New release! Epic music by the completely forgotten German late Romantic composer Paul Büttner, and perhaps my best recording to date. Huge thanks to Johannes Kernmayer at Capriccio, Christine Anderson and Stefan Lang at Deutschlandfunk Kultur, and the wonderful Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin for making this possible! /album/0JvjQP8rwiphSVDavMJSIS?si=UCgAUn3pQvWD_pEHrHAiWg
Some really exciting news!
Longborough Festival Opera has appointed conductor CHRISTOPHER WARD as its new Music Director from the 2027 season.
London-born Ward joins Longborough Festival Opera (LFO) from Theater Aachen and Sinfonieorchester Aachen, where he has served as General Music Director since 2018. He brings more than two decades of experience working at leading German opera houses, alongside a broad international guest conducting career that includes appearances at Staatsoper Hamburg, Komische Oper Berlin, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Staatsoper Prague and Welsh National Opera.
Deeply inspired by one of my favourite books, given to me over a decade ago by my dear friend Anna Jung - Gabriel Josipovici‘s „Infinity: The Story of a Moment“ - I went on a musical journey to Nepal, with the intent of simply listening.
Nature, the Himalayas, chanting, sound bowls, handpan, bamboo flutes, cymbals, drums, gyaling, dungchen and the deafeningly spiritual sound of a Tibetan Buddhist Temple. I have fallen for these beautiful people and their stunning landscape, and learnt an incredible amount from their insight and newfound friendship.
I might well put together a vlog at some point soon to share the experience..
End of the 24/25 season in Aachen, and a great finale with “Ernani“.
“A spectacular project for the 200th anniversary of the theatre… This Verdi production is an unforgettable experience.” — WDR Tonart
“With the production of Ernani, the 2024/25 season at Theater Aachen ends in spectacular fashion — and at the same time makes a programmatic statement: Opera is alive.” — Klenkes
“The music theatre collective AGORA succeeds at Theater Aachen in making Verdi’s Ernani accessible to today’s audience. A flawless musical performance.” — Die Deutsche Bühne
