2016 In Classical Music
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This article lists major events and other topics related to
classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...
in 2016.


Events

*
January 1 January 1 or 1 January is the first day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 364 days remaining until the end of the year (365 in leap years). This day is also known as New Year's Day since the day marks the beginning of the yea ...
– The 75th anniversary
Vienna New Year's Concert The Vienna New Year's Concert () is an annual concert of classical music performed by the Vienna Philharmonic on the morning of New Year's Day in Vienna, Austria. The concert occurs at the Musikverein at 11:15. The orchestra performs the same c ...
by the
Vienna Philharmonic The Vienna Philharmonic (VPO; german: Wiener Philharmoniker, links=no) is an orchestra that was founded in 1842 and is considered to be one of the finest in the world. The Vienna Philharmonic is based at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. It ...
takes place at the Golden Hall of the
Musikverein The ( or ; ), commonly shortened to , is a concert hall in Vienna, Austria, which is located in the Innere Stadt district. The building opened in 1870 and is the home of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra. The acoustics of the building's 'Great ...
, conducted by
Mariss Jansons Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons (14 January 1943 – 1 December 2019) was a Latvian conductor best known for his interpretations of Mahler, Strauss and Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich. During his lifetime he was ...
. *
January 4 Events Pre-1600 *46 BC – Julius Caesar fights Titus Labienus in the Battle of Ruspina. * 871 – Battle of Reading: Æthelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred are defeated by a Danish invasion army. 1601–1900 *1649 – Engli ...
– The USA's
National Symphony Orchestra The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1930, its principal performing venue is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It also performs for the annual National Mem ...
announces the appointment of
Gianandrea Noseda Gianandrea Noseda (born 23 April 1964, Sesto San Giovanni, Italy) is an Italian conductor. Biography Noseda studied piano and composition in Milan. He began conducting studies at age 27. He furthered his conducting studies with Donato Renzett ...
as its next music director, as of the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 4 seasons. *
January 12 Events Pre-1600 * 475 – Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople, and his general, Basiliscus gains control of the empire. *1528 – Gustav I of Sweden is crowned King of Sweden, having already reigned s ...
– Judge Sean H. Lane of the
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York is the United States bankruptcy court within the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The Southern District of New York is a major venue for ba ...
confirmed a reorganisation plan by NYCO Renaissance for revival of
New York City Opera The New York City Opera (NYCO) is an American opera company located in Manhattan in New York City. The company has been active from 1943 through 2013 (when it filed for bankruptcy), and again since 2016 when it was revived. The opera company, du ...
. *
January 13 Events Pre-1600 * 27 BC – Octavian transfers the state to the free disposal of the Roman Senate and the people. He receives Spain, Gaul, and Syria as his province for ten years. * 532 – The Nika riots break out, during the racing ...
Chetham's School of Music Chetham's School of Music () is an independent co-educational music school in Manchester, England. Chetham's educates students between the ages of 8 and 18, all of whom enter via musical auditions. Students receive a full academic education alon ...
announces the appointment of Alun Jones as its new Head, effective September 2016. *
January 14 Events Pre-1600 *1236 – King Henry III of England marries Eleanor of Provence. *1301 – Andrew III of Hungary dies, ending the Árpád dynasty in Hungary. 1601–1900 *1639 – The "Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, Fundamenta ...
**
Minnesota Opera Minnesota Opera is a performance organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was founded as the Center Opera Company in 1963 by the Walker Art Center, and is known for premiering such diverse works as ''Where the Wild Things Are'' by Oliver ...
announces the appointment of Ryan Taylor as its next president and general director, effective 1 May 2016, with an initial contract of 5 years. **
Los Angeles Opera The Los Angeles Opera is an American opera company in Los Angeles, California. It is the fourth-largest opera company in the United States. The company's home base is the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, part of the Los Angeles Music Center. Leadersh ...
announces the appointment of
Matthew Aucoin Matthew Aucoin (born April 4, 1990) is an American composer, conductor, pianist, and writer best known for his operas. Aucoin has received commissions from the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the American Repertory Thea ...
as its first-ever artist-in-residence, effective with the 2016–2017 season, with an initial term of 3 years. *
January 18 Events Pre-1600 * 474 – Seven-year-old Leo II succeeds his maternal grandfather Leo I as Byzantine emperor. He dies ten months later. * 532 – Nika riots in Constantinople fail. * 1126 – Emperor Huizong abdicates the Chi ...
