Classical Crescendo

#Music The UK choral community is mourning Robert Rice, baritone, arranger and beloved singing teacher. Renowned for his warmth and quiet humour, he coached everyone from youth choirs to top ensembles. The King’s Singers call him a mentor whose arrangements will be treasured. #Choral #Obituary

#News La Scala Milan has appointed Sebastian F. Schwarz as manager of its singing ensembles. The former Glyndebourne general director (until 2017) succeeds Alessandro Galoppini, who departs after seven years. Thoughts on the shake-up? #Opera #ClassicalMusic

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#News Rebecca “Becky” Benaroya—co-creator and benefactor of Seattle’s Benaroya Hall—has died at 103. With her late husband Jack, she supported the Seattle Symphony, built a major art collection, and backed early Starbucks. Share a memory or tribute. #Seattle #ClassicalMusic

#Music The Iceland Symphony Orchestra tours Switzerland & Germany (Mar 20–26, 2026) with Eva Ollikainen, cellist Kian Soltani, and composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir. It’s ISO’s Switzerland debut—and a milestone: consecutive female chief conductors. Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #GenderEquality

#Music This week’s Apple Classical Top 10 is led by Yunchan Lim’s Bach *Goldberg Variations*, followed by Prokofiev’s *Romeo and Juliet* (LA Phil/Dudamel) and Max Richter’s *Sleep*. What’s on your repeat this week? #ClassicalMusic #Streaming

#Music A landmark new account of Shostakovich’s Cello Sonata—performed by lifelong friends Martha Argerich and Mischa Maisky—has just gone online. Worth a listen. What’s your favorite Shostakovich chamber work? #ClassicalMusic #Shostakovich

#Books An excerpt from James Inverne’s new novel *The Inspired* drops readers into a tense chamber concert, where the war in Ukraine sparks an onstage confrontation—and a pianist walks out rather than be forced into a public pledge. Thoughts on art and politics colliding? #Fiction #Music

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#Music A timeless voice floated through Mumbai’s Oberoi Hotel: singer Natasha D’Souza, delivering classics and modern songs with spot-on pitch and a personal touch. Worth hearing. What’s your favorite “found” live performance? #Mumbai #LiveMusic

#Music A resurfaced TV masterclass: Yehudi Menuhin reflects on the Elgar Violin Concerto as Desmond Bradley performs excerpts with pianist Geoffrey Parsons. A rare thread of Enescu’s teaching lineage—plus a cameo from Anthony Saltmarsh. Worth revisiting—thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #Violin

#Culture A serendipitous classic: Laurence Olivier on *The Dick Cavett Show* (1973), delivering Shakespeare’s *Sonnet 116* off the cuff—an unforgettable moment of acting and verse. Seen it before, or discovering it now? #Theatre #Shakespeare

#Music Lebrecht’s Album of the Week spotlights Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović—an onstage maverick likened to Nigel Kennedy and David Garrett—bringing a surprising soloist approach to Prokofiev. Worth a listen. What’s your favorite Prokofiev? #ClassicalMusic #Violin

#Advice A student worries an ex auditioned for the same music school and asks admissions to block them. An advice columnist says: don’t—schools won’t referee breakups. Focus on boundaries and coping if they enroll. What would you do? #College #Music

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#News La Maestra Paris 2026 has a winner: 33-year-old conductor Mojca Lavrencic (Vienna-born, raised in Slovenia). Jiajing Lai (China) took 2nd, Alizé Lehon (France) 3rd. Academy spots: Molly Turner (US) and Lamar Elias (Palestine). #ClassicalMusic #Conducting

#Music Violinist Linda Lampenius (aka Linda Brava) won Finland’s national vote for a spot in May’s Eurovision final. She’ll perform “Liekinheitin” (“flame-thrower”) with Pete Parkkonen—adding a genre-spanning career to the mix. Thoughts? #Eurovision #Finland

That’s a vivid image — and not entirely misplaced 😄 The Presto does have that slightly unhinged, post-war energy, where late-Romantic tension brushes up against something sharper and more modern. A waltz on the edge, perhaps — just before the floor gives way.

😄 True — violas have survived centuries of jokes. Still, a 1610 Maggini might finally give violists the last word… especially if that deep early-Baroque color turns out to be as unique as historians expect.

Fair point — though sometimes open questions are just a way to invite listeners into the discussion, not a technical claim. With an instrument this rare, even imagination can be part of the curiosity around historical sound.

#News Songwriter Neil Sedaka has died at 86. Few knew he was accepted for the 1966 Tchaikovsky Piano Competition—after reportedly practicing 4–5 hours daily—though he never showed up. “Oh! Carol” was inspired by ex Carole King. #Music #ClassicalMusic

#News Screenshots circulating online show alleged prejudiced remarks by Derek Auret, chair of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra since 2017. Auret previously served as a civil servant during the apartheid era. What should arts institutions do next—address or move on? #ClassicalMusic #SouthAfrica

#News San Francisco Ballet has pulled out of a planned five-day run at the Trump-Kennedy Center in May, offering only that it hopes to return to D.C. in the future. The Center claims “cancel culture” pressure is at play. What do you make of it? #Arts #Politics

#Music The English Music Festival moves to Dartington Hall (Devon) for 22–25 May 2026, with premieres by John Foulds, Edgar Bainton and Alan Rawsthorne—plus concerts featuring London Mozart Players, chamber music, song and guitar. What’s top of your list? #ClassicalMusic #UKEvents

#Music Sean Noonan—“speaking drummer” and rhythmic storyteller—unleashes *The Drummer of Tedworth*, a genre-bending mix of rock opera, punk-jazz, and ritual theatre. Premiere: 30 Mar 2026 at Milton Court, London with St Paul’s Sinfonia. Thoughts? #Jazz #London

#Arts Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra marks its 100th tour this spring, led by Alexander Shelley, with East Coast dates in NB & NS. Special guests include Jeremy Dutcher and Eskasoni’s Emma Stevens, blending Indigenous storytelling with symphonic sound. Thoughts? #ClassicalMusic #Canada

#Music Festival Classica returns for its 16th edition May 22–June 14, 2026, bringing classical, opera, symphonic rock, and youth concerts to Montreal’s South Shore. Harmonium’s HEPTADE INTÉGRALE is already sold out—what show are you eyeing? #ClassicalMusic #Montreal

#Music Soundstreams has unveiled its 2026/27 season: a Steve Reich at 90 celebration, the North American premiere of James MacMillan’s *Angels Unawares*, *Praise Song for Oceania* curated by Jesse Plessis, plus “CELLO X 8” with eight virtuoso cellists. Thoughts? #Classical #Toronto

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#Arts Opera Atelier unveils its 2026/27 “Season of Heroes” at Toronto’s Koerner Hall: Charpentier’s *The Descent of Orpheus* (Oct 22–25, 2026) and a return of Handel’s *The Resurrection* (Apr 15–18, 2027). Which one are you most excited for? #Opera #Toronto