Andrew Davis News

Clearly the people at SDO can learn a lot from William Mason.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced today that the company is reporting a break even operating performance for fiscal year 2014. Lyric has operated in the black for 26 of the past 27 years-a record among the country's not-for-profit music and performing-arts companies.

The history of 'the butler did it' as a mystery plot device is filled with old-fashioned classism. To proponents of the trope, it was a great twist; who would suspect the servant, a person who ideally is supposed to be invisible? Others, such as S.S. Van Dine, considered it too easy a solution-because of course the lower tiers of the social order would be the logical place for such a culprit. In any case, the notion was already a hoary old cliche by the 1930s, when Todd Wallinger's The Butler Did It! is set-so much so that it's practically the first thing brought up between butler Jenkins and maid Sarah when discussing the popular mystery writer about to descend upon their household.

Lyric Opera general director Anthony Freud today announced that Jane Lynch, the Emmy-winning actress acclaimed for portraying coach Sue Sylvester on the hit television series Glee, will serve as master of ceremonies for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 60th Anniversary Concert, November 1, 2014, at 6:30 pm at the Civic Opera House.

One of the world's most innovative and respected architects, Jeanne Gang, and her firm Studio Gang Architects (studiogang.net), are designing a new concert shell for Lyric Opera of Chicago. The shell will be used for the first time at Lyric's 60th Anniversary Concert, which takes place at the Civic Opera House on November 1, 2014, at 6:30 pm.

Violinist Nicola Benedetti will make her New York Philharmonic subscription debut - replacing Janine Jansen, who has been advised by her doctor not to play for at least a week - in performances of Szymanowski's Violin Concerto No. 1. Vladimir Jurowski will make his Philharmonic debut conducting the concerts, tonight, May 21, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 23 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 24 at 8:00 p.m. The program will conclude with selections from Prokofiev's Cinderella.

Vladimir Jurowski will make his New York Philharmonic debut conducting Szymanowski's Violin Concerto No. 1, featuring Janine Jansen as soloist, and selections from Prokofiev's Cinderella, tonight, May 21, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 23 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 24 at 8:00 p.m.

Violinist Nicola Benedetti will make her New York Philharmonic subscription debut - replacing Janine Jansen, who has been advised by her doctor not to play for at least a week - in performances of Szymanowski's Violin Concerto No. 1. Vladimir Jurowski will make his Philharmonic debut conducting the concerts, Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 23 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 24 at 8:00 p.m. The program will conclude with selections from Prokofiev's Cinderella.

The May broadcasts of The New York Philharmonic This Week - the weekly radio series of concerts and recordings by the New York Philharmonic, hosted by Alec Baldwin - begin with Christoph von Dohnanyi leading the Orchestra in the Piano Concerto No. 1 by Brahms, featuring Paul Lewis as soloist in his Philharmonic debut, and Schumann's Symphony No. 2. The following week, Sir Andrew Davis returns to the New York Philharmonic to conduct the U.S. Premiere of Julian Anderson's The Discovery of Heaven, a New York Philharmonic Co-Commission with the London Philharmonic Orchestra; Franck's Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra, with Marc-Andre Hamelin as soloist in his Philharmonic subscription debut; and selections from Prokofiev's ballet Romeo and Juliet.

The renowned pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin will perform Franck's Symphonic Variations with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis tonight, April 24th 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 25th at 11:00 a.m. and Saturday, April 26th at 8:00 p.m. at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center.

Nathan Gunn has made a reputation as one of the most exciting and in-demand baritones of the day. He has appeared in internationally renowned opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Paris Opera, and Teatro Real in Madrid.

Sir Andrew Davis will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct the U.S. Premiere of Julian Anderson's The Discovery of Heaven, a New York Philharmonic Co-Commission with the London Philharmonic Orchestra; Franck's Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra, with Marc-Andre Hamelin as soloist in his Philharmonic subscription debut; and selections from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suites Nos. 1 and 2. These performances mark the 40th anniversary of Sir Andrew's New York Philharmonic debut.

The Utah Symphony led by Music Director Thierry Fischer will tour Utah's red rock country, home to the state's five iconic national parks, in August 2014 with free outdoor performances surrounded by the landscape of Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. Presented by the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, The Mighty 5® Tour represents a collaboration between two of Utah's great treasures, the state's leading arts organization, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, and the unparalleled natural beauty of Utah's red rock country preserved within the five national parks, collectively known as "The Mighty 5."

Vladimir Jurowski will make his New York Philharmonic debut conducting Szymanowski's Violin Concerto No. 1, featuring Janine Jansen as soloist, and selections from Prokofiev's Cinderella, Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 23 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 24 at 8:00 p.m.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival will present a concert open to the public for the first time in New York this evening, April 8, 2014 at 7:45 p.m. at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, Cary Hall, 450 West 37th Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues.

A New Brain was born when composer William Finn, just three days after winning the Tony Award for Falsettos in 1992, was hospitalized and operated on for a condition called arteriovenous malformation (AVM). It was upon his return home that he began writing songs about the experience; the energetic, sardonic, often comical musical, A New Brain, is the result.

This will be Robin Ticciati's first Glyndebourne Festival as Music Director. He is only the seventh conductor to hold the post in Glyndebourne's 80- year history, following in the distinguished line of Fritz Busch, Vittorio Gui, John Pritchard, Bernard Haitink, Andrew Davis and Vladimir Jurowski.

On Saturday, March 29, at 7:30 p.m., the talented singers and pianist of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center 2013-14 ensemble will perform with members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra in works of Adams, Bizet, Copland, Donizetti, Gershwin, Gounod, Handel, Lehár, Massenet, Mozart, Ravel, Stravinsky, and Walton. Rising Stars in Concert is offered in celebration of an extraordinarily successful year of study and performance for these up-and-coming artists.

The renowned pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin will perform Franck's Symphonic Variations with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis on Thursday, April 24th 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 25th at 11:00 a.m. and Saturday, April 26th at 8:00 p.m. at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. Mr. Hamelin will also be appearing with members of the New York Philharmonic on April 26th at 2:00 p.m. for a performance of Faure's First Piano Quartet.