** The Artemis String Quartet announces the appointment of Anthea Kreston as its new second violinist. In parallel, Gregor Sigl, the quartet's second violinist, immediately takes the position of violist of the quartet. ** The Boise Philharmonic Orchestra announces that music director Robert Franz is to conclude his music directorship of the orchestra at the close of the 2015–2016 season. *
January 20 Events Pre-1600 * 250 – Pope Fabian is martyred during the Decian persecution. * 649 – King Chindasuinth, at the urging of bishop Braulio of Zaragoza, crowns his son Recceswinth as co-ruler of the Visigothic Kingdom. * 1156 &ndas ...
**
Friedrich Haider Friedrich Haider (born 7 November 1961) is an Austrian conductor and pianist. Life and work Haider is a graduate of the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz (piano with Martha Picker and conducting with Leopold Mayer), the University of Musi ...
announces his resignation as chief conductor of the Slovak National Theatre. ** The
Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...
and the
Boston Conservatory Boston Conservatory at Berklee (formerly The Boston Conservatory) is a private performing arts conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, music, and theater. Boston Conservatory was founded ...
sign an agreement to merge under the umbrella name of 'Berklee', with the Boston Conservatory location to take the name 'The Boston Conservatory at Berklee'. ** The
Castleton Festival The Castleton Festival, launched in the summer of 2009, is a program of The Chateauville Foundation, established in 1997 by Lorin Maazel and Dietlinde Turban-Maazel. The Castleton Festival is located on Lorin Maazel's estate in Castleton, Virginia ...
announces suspension of its 2016 summer festival season, citing financial difficulties. ** NYCO Renaissance, the successor organisation to
New York City Opera The New York City Opera (NYCO) is an American opera company located in Manhattan in New York City. The company has been active from 1943 through 2013 (when it filed for bankruptcy), and again since 2016 when it was revived. The opera company, du ...
, gives its first performance, of Puccini's ''Tosca''. *
January 21 Events Pre-1600 * 763 – Following the Battle of Bakhamra between Alids and Abbasids near Kufa, the Alid rebellion ends with the death of Ibrahim, brother of Isa ibn Musa. * 1525 – The Swiss Anabaptist Movement is founded when Co ...
– The
Cypress String Quartet The Cypress String Quartet was a professional classical chamber music ensemble founded in San Francisco, California, in 1996. At the time of its disbanding in June 2016, the quartet's members were: * Cecily Ward, violin (founder) * Tom Stone, violi ...
announces that it is to disband in the summer of 2016, after 20 years as an ensemble. *
January 26 Events Pre-1600 * 661 – The Rashidun Caliphate is effectively ended with the assassination of Ali, the last caliph. *1531 – The 6.4–7.1 1531 Lisbon earthquake, Lisbon earthquake kills about thirty thousand people. *1564 – ...
– The
Orkest van het Oosten The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra () is a Dutch symphony orchestra. The home of the orchestra is the Muziekcentrum in Enschede. The orchestra was previously known in Dutch as Orkest van het Oosten (literal translation "Orchestra of the East"), b ...
announces that Jan Willem de Vriend is to conclude his tenure as chief conductor at the end of the 2016–2017 season. *
January 27 Events Pre-1600 * 98 – Trajan succeeds his adoptive father Nerva as Roman emperor; under his rule the Roman Empire will reach its maximum extent. * 945 – The co-emperors Stephen and Constantine are overthrown and forced to becom ...
** The Léonie Sonning Music Foundation announces
Leonidas Kavakos Leonidas Kavakos ( el, Λεωνίδας Καβάκος; born 30 October 1967) is a Greek violinist and conductor. As a violinist, he has won prizes at several international violin competitions, including the Sibelius, Paganini, Naumburg, and In ...
as the recipient of the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2017. ** The
New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...
announces the appointment of
Jaap van Zweden Jaap van Zweden (; born 12 December 1960) is a Dutch conductor and violinist. He is currently music director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and of the New York Philharmonic, and music director-designate of the Seoul Philharmonic. Bi ...
as its next music director, effective with the 2018–2019 season, with an initial contract of 5 seasons. ** The
Dallas Symphony Orchestra The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Dallas, Texas. Its principal performing venue is the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas. History The orchestra traces its origins to a ...
announces that Jaap van Zweden is to conclude his music directorship of the orchestra after the 2017–2018 season, and subsequently to take the title of conductor laureate as of the 2018–2019 season, for a scheduled 3-season period. *
January 28 Events Pre-1600 * 98 – On the death of Nerva, Trajan is declared Roman emperor in Cologne, the seat of his government in lower Germany. * 814 – The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession o ...
