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CMUK: The Pulse of Classical Music! Classical Music UK, part of the MusBook.com network, showcases what's hot in Classical Music right here, right now. Read the latest news as it breaks throughout the day, check out which videos are all the rage on Social Media networks, and enjoy exclusive content from some of the UK's best-loved Classical Musicians!

Robert Tear has died aged 72

 

The death of Welsh tenor Robert Tear was announced today. He was 72.

Tear was a choral scholar at King's College Cambridge, and made his operatic debut in 1966 as Peter Quint in a production by English Opera Group that toured England and Russia. In later years he enjoyed a close association with the Royal Opera and also made regular appearances with the English and Welsh National Opera companies.

Although Tear's musical interests were varied, his name is particularly associated with modern British opera. He sang many of the roles Britten wrote for Peter Pears, including Quint and Achenbach. He also created the role of Dov in Tippett's The Knot Garden.

Tear was awarded an CBE in 1984.

Go Compare man tops classical charts

A new album by Welsh tenor Wynne Evans has entered the UK Classical Charts at number 1. Evans is best known as the moustachioed opera singer "Gio Compario" in the Go Compare car insurance adverts, that have twice been voted the UK's most irritating.

Evans has since signed a six-deal album with Warner. His latest 'A Song in my Heart' is a tribute to Mario Lanza, but also includes 'Over There', the song from the advert.

The Official Chart Company, who compile the classical charts also run a specialist classical chart, which uses various criteria to exclude crossover and compilation albums. Although Dutch violinist André Rieu has dominated both in recent months with his albums of Strauss waltzes, he has also been knocked off the top spot in the specialist chart by an album of music by Alessandro Striggio from I Fagiolini directed by Robert Hollingworth.

Funding cuts force cancellation of Barbirolli Oboe Competition

The Barbirolli International Oboe Festival and Competition, scheduled for March 2012, has been cancelled 'due to the loss of crucial grants'.

The event, which was founded by Lady Evelyn Barbirolli, is a regular fixture in the Isle of Man arts calender. The competition attracts players from as far afield as Australia, China and the United States. However, following the loss of a significant grant from the Isle of Man Arts Council, the decision has been made to cancel next year's event.

Professor George Caird, President of the festival, said in a statement: "'This decision has not been taken lightly, but time has run out to ensure a successful Festival next year. There is every intention that the 2014 Festival will take place and work has already started to bring this about."

V&A Musical Instruments go on display at the Horniman Museum

A new exhibition opens today at the Horniman Museum of musical instruments from the Victoria & Albert Collection. The V&A specialises in objects of elegant design, and the musical instruments are no exception.

Most of the musical instruments date from the 16^th to the 18^th centuries, and many were made for aristocratic patrons. Among the highlights are a 1521 harpsichord, thought to be the earliest surviving named and dated in existence, a Venetian theorbo, and an ornate hurdy-gurdy, the head of which is carved in the shape of a country lady lifting her skirts to reveal the instrument's tuning pegs. There is also a chance to see a 1699 Stradivarius violin.

While at the Horniman, why not visit the museum's own permanent collection of musical instruments. The Horniman has the largest and most diverse musical instrument collection in the country, and the music gallery has around 1,500 instruments on display from cultures all round the world, so there is sure to be something for every musical taste.

 The Horniman Museum (100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ) is open 10.30-5.30 daily. Entrance, including to the Art of Harmony exhibition, is free.

Edinburgh Festival 2011 programme unveiled

The programme for the Edinburgh International Festival 2011 was announced today, and the main theme of this year's event will be connections between Europe and the Far East.

The influence of Shakespeare on Asian drama will be explored in a version of The Tempest by the Mokwha Repertory Company set in 5th century Korea. Taiwanese actor Wu Hsing-Kuo will give a one-man version of The Tempest, while the Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe will be making its UK debut with The Revenge of Prince Zi Dan, loosely based on The Tempest.

The general balance of the festival programme is weighed more in favour of dance than music compared to previous years. Nevertheless, the major musical events will include Rossini's Semiramide from Vlaamse Opera and Strauss' Die Frau ohne Schatten from the Mariinsky in a production directed by Jonathan Kent. There will also be a chance to hear the Philip Glass Ensemble giving a live accompaniment to Godfrey Reggio’s Quatsi film trilogy.

