Across Europe: the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig on tour

It has been three years since the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig had their last tour, now they are about to depart again. From 7th to 25th May they visit eleven cities all over Spain, Germany and the Benelux. The French pianist Hélène Grimaud and the Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos are their soloists when Riccardo Chailly at the podium. They play Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no. 1, Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major as well as Brahms’ 3rd and Mahler’s 4th symphony.

The NDR Sinfonieorchester in Europe and Japan

The NDR Sinfonieorchester is going on tour. On 20th May the musicians under Thomas Hengelbrock go to Dortmund, Ljubljana, Munich and Vienna. They have the young pianist Alice Sara Ott with them, playing Liszt’s Totentanz and the Piano Concerto no. 1.

In the context of a far east tour the orchestra departs to the Japanese capital Tokyo for two concerts on 28th and 29th May. Christian Tetzlaff is their soloist with violin concertos by Mozart and Mendelssohn on the programme. On 30th May he is also playing a recital with pianist Momo Kodama in Tokyo.

BBC Music Magazine Award 2012 for Ryan Wigglesworth

Ryan Wigglesworth and the Hallé Orchestra have won the BBC Music Magazine Award 2012 in the category “Best Premiere Recording”. Released in 2011 the CD from the label NMC contains works by Harrison Birtwistle: “Night’s Black Bird”, “The Shadow of Night” and “The Cry of Anubis”.

In April 2012 Ryan Wigglesworth conducted the premiere of the successful opera “Caligula” by Detlev Glanert in the English National Opera. Further performances are on May 25th, 29th and 31st as well as on June 7th, 9th and 14th.

Hyeyoon park has won London Music Masters Award

The South Korean violinist Hyeyoon Park has won the London Music Masters Award endowed with £ 10.000. The prize aims to support young violinists from 16 to 25 years. It includes recitals at the Wigmore Hall, concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the Royal Festival Hall, concerts at the Bowdoin International Music Festival as well as premiering commissioned works.

Meike Knoche new in the PR team

Konzertdirektion Schmid is delighted to welcome Meike Knoche as PR Manager in the PR Department, starting July 1. She joins the department in Berlin after the departure of Nina Steinhart who has left the agency for the Lucerne Festival on April 19. Before joining Konzertdirektion Schmid, Meike Knoche worked as Head of PR for the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, a position she assumed in 2010 after having previously worked for the PR2Classic agency. Meike Knoche earned a degree in musicology as well as in media and communication studies at the university of Halle-Wittenberg. She currently also manages the media relations for the 2012 Schumann Festival in Düsseldorf.