**
Wigmore Hall Wigmore Hall is a concert hall located at 36 Wigmore Street, London. Originally called Bechstein Hall, it specialises in performances of chamber music, early music, vocal music and song recitals. It is widely regarded as one of the world's leadin ...
live-streams performances for the first time. ** The Opera di Firenze announces the appointment of
Fabio Luisi Fabio Luisi (born 17 January 1959) is an Italian conductor. He is currently principal conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and chief conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Biog ...
as its next music director, the first conductor to hold that title with the company, and in parallel, as director of the
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (English: Florence Musical May) is an annual Italian arts festival in Florence, including a notable opera festival, under the auspices of the Opera di Firenze. The festival occurs between late April into June annuall ...
, as of April 2018, with an initial contract of 5 years. In parallel,
Zubin Mehta Zubin Mehta (born 29 April 1936) is an Indian conductor of Western classical music. He is music director emeritus of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) and conductor emeritus of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mehta's father was the foun ...
, the company's principal conductor, is to take the title of principal conductor emeritus. *
January 29 Events Pre-1600 * 904 – Sergius III is elected pope, after coming out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher. * 946 – Caliph Al-Mustakfi is blinded and deposed by Emir Mu'izz al-Dawla, ruler o ...
** The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation announces
Per Nørgård Per Nørgård (; born 13 July 1932) is a Danish composer and music theorist. Though his style has varied considerably throughout his career, his music has often included repeatedly evolving melodies—such as the infinity series—in the vein o ...
as the recipient of the 2016 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. **
Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
announces the appointment of
Natalie Clein Natalie Clein (born Poole, Dorset) is a British classical cellist. Her mother is a professional violinist. Her sister is the actress Louisa Clein. Early life and education Clein started playing the cello at the age of six, and attended T ...
as Director of Musical Performance in the Music Faculty, with an initial term of 4 years. *
February 2 Events Pre-1600 * 506 – Alaric II, eighth king of the Visigoths, promulgates the Breviary of Alaric (''Breviarium Alaricianum'' or ''Lex Romana Visigothorum''), a collection of "Roman law". * 880 – Battle of Lüneburg Heath: King ...
– The
Utah Symphony The Utah Symphony is an American orchestra based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The orchestra's principal venue is Abravanel Hall. In addition to its Salt Lake City subscription concerts, the orchestra travels around the Intermountain West serving c ...
announces the appointment of Paul Meecham as the next president and chief executive officer of Utah Symphony and Utah Opera. *
February 3 Events Pre-1600 * 1112 – Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, and Douce I, Countess of Provence, marry, uniting the fortunes of those two states. *1451 – Sultan Mehmed II inherits the throne of the Ottoman Empire. *1488 – ...
– The
Boston Classical Orchestra The Boston Classical Orchestra was a chamber orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1980 by the violinist Robert Brink. The orchestra's music director was Steven Lipsitt. It performed at Faneuil Hall Faneuil Hall ( or ; p ...
board of trustees votes to file for bankruptcy. The orchestra subsequently cancels the remainder of its 2015–2016 season and ceases operations. *
February 4 Events Pre–1600 * 211 – Following the death of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus at Eboracum (modern York, England) while preparing to lead a campaign against the Caledonians, the empire is left in the control of his two quarrellin ...
** The
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. It is the resident orchestra at Symphony Hall: a B:Music Venue in Birmingham, which has been its principal performance venue since 1991. Its a ...
announces the appointment of
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (born Mirga Gražinytė, 2 April 1986 in Vilnius) is a Lithuanian conductor. She is currently musical director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). Biography Early years and education Gražinytė-Tyla wa ...
as its next music director, effective September 2016, with an initial contract of 3 years. ** A ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' report indicates that
Fabio Luisi Fabio Luisi (born 17 January 1959) is an Italian conductor. He is currently principal conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and chief conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Biog ...
is to stand down from the post of principal conductor of the
Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is operat ...
after the 2016–2017 season. *
February 7 Events Pre-1600 * 457 – Leo I becomes the Eastern Roman emperor. * 987 – Bardas Phokas the Younger and Bardas Skleros, Byzantine generals of the military elite, begin a wide-scale rebellion against Emperor Basil II. * 1301 &nd ...
