora Lewis has died. For the majority the name probably won’t mean anything. And to a subsection of that majority to even highlight her departure is evidence of the classical music sector’s aching insularity. But. The reason to flag her departure is because of the…
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Jess Gillam’s third Virtual Scratch Orchestra set to record Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride
News this week that Jess Gillam is launching another lockdown virtual scratch orchestra brought a smile to my face. As role models go Gillam’s activity throughout 2020 in response to COVID has been impressive, acting as a beacon for young musicians and amateurs alike. That along with her obvious industry, determination and spirit, not only…
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Being in amongst the tribe
It has been quite a day. There was occasion (much-missed these past few months); an unexpected shared sense of purpose; a sense of personal responsibility; and possibly even a feeling of vindication too. I suspect I’m a bit of a shit journalist. That’s what I thought when I headed back from the freelance musicians demonstration…
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Bell Music to close
That Bell Music has continued for so long is testament to their spirit. We will no doubt see Mike Bell pop up somewhere or other. Consider this an early warning for similarly saddening announcements to come.
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Levit, Malta, and the 6 month thing
I’ve been listening to Igor Levit’s Gramophone category winning album of Beethoven piano sonatas A LOT this week. Hitherto Beethoven’s creations for the keyboard have presented themselves as a marathon to get through. This week they’ve made sense of the world. They’ve also been things I’ve wanted to return to like a snack in the…
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Peckham. Handel. London Handel Festival.
News started dribbling in at first and it was tantalising. Then there was a steady flow of news about concerts and recordings, and then things started to feel like a bit more normal. Every press release after that the presented itself like a mini launch event for the BBC Proms. Like this: DJ Nico Bentley…
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Aurora Orchestra’s principal flute and Creative Director Jane Mitchell wins RPS ABO Salomon Prize
Congratulations to Aurora Orchestra’s principal flute and Creative Director Jane Mitchell who was last night awarded with the Royal Philharmonic Society and Association of British Orchestras Salomon Prize, celebrating an orchestral musicians achievements as nominated by the orchestra they work for. One of those awards you see announced you end up thinking to yourself, “Well,…
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London Philharmonic Orchestra to play concerts in Royal Festival Hall 30 September – 30 December
Always nice to start the day with an invigorating press release. This from the London Philharmonic Orchestra announcing their concert schedule for the rest of the year offers a little bit of hope and possibly even excitement. All thirteen concerts will be streamed via Marquee.TV which if you’ve got one of a range of Connected…
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Nicola Benedetti, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and Sir Simon Rattle speak to DCMS’ Oliver Dowden about the needs of UK orchestras post-lockdown
Sir Simon Rattle to DCMS’ Oliver Dowden: “We are poised and ready for collaboration, to urgently save our industry and its thousands and thousands of jobs.” I read Sir Simon Rattle’s Times interview first thing on Sunday morning in bed as soon as I woke up. Take it from me this is not the best…
