Intermezzo

Newly-discovered Mozart performed in Salzburg (with video)

Earlier today, two newly-discovered piano pieces by Mozart were performed in Salzburg. It is believed he wrote them at the age of 7 or 8.

Research by the International Mozarteum Foundation revealed that the works, previously thought to be anonymous, were in the writing of Mozart's father Leopold. However the compositional style and the number of technical mistakes suggest that Leopold was merely transcribing the noodlings of his gifted son.

Sadly (and predictably) they're not anything special, but it's still fascinating to see what a prodigy could turn out at an age when most kids are still struggling with their C-major scales.

Video from CBS News (includes conversation with researcher and performance of the pieces):

Stop Press!!! Netrebko and Hvorostovsky cancel tomorrow's Royal Festival Hall gig

I knew it was too good to be true.

This is the sicknote email I just received:

Dear patron,
We are sorry to announce that Anna Netrebko is suffering from influenza and has today withdrawn from the concert at the Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday 19 May 2009. At such short notice, it has not been possible to offer an alternative programme with Dmitri Hvorostovsky, the Philharmonia Orchestra and Ion Marin, and so regretfully, the performance tomorrow will not take place. We are working to identify an alternative date for the concert in the future months.

Aaaaargh!!!

Classical Brits - the edited lowlights

Classical Brits - Royal Albert Hall, 14 May 2009

Well, I have survived my first (and probably last) Classical Brits. The things I'll sit through for five minutes of Jonas Kaufmann.

Onr of the low points came early on. A scratchily-amplified Plácido competing with caterwauling Jenkins. Words by the Pope (the ex-goalie, not the ex-Nazi), tune forgettable. Waste of a tenor.

 

David Mellor gassed on for an eternity before presenting Sir Charles Mackerras with an award for his Mozart CD.

 

Lang Lang bashed out Chopin's 'Heroic' Polonaise in crowd-pleasing style.

 

 

............ oh yus, there's more of this stuff............

 

Royal Opera House new season - more details

A little more information about next season emerged at last night's Covent Garden Friends' preview.

Firstly and importantly, Tony Hall confirmed that prices are definitely not going up next season (which contradicts the press conference report of three-monthly 'reviews' - so who knows).

The one exception may be Barry Domingo's Simon Boccanegra in summer 2010, which could be singled out for premium rates. This production gets some heavyweight pimping, including a (free!) Big Screen showing and community activities (mainly in the North). Why, they've even given Barry his own web page. As reported in the press, Plácido/Barry has no Covent Garden bookings any further ahead. So it could be our last chance to experience the Domingo magic on stage. But don't we say that every year?

There will again be various cinema screenings, but few will be live. Details are not finalised, but check here for updates.

There are no new operas in the main house this season because the policy is only one every other year. (2010-11's Anna Nicole Smith project has already been announced). Elaine Padmore did publicly confirm that "three or four" were in the pipeline though.

On a smaller scale, there's the Opera Shots programme of new opera in the Linbury next June. Orlando Gough is the only composer named in the press release, but Jocelyn Pook, Nitin Sawnhey and Neil Hannon have also been approached.

Another Linbury show not in the press release is an Opera Group production in July 2010, likely to be The Lion's Face by Elena Langer. (The OperaGenesis website lists new Linbury projects in development).

Bank manager nicks Dame Kiri's pension

The Mercury News reports a California bank manager has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling more than $650,000 from Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

Investigators became suspicious of bank manager Sokvoeun "Cindy" Sou after Dame Kiri's financial adviser spotted unauthorized withdrawals from her retirement account. The checks were made out to Sou's family members.

So it's not just British banks you can't trust......

More here.

Royal Opera House ticket prices to be raised every three months

Well, what Reuters actually says after this morning's ROH press conference is that prices will be *reviewed* every three months. Call me cynical, but we all know what that means. If they can get away with it they will.