Saint Thomas Church,
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
announces the appointment of Daniel Hyde as its next music director. *
February 8 Events Pre-1600 * 421 – Constantius III becomes co-Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. * 1238 – The Mongols burn the Russian city of Vladimir. *1250 – Seventh Crusade: Crusaders engage Ayyubid forces in the Battle of Al ...
– The
Long Island Philharmonic The Long Island Philharmonic, based in Melville, New York was founded in 1979 by folk singer Harry Chapin, Maestro Christopher Keene, and a group of Long Island's community and business leaders. On February 8, 2016, an announcement was made that ...
announces immediate cessation of operations and closure of the orchestra. *
February 10 Events Pre-1600 * 1258 – Mongol invasions: Baghdad falls to the Mongols, bringing the Islamic Golden Age to an end. * 1306 – In front of the high altar of Greyfriars Church in Dumfries, Robert the Bruce murders John Comyn, sparkin ...
** Decca Classics announces the appointment of Alexander Buhr as its next managing director. ** The
Ojai Music Festival The Ojai Music Festival is an annual classical music festival in the United States. Held in Ojai, California (75 miles northwest of Los Angeles), for four days every June, the festival presents music, symposia, and educational programs emphasizi ...
announces the appointments of its next series of music directors through 2021:
Vijay Iyer Vijay Iyer (born October 26, 1971) is an American composer, pianist, bandleader, producer and writer based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' has called him a "social conscience, multimedia collaborator, system builder, rhapsodist, histori ...
(2017 season),
Esa-Pekka Salonen Esa-Pekka Salonen (; born 30 June 1958) is a Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. He is principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and music di ...
(2018 season),
Barbara Hannigan Barbara Hannigan (born 8 May 1971) is a Canadian soprano and Conducting, conductor, known for her performances of Contemporary classical music, contemporary opera. Education Hannigan's initial musical education came from music teachers in her ...
(2019 season),
Patricia Kopatchinskaja Patricia Kopatchinskaja (born March 1977) is a Moldovan-Austrian-Swiss violinist. Biography Early life Kopatchinskaja was born in Chișinău, in the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic (now Moldova). She comes from a family of musicians. H ...
(2020 season), and
Mitsuko Uchida is a classical pianist and conductor, born in Japan and naturalised in Britain, particularly noted for her interpretations of Mozart and Schubert. She has appeared with many notable orchestras, recorded a wide repertory with several labels, w ...
(2021 season). *
February 11 Events Pre-1600 *660 BC – Traditional date for the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. * 55 – The death under mysterious circumstances of Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, heir to the Roman empire, on the eve of his coming ...
– The
NDR Symphony Orchestra The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra (german: NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester) is a German radio orchestra. Affiliated with the ''Norddeutscher Rundfunk'' (NDR; North German Broadcasting), the orchestra is based at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Ge ...
announces that it is to change its name to the ''NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester'', as of 15 April 2016, as a reflection of its scheduled future residency in the new Elbphilharmonie concert hall in January 2017. *
February 15 Events Pre-1600 * 438 – Roman emperor Theodosius II publishes the law codex Codex Theodosianus * 590 – Khosrau II is crowned king of Persia. * 706 – Byzantine emperor Justinian II has his predecessors Leontios and Tiberi ...
Vancouver Opera Vancouver Opera is the second largest performing arts organization in British Columbia and the largest opera company in western Canada. Its mainstage performances occur in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, other venues in Vancouver and occasionally els ...
announces the appointment of Kim Gaynor as its next general director, effective 1 July 2016. *
February 18 Events Pre-1600 * 1229 – The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, signs a ten-year truce with al-Kamil, regaining Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem with neither military engagements nor support from the papacy. * 1268 &ndas ...
** The
Tucson Symphony Orchestra The Tucson Symphony Orchestra, or TSO, is the primary professional orchestra of Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1928, when the season consisted of just two concerts, the TSO is the oldest continuously running performing arts organization in the South ...
announces the appointment of José Luis Gomez as its next music director, as of the 2017–2018 season. **
Charles Dutoit Charles Édouard Dutoit (born 7 October 1936) is a Swiss conductor. He is currently the principal guest conductor for the Saint Petersburg Philharmonia and co-director of thMISA Festival in Shanghai In 2017, he became the 103rd recipient of th ...
conducts the
Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal The Montreal Symphony Orchestra (french: Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, or OSM) is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The orchestra’s home is the Montreal Symphony House at Place des Arts. It is the only orche ...
