Kathleen Battle News

The judges for the fourth triennial Parkening International Guitar Competition, to be presented by Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA, from today, May 27, to Saturday, May 30, 2015, have been announced.

Tickets for the West End production of Motown the Musical, opening at the Shaftesbury Theatre in February 2016, are released for sale today (15 May 2015).  With music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, Motown the Musical is directed by Charles Randolph-Wright.  London previews will begin on 11 February 2016 with press night on 8 March 2016 with the show booking to 22 October 2016.  Casting and further information about Motown the Musical will be released shortly.

Orange County, Calif.-May 11, 2015-One of America's most versatile and prolific living composers, Andre Previn, joins Pacific Symphony as the honored guest and focus of the 15th American Composers Festival (ACF). Previn, who has been called one of America's least easily categorized musicians, began his remarkable career as a Hollywood "wunderkind" and a best-selling jazz pianist. Now 86, Previn has received four Academy Awards for his work in film, 10 Grammy Awards for his recordings (plus one more for his Lifetime Achievement), and he is also an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He's held a series of major conducting posts, including the L.A. Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, but now exclusively composes. The concert is led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, whose great admiration for the legend shaped this year's ACF to reveal the scope of Previn's prowess as a composer. 

The world's preeminent classical guitar competition, the Parkening International Guitar Competition, has selected 15 standout competitors for its fourth triennial competition. Representing 11 countries, they will vie for the largest prize purse among guitar competitions, competing at Pepperdine University from Thursday, May 28, through Saturday, May 30, 2015, on the University's campus in Malibu, California.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is proud to present the fifth annual Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival (PJLIF) on June 19 - 21, 2015.

Recognized as one of her generation's great pianists, Olga Kern was born into a family of musicians with direct links to Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. In 2001, she became the first woman in over 30 years to receive the Gold Medal at the Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and subsequently her career has brought her to many of the world's most important venues. With her vivid stage presence, passionately confident musicianship, and extraordinary technique, the young Russian pianist continues to captivate fans and critics alike.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts has announced the appointment of Leslie Patterson-Tyler as its new Director of Media Relations & Communications.

Recognized as one of her generation's great pianists, Olga Kern was born into a family of musicians with direct links to Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. In 2001, she became the first woman in over 30 years to receive the Gold Medal at the Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and subsequently her career has brought her to many of the world's most important venues. With her vivid stage presence, passionately confident musicianship, and extraordinary technique, the young Russian pianist continues to captivate fans and critics alike.

San Francisco Opera Center and the Merola Opera Program present the 33rd season of the Schwabacher Debut Recitals, beginning February 8, 2015 with soprano Erin Johnson and pianist Sun Ha Yoon at Temple Emanu-El's Martin Meyer Sanctuary in San Francisco.

The judges for the fourth triennial Parkening International Guitar Competition, to be presented by Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA, from Wednesday, May 27, to Saturday, May 30, 2015, have been announced.

Premier banjo player Béla Fleck & Brooklyn Rider join bassist Christian McBride for All Strings Attached, an eclectic array of musical stylings, from bluegrass and classical crossover to jazz and world beat presented by New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) tonight, November 22, 2014 at 8:00 PM in the Victoria Theater. Get your tickets now at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Dorthaan's Place Jazz Brunch: Cyrus Chestnut Trio Sunday, January 25, 2015 11AM and 1PM in NICO Kitchen + Bar. Get your tickets now at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

Heralded as possessing 'one of the few most beautiful [voices] in the world' (Washington Post), five-time Grammy© Award-winning opera starKathleen Battle performs music from the Underground Railroad inVerizon Hall tonight, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Premier banjo player Béla Fleck & Brooklyn Rider join bassist Christian McBride for All Strings Attached, an eclectic array of musical stylings, from bluegrass and classical crossover to jazz and world beat presented by New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 8:00 PM in the Victoria Theater. Get your tickets now at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

Heralded as possessing 'one of the few most beautiful [voices] in the world' (Washington Post), five-time Grammy© Award-winning opera starKathleen Battle performs music from the Underground Railroad inVerizon Hall on Friday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Katie Brayben will play the title role in the West End production of Beautiful - The Carole King Musicalopening at the Aldwych Theatre in February next year. Alan Morrissey will play King's husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin, with Lorna Want as song-writer Cynthia Weil, Glynis Barber as Genie Klein, King's mother, and Gary Trainor as music publisher and producer Don Kirshner. London previews beginning on 10 February 2015 and with the show currently booking to 13 June 2015. Press night will now take place on 24 February at 7pm. Final casting will be announced shortly.

The Kimmel Center kicks off its 2014-2015 season this week with more than 100 new shows on sale to the public for the first time, including multi-Grammy winner and Songwriters Hall of Famer Bob Dylan (Nov. 21-23), Broadway's Tony-Winning hit Newsies (Oct. 28-Nov. 2), award winning NPR radio host Ira Glass (Nov. 12), Puerto Rican super group, Calle 13 (Sept. 27), and Emmy winning astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson (Feb. 25).

This fall, The Frick Collection presents its seventy-sixth anniversary season of classical music concerts. Debuting in 1938-just three years after the museum opened to the public-the concert series is one of the most celebrated in New York City and over the years has delighted thousands of visitors with a wide range of world-class performances by soloists, chamber music groups, and early music ensembles.

Trio da Paz returns to the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival on Sunday, August 17 at 7:30 pm. With three of Brazil's most in-demand musicians, Trio da Paz updates and redefines Brazilian jazz with their harmonically adventurous interactions, daring improvisations and dazzling rhythms. Trio da Paz was formed in 1990 by guitarist Romero Lubambo, bassist Nilson Matta, and drummer Duduka da Fonseca, all seasoned masters of both jazz and Brazilian music.