R.I.P. Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021)
Featured Articles and News
Glyndebourne Encore is a new streaming service launching on 1 December
Glyndebourne Encore launches on 1 December 2021
Glyndebourne is launching a new streaming service called Glyndebourne Encore, giving on-demand access to its back catalogue of world-class opera, as well as all future filmed productions.
R.I.P. IN MEMORIAM BERNARD HAITINK (1929–2021)
Seen and Heard International is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Bernard Haitink and reproduces the statements from the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Opera House
The London Symphony Orchestra was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Bernard Haitink, who passed away at the age of 92 on 21 October.
Round-up of the George Enescu Festival 2021
Round-up of the George Enescu Festival 2021
In recent years a biennial event, the George Enescu Festival has been lucky with the coronavirus pandemic: the last festival was held in 2019, six months before the first lockdown. The 25th edition of the festival, held in September 2021, then came along as the vaccines have offered a light at the end of the tunnel, at least for the world’s richest countries. Even with some of these countries being among the most vaccine-hesitant (Romania has the second-lowest vaccination rate in the EU), the festival was able to go ahead with nearly full halls, thanks to a safety concept that mandated the EU digital COVID certificate for entry and the wearing of masks during performances. With these measures in place, the festival ran for four weeks – the longest duration in its history – and saw 78 concerts performed by 3,500 artists in Bucharest, including 32 orchestras from 14 countries.
Roderick Williams and operas by Bernstein, Barber and Mozart delight audiences at Cumbria Opera Festival 2021
Memories of the Cumbria Opera Festival 2021 The Cumbria Opera Group has existed since 2016, with the aim of bringing high-quality opera, classical music, and music education to the fantastic county of Cumbria. For a week in September this year they presented Cumbria’s first ever Opera Festival. It will return in 2023 (26 August to … Read more
Kazuki Yamada is the CBSO’s new Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor from 2023
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra appoints Kazuki Yamada as Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is delighted to announce that Japanese conductor Kazuki Yamada has been appointed as its Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor with effect from 1 April 2023 for an initial four and a half-year period.
Permanence as Pleasure: Rodin at Tate Modern
Permanence as Pleasure: Rodin at Tate Modern
Advanced in his career, Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) went to see the Hellenic (Greek and Roman) sculptures in the British Museum. Those which had been broken spoke most powerfully to him. So much so that he returned to his workshop and immediately broke some of his own sculptures. Their so-called message increased. Critics and friends agreed.
The San Diego Symphony’s Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is open for music lovers and those who just want a great view
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is the first permanent open-air performance venue in the San Diego Symphony’s century-long history. With world-class acoustics, video screens and broadband streaming capabilities, this state-of-the-art facility is designed to host more than a hundred concerts and events annually. It is situated in the 3.7-acre Jacobs Park on the city’s … Read more