(OSM) in his first appearance with the OSM since his sudden 2002 resignation from the OSM music directorship. *
February 19 Events Pre-1600 * 197 – Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum, the bloodiest battle between Roman armies. * 356 – The anti-paganism policy of Constantius II forbids the worship of pagan ...
– The
Royal Philharmonic Society The Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) is a British music society, formed in 1813. Its original purpose was to promote performances of instrumental music in London. Many composers and performers have taken part in its concerts. It is now a memb ...
announces Sir
Peter Maxwell Davies Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (8 September 1934 – 14 March 2016) was an English composer and conductor, who in 2004 was made Master of the Queen's Music. As a student at both the University of Manchester and the Royal Manchester College of Music ...
as the recipient of its 102nd Gold Medal. *
February 24 Events Pre-1600 * 484 – King Huneric of the Vandals replaces Nicene bishops with Arian ones, and banishes some to Corsica. * 1303 – The English are defeated at the Battle of Roslin, in the First War of Scottish Independence. * 13 ...
**
Ian Bostridge Ian Charles Bostridge CBE (born 25 December 1964) is an English tenor, well known for his performances as an opera and lieder singer. Early life and education Bostridge was born in London, the son of Leslie Bostridge and Lillian (née Clark). ...
is announced as the winner of the 60th Pol Roger
Duff Cooper Prize The Duff Cooper Prize is a literary prize awarded annually for the best work of history, biography, political science or occasionally poetry, published in English or French. The prize was established in honour of Duff Cooper, a British diplomat, C ...
for non-fiction writing, for his book ''Schubert's Winter Journey: Anatomy of an Obsession''. **
Opera North Opera North is an English opera company based in Leeds. The company's home theatre is the Leeds Grand Theatre, but it also presents regular seasons in several other cities, at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, the Lowry Centre, Salford Quays and ...
announces the appointment of Aleksandar Marković as its next music director, effective with the 2016–2017 season. ** The
London Mozart Players London Mozart Players (LMP) are a British chamber orchestra founded in 1949. LMP are the longest-established chamber orchestra in the United Kingdom. Since 1989, the orchestra has been Resident Orchestra at Fairfield Halls, Croydon. History B ...
(LMP) announce the appointments of Nick Mallett as chair of the LMP Trust and of Julia Desbruslais as executive director of the LMP. ** The Washington Chorus announces that Julian Wachner is to stand down as its music director after the 2016–2017 season. *
February 25 Events Pre-1600 * 138 – Roman emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius as his son, effectively making him his successor. * 628 – Khosrow II, the last great Shah of the Sasanian Empire (Iran), is overthrown by his son Kavadh II. ...
– The
Ulster Orchestra The Ulster Orchestra, based in Belfast, is the only full-time professional orchestra in Northern Ireland. The orchestra plays the majority of its concerts in Belfast's Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall. It also gives concerts across the United Ki ...
announces the appointment of Richard Wigley as its new managing director, with immediate effect. *
February 26 Events Pre-1600 *747 BC – According to Ptolemy, the epoch (origin) of the Nabonassar Era began at noon on this date. Historians use this to establish the modern BC chronology for dating historic events. * 364 – Valentinian I is p ...
** The chorus of
English National Opera English National Opera (ENO) is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with The Royal Opera. ENO's productions are sung in English ...
have voted to take industrial action to protest proposed contract reductions. ** The
National Orchestra of Belgium The Belgian National Orchestra ( nl, Nationaal Orkest van België, french: Orchestre National de Belgique) is a Belgian orchestra, based in Brussels. Its principal concert venue is the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts (Bozar). The orchestra also gi ...
announces the appointment of
Hugh Wolff Hugh MacPherson Wolff (born October 21, 1953, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) is an American conductor. Biography Born in France while his father was serving in the U.S. Foreign Service, Wolff spent his primary-school years in London. He received his ...
as its next music director, effective with the 2017–2018 season ** The city of
Bonn The federal city of Bonn ( lat, Bonna) is a city on the banks of the Rhine in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with a population of over 300,000. About south-southeast of Cologne, Bonn is in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ruhr r ...
announces the appointment of
Dirk Kaftan Dirk Kaftan (born 1971) is a German opera and concert conductor. Career Born in Marburg, West Germany, Kaftan grew up in Wittlich and Canada. At the age of 18 he began employment as a repetiteur at the Theater Trier. Kaftan then studied sou ...
as the next ''Generalmusikdirektor'' of the
Beethoven Orchester Bonn The Beethoven Orchester Bonn is a German symphony orchestra based in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia. It dates back to 1907, when a professional orchestra was established. Named for Ludwig van Beethoven, who was born in Bonn, the orchestra's princ ...
