Click here for the recent Gramophone article on John Andrews’s recording of Ethel Smyth’s Der Wald

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music? I would say at first it was Julie Andrews who inspired me, I went to see The Sound of Music and that was it! At first I wanted to be a nun (I was eleven at the time) but then realized it was the other thing… to be in theatre with singing. I distinctly remember at an even younger.

During lockdown Augustin Viard composed a soundtrack for the 1928 silent film “The Fall of the House of Usher” (La Chute de la Maison Usher) by legendary French filmmaker Jean Epstein. Augustin’s plan was to perform the soundtrack on the ondes Martenot live for a cinema screening. The Fall of the House of Usher based on the 1839 Gothic short story by Edgar Allan Poe was described as one of.

For many years, the Heidelberg Lied Academy has been a location for those eager to engage with the art song from a wider perspective. Under Thomas Hampson’s leadership, outstanding teachers, singers, pianists, theatre directors and Lied experts come and go, open classes vouchsafe fascinating glimpses of the Lied cosmos and reveal the quality of the young singers from all over the world.

A rare chance to study with one of Ireland’s most distinguished performers in the idyllic surroundings of the wine region of Burgundy. This summer violinist Fionnuala Hunt is launching a series of Violin Masterclasses in the village of Santenay, France from Monday 22nd July to Saturday 27th July. The classes are being offered to interested students on a first come, first served basis up to a maximum of 10 participants..

DIE KUNST ZU TRÄUMEN (The Art to Dream) is the theme of the 2019 Classic con Brio Festival in Osnabruck which runs from 8-17 March in Germany.
At the Classic con Brio Festival, the focus is on musical quality and artistic sincerity.

Happy Birthday to Owen White Management which opened its doors 28 years ago this week. Founders John Owen and Trudy White started the company with a list that included pianist Martin Jones and soprano Mary Plazas who are still both current OWM artists. During this time OWM has been privileged to manage some distinguished names such as Charles Rosen, Franco Gulli, Martyn Hill and Wolfgang Holzmair, and is now championing.

Continuing the critical acclaim of the recording of Arthur Sullivan’s Oratorio ‘Light of the World,’ BBC Music Magazine rates the new CD Choral Disc of the Month. Critic George Hall awards 5 stars to the performance and 5 stars to the recording of this ‘almighty revival of Arthur Sullivan’s biblical oratorio.’ He writes “Conductor John Andrews does an excellent job, bringing constant motion to the score and drawing refined playing.

The premiere recording of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s forgotten oratorio, The Light of the World, with John Andrews conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus and an impressive line up of soloists, was released in December on the Dutton Epoch label. Since then the recording has been receiving extensive online and national press coverage. John Andrews was interviewed on BBC Radio 3 In Tune on 21 December, with Sean.

Ondes Martenot player Augustin Viard is rapidly becoming known as one of the leading players of his generation, and for bringing together eclectic contemporary styles. An unusual programme devised for France Culture ‘In the head of Ingmar Bergman’ with organist Sarah Kim was broadcast in December. Produced to commemorate the centenary of the birth of the legendary Swedish filmmaker this podcast explores the music from and inspired by Bergman’s films..

Daniel Pioro Debut Album Release February 2019

Susan Platts made her Royal Opera House debut as Third Lady in Tom Guthrie’s revival of David McVicar’s production of Die Zauberflöte on 12 September 2017.  The photo shows her with Roderick Williams, Angela Simkin and Rebecca Davies. For further information please click here

Recent graduate of the National Opera Studio, tenor Joseph Doody, has joined Owen White Management. His repertoire includes roles from the bel canto tradition, particularly Rossini, as well as Albert Herring and Tom Rakewell.

Louise Winter has been singing with Opera Holland Park for the first time as the dipsomaniac mother of Leoncavallo’s Zazà in Marie Lambert’s production. The final performance is on Saturday 29 July. For further details click here

David Cohen commissioned Cheryl Frances-Hoad to write a concerto for cello and ten instruments, and Katharsis received it’s first performance at the Spitalfields Festival in 2013 with members of the Rambert Orchestra conducted by Paul Hoskins. The work is featured on a new CD of the composer’s works from Champs Hill Records. For further information click here

Wolfgang Holzmair is currently a member of the Jury for Cardiff Singer of the World 2017, with all rounds of the competition being broadcast by the BBC.  The Final takes place on Sunday 18 June at 19.30. For further information click here

Glyndebourne has announced the appointment of Nicholas Jenkins as its new Chorus Master from 4 September 2017.  For further information click here

Following on from her performances earlier this month of Mahler’s Symphony No 3 with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and Kindertotenlieder, programmed in Scott Brubaker’s arrangement with horn and piano, at St John’s Smith Square, the British born Canadian mezzo, Susan Platts, will perform Mahler’s Symphony No 2 in Halle, Germany for two performances on 18 and 19 June. For further details click here

Cynthia Millar performs the important solo ondes Martenot part that Thomas Adès has written especially for her in his opera The Exterminating Angel which opens at the Royal Opera House on 24 April for six performances. For further details click here.  After the premiere performances at the Salzburg Festival last summer Alex Ross writing in The New Yorker said “Cynthia Millar’s playing of the ondes was so acutely expressive that.

The UK’s National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) recently announced the appointment of John Andrews as Principal Guest Conductor. He will hold this position for an initial period of three years. The announcement follows his performance with the Orchestra at Westminster Central Halls last summer. As Principal Guest Conductor, he will conduct both recording sessions and live concerts across a wide range of repertoire and styles. For further information please contact Libby.

Mary Plazas as the Duchess in Powder Her Face. Antony MacDonald’s production was first seen at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, then on tour with Irish National Opera,and recently for Nevill Holt Opera. Rupert Christiansen gave the production 5 stars “At the epicentre, is Mary Plazas as the Duchess. In a truly great piece of operatic acting, she makes this paper monster of egocentricity absurd yet pitiable in her delusions and.

Wyn Pencarreg sang the role of Sourin in David Alden’s production of The Queen of Spades which opened on Saturday 6 June 2015. Edward Gardner and the ENO Orchestra and Chorus received glowing reviews. The excellent cast also included OWM artist Peter Van Hulle singing the roles of Master of Ceremonies and Chaplitsky.