Philip Langridge, an English tenor known for his roles in Britten operas, has died at the age of 70. His most recent appearance was in the unusual role as the Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel at the Met, but Mr. Langridge leaves a legacy behind with renowned appearances in the operas of Mozart, Janacek and Stravinsky. He was a sublime interpreter of Schubert and Bach, and became a champion of Harrison Birtwistle. The New York Times has a remembrance here and the BBC has one here.
David Soyer, the cellist and founding member of the Guarneri String Quartet passed away at the age of 87 in his home in New York City. Mr. Soyer retired from the GSQ in 2001. More information available here. A video of the Guarneri playing Beethoven:
In 1937 George Gershwin and Arnold Schoenberg met up in Hollywood (they had officially met sometime before, though the exact year is unclear). Like any good American, Gershwin brought along his handheld camera to capture some home movies, and what we have is look into the lives of two important composers of the 20th century. Schoenberg provides a moving tribute to his friend towards the end of this short video.
New York, NY (February 22, 2010)—Seven new productions, including two company premieres and the first two parts of a new Ring cycle, featuring many of the world’s greatest singers and conductors, will highlight the Metropolitan Opera’s 2010-11 season. General Manager Peter Gelb and Music Director James Levine announced plans for the Met premieres of John Adams’s Nixon in China and Rossini’s Le Comte Ory, the first two installments of Robert Lepage’s new production of Wagner’s epic Der Ring des Nibelungen, with stagings of Das Rheingold and Die Walküre, and new productions of three repertory classics by debuting directors—Boris Godunov by Peter Stein, Don Carlo by Nicholas Hytner, and La Traviata by Willy Decker. With Nixon in China, Peter Sellars will also make his Met directorial debut, and Bartlett Sher, director of Le Comte Ory, will return for his third production here following his recent successful stagings of Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Les Contes d’Hoffmann.
Also, the HD broadcasts at local cinemas will continue for a fifth year with 11 broadcasts:
The 2010-11 season of The Met: Live in HD will feature 11 transmissions, beginning on October 9 with Das Rheingold and continuing with Boris Godunov (October 23), Don Pasquale (November 13), Don Carlo (December 11), La Fanciulla del West (January 8), Iphigénie en Tauride (February 26), Lucia di Lammermoor (March 19), Le Comte Ory (April 9), Capriccio (April 23), Il Trovatore (April 30), and Die Walküre (May 14).
English priest and theologian Cardinal John Henry Newman, who wrote “The Dream of Gerontius”, on which Edward Elgar based his oratorio of the same name, will be given the title of ‘Blessed’ by Pope Benedict when he visits Britain in September. But the musical arts is blessing others lately too.
New York, NY (February 22, 2010)—Seven new productions, including two company premieres and the first two parts of a new Ring cycle, featuring many of the world’s greatest singers and conductors, will highlight the Metropolitan Opera’s 2010-11 season. General Manager Peter Gelb and Music Director James Levine announced plans for the Met premieres of John Adams’s Nixon in China and Rossini’s Le Comte Ory, the first two installments of Robert Lepage’s new production of Wagner’s epic Der Ring des Nibelungen, with stagings of Das Rheingold and Die Walküre, and new productions of three repertory classics by debuting directors—Boris Godunov by Peter Stein, Don Carlo by Nicholas Hytner, and La Traviata by Willy Decker. With Nixon in China, Peter Sellars will also make his Met directorial debut, and Bartlett Sher, director of Le Comte Ory, will return for his third production here following his recent successful stagings of Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Les Contes d’Hoffmann.
Composer David Dworkin 
