#ClassicalMusic Aldeburgh Festival announces its 77th edition for June 2026. Highlight: the first violin concerto by Freya Waley-Cohen, written for and premiered by her sister, Tamsin Waley-Cohen. Know another concerto composed for a sister? Share in the replies. #Aldeburgh #NewMusic

#Opera LA Opera mourns Robin Thompson, its early Artistic Administrator under founding director Peter Hemmings. He later led artistic administration at New York City Opera, advised Virginia Opera and American Symphony Orchestra, and directed at major houses. Share memories. #ClassicalMusic #LA

#Arts Annabelle Cloutier has been named President and CEO of Canada’s National Arts Centre, effective now, succeeding Christopher Deacon (retired Dec 3). A veteran of the Governor General’s office, she also led francophone arts groups. What should be her top priorities? #Canada #Leadership

#Opera La Scala shares a video interview with American soprano Sara Jakubiak, star of its season opener, Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Famously condemned by Stalin for its “explicitness”—one U.S. critic dubbed it “pornophony.” Want the link? Ask in the replies. #ClassicalMusic #Milan

#ClassicalMusic Denmark’s new top cultural prize, the Daphne Award, goes to Lang Lang, stirring debate. Next Generation prizes: tenor Jonathan Tetelman and soprano Serena Sáenz. Gala May 14, 2026 at Tivoli: Rach 2 with Alondra de la Parra and the Copenhagen Phil. Thoughts? #Denmark #ArtsNews

#ClassicalMusic Dudok Quartet Amsterdam’s 'Terra Memoria' pairs Shostakovich’s Third Quartet with Saariaho’s haunting title work, plus fresh Op.34 prelude arrangements. Transparent, high-tension playing. Curious to explore more or catch the tour? Chime in below. #Shostakovich #Saariaho

#Music The Sixteen’s ‘The Wise Men and the Star’ (CORO) shines with three world premieres (Dibble, Hayward, Kim Porter) alongside Whitacre, Rizza, McDowall, McCarthy, Cornelius, Ireland, Holst, and more. Exquisite, glowing performances. Curious to explore further? Tell us below #Classical #Christmas

#ClassicalMusic A BR-Klassik release captures Leonard Bernstein in Munich (Oct 17, 1976): a theatrical Leonore No. 3 and a blazing, taut Beethoven 5 with the Bavarian orchestra. Kaiser called it “freedom and fire.” Want listening recs? Ask below. #Beethoven #Bernstein

#Classical Dudok Quartet Amsterdam returns with Tchaikovsky: String Quartets Vol. 2—No. 3 (1876), the rare B-flat Quartet Movement, and fresh cuts from The Seasons—all on gut strings for raw color. Standout: an aching Andante funebre. Want links? Comment. #Tchaikovsky #StringQuartet

#ClassicalMusic Bartók’s Viola Concerto took center stage at the 2025 Geneva Competition, with two finalists choosing it—underscoring its power. For a standout listen, try Paul Neubauer with the Hong Kong Phil/David Atherton; rich sound. + 44 Duos. Want stream recs? Ask below. #Bartok #Viola

#ClassicalMusic Alexandra Whittingham’s ‘Letters From Paris’ is out now on Decca—an affectionate tour of French favorites and hidden gems, from Piaf and Debussy to Hahn, Satie, and Ida Presti, with guests Jess Gillam and the Carducci Quartet. Heard it yet? Drop your fave track. #NewRelease #Guitar

#ClassicalMusic Schubert’s Schwanengesang includes the haunting “Kriegers Ahnung”: a soldier’s nocturnal foreboding over a funeral-like drumbeat—music that even hints at Mahler. The 2019 Finley/Drake performance is a standout. Heard it? Share your go-to recording. #Schubert #ArtSong

#ClassicalMusic Kent Nagano’s live Montréal Beethoven symphonies—once fleeting Sony singles—return as a complete reissue on Analekta. Expect modern forces with period-informed zest: brisk tempos, lean textures, crisp articulation. Heard it yet? Share your take. #Beethoven #KentNagano

#ClassicalMusic German composer Birke J. Bertelsmeier will receive the 2026 Hindemith Prize (€20,000). Jurors hail her as a “sound innovator” whose genre-crossing work “amazes, transcends conventions, and surprises.” What do you make of her boldly “irritating” edge? #Awards #NewMusic

#Opera A year on, Vienna State Opera’s NEST for under-27s logged 125 shows and 25,000 paid tickets (~200 per show) with many via school groups. Youth outreach win or room to grow? Chime in below. #Vienna #PerformingArts

#News La Scala opened its season with Shostakovich’s anti-authoritarian Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, as Ukrainian flags waved outside. American soprano Sara Jakubiak debuted; directed by Vienna-based Russian Vasily Barkhatov. Thoughts on art, politics, and the stage? #Opera #Ukraine

#News After a turbulent spell at Winchester Cathedral, Downing Street names Chris Palmer as the new Dean. Canon Treasurer at Exeter and a former chorister, he champions music in worship. He attends Evensong tonight, joining in the New Year. #WinchesterCathedral #ChurchMusic

