Pierre Boulez News

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts opens the 2012-13 season of its Composer Portraits series with a 100th birthday celebration of the influential composer John Cage, starring International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Jessica Aszodi, mezzo-soprano, and Steven Schick, conductor. The event will take place on Thursday, September 20, 2012, at 8:00 PM at the Miller Theatre (2960 Broadway at 116th street). Tickets are $25-30, or $15-$18 for students with valid ID.

Naxos Canadian Classics announces the September 25, 2012 release of Dreamscapes, a world premiere recording of three works by Edmonton-born composer Vivian Fung. The recording features Ms. Fung's acclaimed Violin Concerto (2011) and Piano Concerto "Dreamscapes" (2009), performed by Metropolis Ensemble with conductor Andrew Cyr, violinist Kristin Lee, and pianist Conor Hanick; and her Glimpses for prepared piano (2006), performed by Mr. Hanick. The concertos, both commissioned by Metropolis Ensemble, were recorded at Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood and produced by Tim Martyn.

On the heels of his well-received series of lecture performances last season, the August 24 Keyboard Conversation with distinguished pianist Jeffrey Siegel promises an exciting exploration of some of the best-loved works in the classical canon.

The artists present "Die Jahrhundertwende," a program featuring songs by two of the last great romantic Lieder composers (Wolf and Brahms) and two pioneers of modernity (Schoenberg and Berg). Along with two less famous but exceptionally interesting transitional figures (Zemlinsky and Pfitzner), the program explores the astonishing variety in German Song during this pivotal 15 years.

Scissor Sisters, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, Alan Ayckbourn, Daniel Barenboim, Rokia Traoré, Toni Morrison, Peter Sellars, Paco Peña, Simon Russell Beale, Hugh Masekela, Angelique Kidjo, Gong Linna, Sung Hwan Kim, Tom Hiddleston, Julie Walters, John Hurt, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Tracey Emin, and Bridget Riley are among the stars of London 2012 Festival's fifth week.

Today, July 14 at 10 A.M. EDT, medici.tv presents the world premiere of British composer George Benjamin's opera WRITTEN ON SKIN, recorded live at the Grand Theatre de Provence in Aix-en-Provence last weekend. The opera stars bass Christopher Purves, soprano Barbara Hannigan, countertenor Bejun Mehta,mezzo-soprano Victoria Simmonds and tenor Allan Clayton, with the composer conducting.

This Saturday, July 14 at 10 A.M. EDT, medici.tv presents the world premiere of British composer George Benjamin's opera WRITTEN ON SKIN, recorded live at the Grand Theatre de Provence in Aix-en-Provence last weekend. The opera stars bass Christopher Purves, soprano Barbara Hannigan, countertenor Bejun Mehta,mezzo-soprano Victoria Simmonds and tenor Allan Clayton, with the composer conducting.

In the 2011-12 season, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich premiered three new works-Shadows for piano and orchestra, Commedia dell'Arte for violin and orchestra, and a Quintet inspired by Schubert's "Trout" Quintet that was performed across the country.

Roulette today announced its 2012 Fall season which kicks off September 7 with Mary Halvorson Septet.

Philharmonic 360, the New York Philharmonic and Park Avenue Armory's presentation of spatial music conceived by Music Director Alan Gilbert - featuring Karlheinz Stockhausen's epic composition Gruppen - will be Webcast for free by medici.tv (www.medici.TV) beginning tonight, July 6.

The artists present "Die Jahrhundertwende," a program featuring songs by two of the last great romantic Lieder composers (Wolf and Brahms) and two pioneers of modernity (Schoenberg and Berg). Along with two less famous but exceptionally interesting transitional figures (Zemlinsky and Pfitzner), the program explores the astonishing variety in German Song during this pivotal 15 years.

Philharmonic 360, the New York Philharmonic and Park Avenue Armory's presentation of spatial music conceived by Music Director Alan Gilbert - featuring Karlheinz Stockhausen's epic composition Gruppen - will be Webcast for free by medici.tv (www.medici.TV) beginning July 6

Composers Anthony Cheung and Franck Krawczyk will join Peter Eotvos in sharing The Marie-Josee Kravis Prize for New Music at the New York Philharmonic at the request of inaugural recipient Henri Dutilleux, it was announced this evening from the stage in Avery Fisher Hall during a special concert dedicated to Dutilleux's music.

Chicago's non-Equity Bohemian Theatre Ensemble has undertaken Adam Guettel and Tina Landau's 1996 off-Broadway masterpiece (or close to it) and put it on at Theater Wit on West Belmont Avenue for the next month (through July 25, 2012). If you have imagination enough to meet the company halfway, somewhere between the hardscrabble Kentucky soil and the cave beneath it where the real Floyd Collins met his doom in 1925, you will come away with a musical and theatrical experience you are unlikely to repeat anytime soon, anywhere else.

Robert Lepage's acclaimed new production of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, will air on Great Performances at the Met, September 11-14 in primetime each night on PBS stations (check local listings), as a major television event.

Spanish conductor Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos returns to the New York Philharmonic to conduct music from two secular cantatas: selections from Falla's Atlantida, and Orff's complete Carmina burana - which the Orchestra has not performed since 1995 - tonight, May 31, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 1, at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 2, at 8:00 p.m. The international cast that Mr. Fru?hbeck has assembled for these performances features American soprano Erin Morley, American tenor Nicholas Phan (in his Philharmonic debut), South African baritone Jacques Imbrailo (debut), the Spanish chorus Orpheo?n Pamplone?s, Igor Ijurra Ferna?ndez, director (debut), and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Dianne Berkun, director.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts has announced its 2012-13, 24th Season. Including LE POÈME HARMONIQUE IN "VENEZIA," on opening night, eight intriguing composer portraits, featuring John Cage, Jonathan Harvey, Olga Neuwirth, Sofia Gubaidulina, Enno Poppe, Rebeecca Saunders, Oliver Knussen and Julio Estrada. Bach, Revisted, highlights innovators, baroque and modern alike, featuring Jennifer Koh teaming up with mentor Jaime Laredo, harpsichordist Kristian Bezuidenhout and Ensemble Signal playing Bach, Rebel and Michael Gordon, and pianist Christopher Taylor juxtaposing Bach and Rzewski. The theatre also highlights early music ensembles, its jazz series, community programming, and pop-up concerts. See below for full details.

Andrew Lloyd Webber will receive a BASCA Fellowship at this year's Ivor Novello Awards tonight 17 May. The BASCA Fellowship is the highest accolade which a composer can receive, bestowed by composers in the UK. It recognises unique creative talent in music writing together with iconic achievement for and on behalf of composers. BASCA Fellows are exceptional artists and ambassadors for the song-writing and composing profession and BASCA's role within it.

Andrew Lloyd Webber will receive a BASCA Fellowship at this year's Ivor Novello Awards on Thursday 17 May. The BASCA Fellowship is the highest accolade which a composer can receive, bestowed by composers in the UK. It recognises unique creative talent in music writing together with iconic achievement for and on behalf of composers. BASCA Fellows are exceptional artists and ambassadors for the song-writing and composing profession and BASCA's role within it.

Met Museum presents the New York Philharmonic's concert series CONTACT!, Jordi Savall's 'Orient-Occident: A Dialogue of Souls,' and New York ensemble Cirène's interpretation of a classic love story of the Middle East with music, dance and painting, all in June 2012. See details below.