And in an inspired piece of programming, the festival has brought together its increased emphasis on dance, its oriental theme and the Mahler anniversary with Scottish Ballet performing Kenneth MacMillan's Song of the Earth, choreographed to Mahler's music based on ancient Chinese texts.

To see the full programme of the festival, please visit: http://www.eif.co.uk/diary

Fabio Luisi cancels Covent Garden appearances to stand in for Levine at the Met

James Levine has pulled out of further performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and his surprise replacement for one of the productions – Das Rheingold – is Fabio Luisi. It is a surprise for two reasons: firstly, Luisi is not known as a Wagner specialist, and secondly he is already booked for the nights of the two performances to conduct Aida at the Royal Opera in London.

The improbable arrangement is likely to fuel speculation about moves to find a successor for Levine as Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera. He recently stood down as Music Director of the Boston Symphony on health grounds, and he has also cancelled the majority of his planned appearances with the Met for this season. Levine's other cancellation at the Met, La Traviata, will now be covered by Marco Armiliato. Meanwhile, Aida at Covent Garden will be conducted by Daniele Rustioni.

First classical album recorded for plants to grow to

 

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has performed its most unusual recital yet – to a packed auditorium of 
plants.

The three-hour recital in Cadogen Hall, London was performed by a full, 33-member strong orchestra and included Mozart’s famed Symphony Number 40.  The recital was commissioned by shopping channel QVC to test the theory that plants grow better when played classical music.  The unorthodox audience was made up of over 100 different varieties of plants and bulbs including geraniums, fuchsias and perennials.

An album based on the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performance has also been released to inspire budding bulbs and pushy plants to grow more. 

Classical music – and the reverberation of sounds waves – is thought to stimulate protein production in plants which theoretically could lead to increased growth although scientists are divided on the subject. 

 

 

 

UK's longest serving string quartet leader to give concert this Friday

A string quartet concert takes place this Friday (25 March) at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square. The performers will be the Quartet Pro Musica, who have been performing under the leadership of violinist Patrick Halling since 1955.

The quartet was founded by former students of the Royal Academy of Music, and over the years has enjoyed close working relationships with a number of composers, including Sir Michael Tippett. Halling himself, already had nine years of quartet experience when he founded the ensemble. In 1958, when Sir John Barbirolli began his famous tenure at the Hallé Orchestra, Patrick was recommended by LSO conductor Basil Cameron to lead the Manchester orchestra. In the event, he turned down the position in order to concentrate on his chamber work.

On the programme for Friday's concert are the Haydn Sunrise Quartet (Op. 76 no.4), the Schubert Rosamunde (D804) and the Dvořák American Quartet (Op. 96). For more information, please visit:

http://www.concert-diary.com/concert/173703206/Quartet-Pro-Musica

Kasper Holten named next Head of Opera at Covent Garden

The Royal Opera House has announced that Danish director Kasper Holten will take over from Elaine Padmore as Director of Opera at Covent Garden. He will take up the post at the end of the 2011/12 season.

Holten is currently Artistic Director of Danish National Opera, and is best known for his successful Ring cycle in Copenhagen which ran 2003-6.

Although the Royal Opera role is largely administrative, there are plans for Holten to direct productions as well. Tony Hall, Chief Executive of the ROH said in his welcome address that Holten's enthusiasm for broadcasting and digital opera transmission were also important factors in the appointment.

YouTube Symphony Orchestra concert to be webcast live tomorrow morning

 

YouTube Symphony Orchestra mark II is meeting this week in Sydney, and will be giving their grand finale performance at the Opera House on Sunday. The event will be webcast live on YouTube, which for UK viewers means a 9am start.

As with the previous YouTube Symphony Orchestra project, which took place in New York 2009, the Sydney event will be attended by musicians who have applied and been selected via the internet. The orchestra has been rehearsing under Michael Tilson Thomas since Monday. The grand finale performance will include a new work from US composer Mason Bates called Mothership and selections from Stravinsky's Firebird. Their will also be solo turns from violinist Stefan Jackiw, organist Cameron Carpenter and didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton.

For more information, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/symphony