#ClassicalMusic Libby Croad’s new piece, Rivers—scored for string quartet, clarinet and harp—has been released by The Dionysus Ensemble. The video showcases Jubilee River photo contest shots; winner: Talvin Singh Deeks. Want the links to watch/stream? Ask in the comments. #NewMusic #ChamberMusic

#ClassicalMusic Jane Austen’s 250th inspires Donna McKevitt’s “Ode to Pity” for soprano and square piano, commissioned by Penelope Appleyard and recorded with Jonathan Delbridge. The EP also includes “Song from Burns” and “Robin Adair” on VOCES8 Records. #JaneAusten #VocalMusic

#ClassicalMusic Two major conducting contests: Svetlanov Competition in Birmingham with CBSO, 3–6 Sept 2026 (apps 1 Mar–15 Apr 2026). Plus the 18th Donatella Flick LSO Competition, 2–4 Dec 2025, featuring 20 finalists from 9 countries. Who are you backing? #Conducting #Orchestra

#Film 13 Dec, The House (University of Plymouth): Battleship Potemkin with a new live score reimagined by Tom Richardson for The Pit Orchestra (with guidance from Simon Dobson), marking its 2025 centenary. Plus Ukrainian Singers of Plymouth. Want details? Comment below. #LiveMusic #SilentFilm

#ClassicalMusic Rachel Podger & Friends lit up the Highgate International Chamber Music Festival with a Baroque tour: J.B. Bach bookends, Vivaldi, JS Bach, Matteis, Marcello, Purcell + Scots airs. Vibrant continuo and a chorale singalong to close. Share your highlights! #Baroque #London

#Music The Calgary Philharmonic reports the passing of principal tuba Tom McCaslin after a long illness. A noted virtuoso, he performed with Minnesota, Detroit, Boston and Lahti, and was acting principal in Auckland. Colleagues recall his 2022 Williams concerto. #ClassicalMusic

#Music Lola, once dubbed Trump’s favorite pianist, just launched a YouTube channel with new performances. What do you want to hear first? #Piano #YouTube

#Arts Daniel Barenboim mourns Frank Gehry, calling him a true visionary and lifelong inspiration. Gehry’s curiosity defied age, living on in landmarks worldwide—especially Berlin’s Pierre Boulez Saal. Which Gehry building moves you most? #Architecture #FrankGehry

#News Vienna has pulled €250k in subsidies for the Vienna Philharmonic’s free Summer Night Concert at Schönbrunn. The orchestra says the show can’t go ahead without support. Chair Daniel Froschauer called the decision “astonishing.” What do you think? #ClassicalMusic #Vienna

#ClassicalMusic Lebrecht spotlights Josef Bohuslav Foerster’s Symphony No. 2, a Hamburg-era twin to Mahler’s. Rich backstory—Berta Lauterer as Mahler’s star soprano; Foerster a critic by day—but the verdict is mixed on the music. Thoughts? #Mahler #MusicHistory

#Music Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga light up “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” — a timeless duet with big band swing and effortless blend. Favorite moment from this collab? Drop it in the replies. #Jazz #Standards

#Workplace An orchestra musician asks how to handle a guest conductor who repeats the same off-color "bull vs orchestra" joke. Bottom line: if it’s not truly offensive, manage your response—breathe, don’t bite, try empathy; he’s probably just trying to break the ice. Thoughts? #Advice #Music

#Music French maestro Jean-Claude Casadesus turns 90, thanking well-wishers for the birthday love. The founder of the Orchestre national de Lille is also being honored as the orchestra celebrates its jubilee season. Favorite Casadesus moments? Share below. #ClassicalMusic #France

#News Alexander Skavysh, a versatile Russian actor and head of Uray’s theatre school, has died at 55, just days after heart surgery. He starred in Life Is Beautiful and The Threepenny Opera, and won the national Father Frost (Santa Claus) competition. Thoughts welcome below. #Theatre #Russia

#ClassicalMusic The Chopin Competition jury reportedly averaged scores after five hours, awarding gold to Eric Lu and second to Kevin Chen—respected, but hardly new discoveries. The deeper issue: fear of failure gripping pianists and judges. What’s your take? #ChopinCompetition #Piano

#Music Richard Shephard Music Foundation reports its best year yet: 8,685 children now get weekly lessons across 34 schools in Yorkshire & Tees Valley. 99% of staff saw confidence rise; 97% improved knowledge. Target: 10,000/week by 2026. Share your take on music access. #Yorkshire #MusicEd

#ClassicalMusic Anselm McDonnell’s Cello Concerto No. 1 ‘Hostile Summits’ premieres 30 Jan 2026 at Dublin’s NCH with Martin Johnson, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and Ryan McAdams. Inspired by mountain drama. Plus Wagner & Tchaikovsky. Details via NCH. #NewMusic #Premiere

#Music Eleven artists were honored at the Aga Khan Music Awards at London’s Southbank Centre—the first UK edition with the EFG London Jazz Festival. Winners span 11 countries, with a Patron’s Award saluting Amir Khusrau’s legacy. Who are you cheering for? #Culture #AgaKhanMusicAwards

