Roger Wright

The Royal Academy of Music has announced the list of musicians and educators on whom honours will be conferred at its 2023 Graduation Ceremony.

Casting is complete for Imagine Theatre's biggest panto season with an all-star line-up getting ready to bring 18 magical family pantomimes to audiences across England, Wales and Scotland.

The Royal Opera House has announced the appointment of Jakub Hrůša as Music Director of The Royal Opera. Hrůša will assume the position of Music Director Designate with immediate effect and will begin his tenure as Music Director in September 2025. 

As the story goes, 'In 1991, Jeannette Sorrell was invited to interview for the position of Assistant Conductor with The Cleveland Orchestra. Sorrell met with Music Director Christoph von Dohnányi who told her that there was no point in trying to find time in the orchestra's schedule for an audition because the audience in Cleveland would never accept a woman as a conductor. Sorrell replied that she had actually not sought this post and she really wanted to work with period instruments. Following this interview, the orchestra's artistic administrator, Roger Wright, offered to help Sorrell launch a period-instrument orchestra in Cleveland.'

Roger Wright the first man to play the role of the adult 'Simba' in the West End production 'The Lion King and ITV Superstar finalist will perform, 'The Feel Good Show' at 'The Other Palace' Theatre with a live orchestra in central London.

Roger Wright, director of BBC Proms and controller of BBC Radio 3, plans to leave the BBC after 15 years for a job as chief executive of Aldeburgh Music. Wright has worked with the BBC for over 15 years, becoming Radio 3 controller in 1998 and taking over the Proms in 2007. Wright said that he was 'sorry to be leaving the BBC having enjoyed such a long and fulfilling period' there. Wright will join Aldeburgh Music in September, taking over from Jonathan Reekie. Aldeburgh Music is based at Snape Maltings in Suffolk. It organizes the annual Aldeburgh Festival, which was founded by Benjamin Britten. Wright stated he was 'honoured to have been invited to lead Aldeburgh Music at such an exciting time in its development.' Chairman of Aldeburgh Music, Simon Robey, said Wright would 'bring an exceptional breadth and depth of experience to all we do.' Members of the BBC responded to this news with BBC Radio director Helen Boaden calling Wright 'a unique and brilliant talent' who would be 'hugely' missed and BBC director general Tony Hall saying that Wright made a 'huge contribution to the BBC, through the success of both Radio 3 and seven seasons of the Proms'.

Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and the U.S. Premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's Frieze - written in response to Beethoven's Ninth and co-commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society, New York Philharmonic, and BBC Radio 3 - tonight, October 3, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 4 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m. Part of the Royal Philharmonic Society's 2013 bicentennial, this program reflects the New York Philharmonic's historic link to the Ninth Symphony: the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) commissioned the work in 1817, and the New York Philharmonic gave its U.S. Premiere in 1846, for which it commissioned the first English translation of 'Ode to Joy.'

Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and the U.S. Premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's Frieze - written in response to Beethoven's Ninth and co-commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society, New York Philharmonic, and BBC Radio 3 - on Thursday, October 3, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 4 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m. Part of the Royal Philharmonic Society's 2013 bicentennial, this program reflects the New York Philharmonic's historic link to the Ninth Symphony: the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) commissioned the work in 1817, and the New York Philharmonic gave its U.S. Premiere in 1846, for which it commissioned the first English translation of "Ode to Joy."

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's extensive coverage of the forthcoming Fathom cinema presentation of the epic brand new arena production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR by highlighting the show's central, eponymous figure, Jesus Christ, as portrayed in this fresh, ultra hi-tech, extravagantly sensorial production by SUPERSTAR UK TV reality show winner Ben Forster.

Roger Wright, Andrew Lloyd Webber's third place finalist in the ITV1 search for Jesus for his new arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, and Paul Hazel are to star together in the West End premiere of You Can Do It.

BroadwayWorld brings you a video interview with Forster on the first day of rehearsals for the arena tour. Click below to see what he had to say!

Thriller Live, the concert show that celebrates the music of the world's greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop, Michael Jackson, this week celebrates its 1,500th West End performance.

According to ITV News, Ben Forster will play Jesus in the UK arena tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar after winning ITV's reality competition show 'Superstar' tonight, July 25, 2012. Forster received the most public votes during the live finale. Competitor Rory Taylor came in second, with Roger Wright falling into third. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of Forster on the show below!

According to ITV News, Ben Forster will play Jesus in the UK arena tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar after winning ITV's reality competition show 'Superstar' tonight, July 25, 2012. Forster received the most public votes during the live finale.

Niall is out of the competition. Who are you voting for?

Dirk is eliminated - who do you want to win now?

After last night's first audition show (read my recap blog here), we're off to Superstar Island tonight.

The 2012 BBC Proms is officially launched today, revealing details of the broad-ranging programme of events planned for its 118th season. Opening at the Royal Albert Hall on 13 July 2012 the festival promises two months of the world's greatest artists, composers, orchestras and ensembles across 92 concerts, including four Last Night celebrations around the UK.

Conductor David Charles Abell has worked extensively, and to great acclaim, across the musical and operatic repertoire but only now is he directing his talent in any major way toward his fellow American, Stephen Sondheim, who turned 80 earlier this year.