Michael Tilson Thomas News

The London Symphony Orchestra announced today the appointment of Sir Simon Rattle as its Music Director.

The recipients of the 2015 Martin E. Segal Awards, this year, expanded to encompass nominees from all of Lincoln Center's resident organizations, were announced today by Lincoln Center President Jed Bernstein. The awards will be presented at a special gala evening on the Adrienne Arsht Stage of Alice Tully Hall tonight, March 2. The Martin E. Segal Awards were established in 1986 when the late philanthropist and arts leader retired as Lincoln Center Chairman.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Edo de Waart present de Waart Conducts Strauss this weekend, February 27-28, 2015 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) regrets to announce that due to illness, guest conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier is unable to conduct this week's performances of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, this weekend, February 27 (Meyerhoff) and February 28 (Strathmore). Replacing Maestro Tortelier, will be BSO Assistant Conductor Nicholas Hersh.

Joshua Gersen, age 30, has been named New York Philharmonic Assistant Conductor beginning in September 2015. He will assist Music Director Alan Gilbert and all guest conductors throughout the season, and will lead educational events, including Young People's Concerts and Young People's Concerts for Schools.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) regrets to announce that due to illness, guest conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier is unable to conduct this week's performances of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, February 27 (Meyerhoff) and 28 (Strathmore). Replacing Maestro Tortelier, will be BSO Assistant Conductor Nicholas Hersh. The program will otherwise remain as scheduled with no changes.

Broadway vets Cheyenne Jackson and Alexandra Silber, 2015 Grammy nominee for the recording of the San Francisco concert presentation of West Side Story, which was up for Best Musical Theater Album, performed from the show earlier this month at the GRAMMY AWARDS Premiere Ceremony. Check out their performance of 'Tonight' below!

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Music Director Jeffrey Kahane serves as musical 'tour guide' for LACO's annual 'Discover' program, which this season features a special one-night-only exploration of Mozart's incomparable and deeply moving Requiem in D minor with special guests Alison King, soprano; Emily Fons, alto; Nicholas Phan, tenor; Aubrey Allicock, bass; and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, tonight, February 19, 2015, 8 pm, at Pasadena's Ambassador Auditorium.

Carnegie Hall presents acclaimed composer and singer Meredith Monk in four concerts this winter and spring, continuing her season-long residency as holder of the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer's Chair.

Baritone Mark Stone, in his New York Philharmonic debut, will replace Simon Keenlyside, who has withdrawn due to illness, in the performances of the U.S. Premiere of Thomas Ades's Totentanz, led by the composer in his Philharmonic conducting debut, and also featuring mezzo- soprano Christianne Stotijn in her Philharmonic debut. The performances will also feature Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 and Berlioz's Les Francs-juges Overture, Thursday, March 12, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, March 14 at 8:00 p.m.

Celebrated mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato concludes her season-long Carnegie Hall Perspectives series on Wednesday, March 18 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, joining The Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Maurizio Benini for a program of bel canto arias, ensembles, and orchestral selections with special guests and close colleagues soprano Nicole Cabell and tenor Lawrence Brownlee. Music from Donizetti's Maria di Rohan and L'elisir d'amore, Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi, and Rossini's Zelmira will be performed, along with other pieces.

The recipients of the 2015 Martin E. Segal Awards, this year, expanded to encompass nominees from all of Lincoln Center's resident organizations, were announced today by Lincoln Center President Jed Bernstein. The awards will be presented at a special gala evening on the Adrienne Arsht Stage of Alice Tully Hall on March 2.

Carnegie Hall presents pianist Leif Ove Andsnes leading the Mahler Chamber Orchestra from the keyboard in a two-night series of Beethoven's five piano concertos in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. On Monday, February 23 at 8:00 p.m., they perform Beethoven's Piano Concertos Nos. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19; 3 in C Minor, Op. 37; and 4 in G Major, Op. 58. On Wednesday, February 25 at 8:00 p.m., they play Piano Concertos Nos. 1 in C Major, Op. 15; and 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73, "Emperor."

Semele by George Frideric Handel will be presented by the Canadian Opera Company at BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave), conducted by Christopher Moulds and directed by Zhang Huan on March 4, 6 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and March 8 at 3 p.m.

MILWAUKEE, WIS. 02/04/2015 – The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Edo de Waart present de Waart Conducts Strauss on February 27-28, 2015 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. The performances feature Strauss's Metamorphosenfor 23 Solo Strings, Oboe Concerto in D major, and Don Quixote, Op. 35. Featured soloists include the MSO's Principal Oboe Katherine Young Steele, Principal Cello Susan Babini, and Principal Viola Robert Levine.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL has won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album!

As part of its 2015-2016 season announcement, Carnegie Hall today shared that singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash will curate a four-concert Perspectives series at the Hall beginning in October 2015.

Orange County, Calif.-Jan. 9, 2015-Composer, conductor and teacher Leonard Bernstein, one of the undeniable giants of 20th-century music, and the first American-born conductor to become a major star, becomes the focal point of Pacific Symphony's second "Music Unwound" concert this season, "For the Love of Bernstein." In 1985, a young Carl St.Clair met Bernstein as a conducting fellow at Tanglewood Music Center. A few years later in 1990, St.Clair stepped in for the ailing Maestro and conducted his "Arias and Barcarolles" during what turned out to be Bernstein's last concert. St.Clair would soon be named music director of Pacific Symphony, but the impact of Bernstein's mentoring to St.Clair has remained to this day.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Music Director Jeffrey Kahane serves as musical 'tour guide' for LACO's annual 'Discover' program, which this season features a special one-night-only exploration of Mozart's incomparable and deeply moving Requiem in D minor with special guests Alison King, soprano; Emily Fons, alto; Nicholas Phan, tenor; Aubrey Allicock, bass; and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, on Thursday, February 19, 2015, 8 pm, at Pasadena's Ambassador Auditorium. The evening is designed to lead patrons to a greater understanding of Mozart's musical capstone and to appreciate the work with 'new ears.' Kahane, lauded for his 'eloquence' (The New York Times), explores a different work each year for LACO's annual Discover concert. According to LA Opening Nights, 'Some conductors are born educators, and Jeffrey Kahane is one of them.' Adding a special flourish to Kahane's introduction to the work are Antaeus Company actors John Sloan (Mozart ) and JD Cullum (Salieri).

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the premier presenter of classical music in the State of New Jersey since its inaugural season in 1997, today announced its 2015-16 Bank of America Classical Music Series, a unique season of exhilarating performances including a pair of Europe's most distinguished orchestras - the London Symphony under the baton of Valery Gergiev joined by pianist Yefim Bronfman and the Paris' Orchestre National de France conducted by Daniele Gatti with violinist Julian Rachlin. Two of the classical world's most eminent violinists will assume the role of both conductor and soloist with esteemed European orchestras - Joshua Bell returns to Prudential Hall to perform the Tchaikovsky concerto and conduct the Academy of St Martin in the Fields; and Pinchas Zukerman leads the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and performs the Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5. Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony also perform with pianist Inon Barnatan playing Copland's Piano Concerto. And, the virtuoso pianist Lang Lang returns to NJPAC after four seasons to perform an exclusive New Jersey recital in Prudential Hall.