#ClassicalMusic Debut alert: The Bellot Ensemble’s “Cupid’s Ground Bass” (FHR) dives into 17th‑century Italy with Strozzi, Cavalli, Monteverdi, Uccellini, Farina, Kapsberger & Biber. Stylish vocals from Lucine Musaelian & Kieran White, theorbo and violin shine. Heard it yet? #Baroque #EarlyMusic

#Opera ENO’s 1920s-Paris Partenope returns: Christopher Alden back at the helm, William Cole conducts. Young cast sparkles—Nardus Williams dazzles; Hugh Cutting and Katie Bray deliver searing intensity. Staging can sprawl, but the music and energy win. Seen it? Share your take. #Handel #ENO

#ClassicalMusic Baroque Christmas at Wigmore Hall (3 Dec): Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin ranged from Biber and Vivaldi to Bach, centring on Corelli’s Christmas Concerto—but Locatelli’s F-minor Concerto Grosso stole the show. Warm, agile playing, Telemann encore. Were you there? #Review #Baroque

#Opera Innsbrucker Festwochen turns 50 in 2026 with Cesti’s Il pomo d’oro staged complete—missing acts newly composed by Ottavio Dantone—plus a fresh Handel Atalanta with rising talents from the Cesti competition. Festival runs 24 Jul–30 Aug 2026. More info? Ask below. #EarlyMusic #BaroqueOpera

#ClassicalMusic Susan Bullock and Nigel Foster marked Christina Rossetti's 195th birthday with a word-centred London Song Festival recital, weaving readings and settings by Parry, Coleridge-Taylor, Vaughan Williams, Ives, Rorem & more. Favorite Rossetti setting? Tell us below. #ArtSong #Poetry

#Music Jordi Savall’s "Un mar de músicas 1440–1880" arrives in Montréal for its Québec premiere: a sweeping Atlantic journey fusing Baroque with African, Caribbean and Latin American traditions. Apr 18, 2026 • 8 pm • Maison symphonique. Want ticket details? Drop a comment. #Montreal #Classical

#ClassicalMusic TSO heads to Europe Jan 27–Feb 9, 2026: 8 cities in 6 countries, with first stops in Spain and Luxembourg. Gustavo Gimeno leads programs from Rachmaninoff, Mahler, and Bartók to new works by Kelly‑Marie Murphy and Rufus Wainwright. Planning to catch a concert? #TSO #EuropeTour

#Opera Opera 5 unveils its 2026 season: Toronto Opera Festival returns June 3–14 at Theatre Passe Muraille. Puccini double bill (Suor Angelica + Gianni Schicchi) and the world premiere of Parḗlios with TorQ Percussion Quartet. Curious for more? Drop a comment. #Toronto #NewMusic

#Music Kathleen Allan, Artistic Director of Toronto’s Amadeus Choir, wins the Ontario Arts Council’s 2025 Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting. Award presented Dec 7 at Kingston Road United Church during Bach’s full Christmas Oratorio with 130 performers. Going? #Choral #ClassicalMusic

#Music Montreal’s new MTL Orchestra, led by Evgenii Sakmarov, blends students and pros to bring classical music to hospitals and people with disabilities. Debut Dec 15, 2025, 7:30 pm at the Sylvan Adams Centre: Tchaikovsky suites. Want to support? Comment. #Montreal #Classical

#Music Roomful of Teeth hit Salle Bourgie with a daring mix: Mazzoli’s Vesper Sparrow, the Canadian premiere of Cerrone’s Friday’s Saints, Shin excerpts, Shaw’s The Isle (the standout), and Chen’s Comic Con (less convincing). Bold risks, uneven results. Thoughts? #NewMusic #Montreal

#ClassicalMusic At OSM, Rafael Payare led a vivid Bartók Concerto for Orchestra—solos shone, ensemble crisp. New risers and wider arc boosted clarity. Simone Lamsma offered a tender, intelligent Korngold, though projection lagged. Debussy’s L’Isle joyeuse. Were you there? #OSM #Montreal

#ClassicalMusic Festival de Lanaudière teases 2026: Les Arts Florissants (Charpentier) Jul 11; OSQ/Schuldt + Charles Richard-Hamelin (Grieg; Zemlinsky Little Mermaid) Jul 17; OSM/Payare + Alisa Weilerstein (Ortiz; Shostakovich 10) Jul 18. Which night are you booking? #Quebec #Festivals

#ClassicalMusic Vienna pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja—recently banned in Eindhoven after a Moscow concert—was spotted at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw for the Jerusalem Quartet’s Shostakovich. A brief pro-Palestinian disruption hit the first show; the rest ran smoothly. Thoughts? #Arts #News

#Arts London round-up: Eldridge’s End (National) lands as a tender, funny 95‑min two-hander. Paddington musical charms yet feels synthetic. ENO’s Pinafore veers into coarse gags. Say’s Mother Earth dazzles but skims deep feeling; Rouvali electrifies. Seen any of these? #Theatre #ClassicalMusic