PADEREWSKI: Manru

Known for his virtuosity as a pianist, Ignacy Paderewski (1860-1941) is also known as a composer. While most of his works involve piano, he left a single opera, Manru, a three-act work that he composed between 1892 and 1901.

La Monnaie’s Foccroulle Updates Image, Dreams of Almodovar

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000088&sid=a8NP0HLAjMvI&refer=culture#

SALLINEN: Barabbas Dialogues

Two of Finlandís greatest artistic luminariesócomposer Aulis Sallinen (b. 1935) and poet Lassi Nummi (b. 1928)ócame together to produce a fine new work, The Barabbas Dialogues (2004), which has been recently recorded and released on CD on the CPO label.

Music for the End of Time

http://www.thenation.com/docprem.mhtml?i=20060213&s=schiff

Mozart Rules From Salzburg to Santiago

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/26/AR2006012601302.html?nav=rss_artsandliving/entertainmentnews

Watching the Master Emerge, Circa 2006

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/arts/music/salzburg-journal.html?8dpc

Fleming’s Sudden Departure Raises Questions

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/arts/music/salzburg-journal.html?8dpc

BRITTEN: Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings etc.

In an era where new studio recordings by major orchestras have dwindled to a pathetic dribble, leaving many fine institutions to start their own in-house labels, the Berlin Philharmonic still has an active contract with a major company (its conductorís label of many years, EMI) and releases come on a regular basis. A recent one features some of Benjamin Brittenís great work for instruments and tenor.

Norma in Munich ó Two Reviews

Bellini’s Norma is the story of a love triangle involving Norma, the Druid high priestess, Pollione, the Roman proconsul and father of Norma’s two children, and Adalgisa, a Druid acolyte and Pollione’s new conquest whom he intends to take to Rome. The role of Norma is generally considered one of the most difficult in opera literature. Few have succeeded in mastering it. Now Edita Gruberova, has taken on the role at the Bayerische Staatsoper. Here are two reviews.

Mozart at Lincoln Center ó Three Reviews

Earlier this week, Sir John Eliot Gardiner led the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique and the Monteverdi Choir in two immortal Mozart works: the C-minor Mass and the Requiem, followed by an evening of Mozart’s orchestral works. Here are three reviews.