GRAMOPHONE

Watch Rattle conduct Britten’s War Requiem live from Berlin for free! On Saturday, June 15, Sir Simon Rattle returns to Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem for the first time since recording the work in 1988. This time, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Britten’s birth, his orchestra is the great Berlin Philharmonic. They’re joined by the Rundfunkchor Berlin, and soloists Emily Magee, John Mark Ainsley and Matthias Goerne. Gramophone readers can watch the performance for free, courtesy of the Berlin Philharmonic, both live and then when it is available in the Digital Concert Hall’s archive. Visit the Gramophonewebsite to obtain the code that will give you free access to the DCH. Plus visit Gramophone’s website later this week to watch a video conversation between Sir Simon Rattle andGramophone’s editor-in-chief, James Jolly. Mariss Jansons extends contract with Bavarian Radio Symphony and Choir Mariss Jansons has extended his contract as chief conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Bavarian Radio Choir for a further three years until August 31, 2018. read more... Organist Cameron Carpenter signs to Sony Classical Flamboyant American organist Cameron Carpenter has signed an exclusive, multi-album contract with Sony Classical. His debut release, out in 2014, will be recorded on his new touring organ, featuring Carpenter’s own transcriptions of both classical and modern music. read more... Conductor Richard Mills quits Opera Australia Ring Opera Australia has announced that Richard Mills, conductor of its monumental Melbourne Ring Cycle, is withdrawing from the project after weeks of rehearsals, citing a lack of ‘unity of vision’. read more... Exclusive video: Robin Ticciati interview James Jolly speaks to conductor Robin Ticciati about his new recording of Berlioz's Les nuits d'été. read more... The Gramophone Collection: Britten's Peter Grimes In celebration of the anniversary on June 7 of the work's premiere in 1945, a survey of the opera's recordings by Richard Fairman. read more... How to bring professional basketball back to Seattle: buy the Minnesota Orchestra Laurence Vittes makes a bold suggestion for how to improve the fortunes of an orchestra in need. read more...