, effective August 2017, with an initial contract of 5 years. *
February 29 February 29, also known as leap day or leap year day, is a date added to leap years. A leap day is added in various solar calendars (calendars based on the Earth's revolution around the Sun), including the Gregorian calendar standard in mos ...
– The
Berlin Philharmonic The Berlin Philharmonic (german: Berliner Philharmoniker, links=no, italic=no) is a German orchestra based in Berlin. It is one of the most popular, acclaimed and well-respected orchestras in the world. History The Berlin Philharmonic was fo ...
Orchestra announces that Martin Hoffmann is to stand down as ''Intendant'' (General Manager) of the orchestra after the end of the 2016–2017 season. *
March 1 Events Pre-1600 *509 BC – Publius Valerius Publicola celebrates the first Roman triumph, triumph of the Roman Republic after his victory over the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus at the Battle of Silva Arsia. * 293 – Emperor ...
– The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the
Konzerthausorchester Berlin The Konzerthausorchester Berlin is a German symphony orchestra based in Berlin. The orchestra is resident at the Konzerthaus Berlin, designed by the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel. The building was destroyed during World War II, and was rebuil ...
, and the
Staatskapelle Berlin The Staatskapelle Berlin () is a German orchestra and the resident orchestra of the Berlin State Opera, Unter den Linden. The orchestra is one of the oldest in the world. Until the fall of the German Empire in 1918 the orchestra's name was ''Kön ...
jointly perform a free concert for newly arrived refugees and their helpers at the
Philharmonie Berlin The Berliner Philharmonie () is a concert hall in Berlin, Germany, and home to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. The Philharmonie lies on the south edge of the city's Tiergarten and just west of the former Berlin Wall. The Philharmonie is on ...
, under the banner of ''Willkommen in unserer Mitte'' ('Welcome among us'), under the patronage of German Chancellor
Angela Merkel Angela Dorothea Merkel (; ; born 17 July 1954) is a German former politician and scientist who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. A member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), she previously served as Leader of the Oppo ...
. *
March 2 Events Pre-1600 * 537 – Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoth army under king Vitiges begins the siege of the capital. Belisarius conducts a delaying action outside the Flaminian Gate; he and a detachment of his ''bucellarii'' are almost cut o ...
** The
Bridgewater Hall The Bridgewater Hall is a concert venue in Manchester city centre, England. It cost around £42 million to build in the 1990s, and hosts over 250 performances a year. It is home to the 165-year-old Hallé Orchestra as well as to the Hallé ...
announces the appointment of Andrew Bolt as its new chief executive. ** The
Trondheim Symphony Orchestra The Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Opera ( Norwegian: ''Trondheim Symfoniorkester & Opera'') is a Norwegian orchestra based in Trondheim, Norway. Its principal concert venue is the Olavshallen. The orchestra is organised as a trust and receives p ...
announces the appointment of
Han-na Chang Han-Na Chang (Korean: 장한나, Hanja: 張漢娜, ; born December 23, 1982) is a South Korean conductor and cellist. Born in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, Chang began studying piano at age 3, and cello at age 6. In 1993, her family moved to ...
as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season. **
Piotr Anderszewski Piotr Anderszewski () (born 1969) is a Polish pianist and composer. Biographical background Anderszewski was born in Warsaw, Poland. His father's family was part of Poland's aristocracy while his mother came from a Jewish Hungarian family. He s ...
announces that he is taking an undefined sabbatical from performing. His final concert before the start of his sabbatical was on 4 March 2016 in New York City. *
March 4 Events Pre-1600 *AD 51 – Nero, later to become Roman emperor, is given the title '' princeps iuventutis'' (head of the youth). * 306 – Martyrdom of Saint Adrian of Nicomedia. * 852 – Croatian Knez Trpimir I issues a st ...
– The Theater Nordhausen and
Loh-Orchester Sondershausen The Loh-Orchester Sondershausen is an orchestra from Sondershausen founded around 1600. It influenced Music in Germany in the 19th century by helping the music of Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt to achieve a breakthrough. Since 1991, the Loh-Orch ...
announce the appointment of
Michael Helmrath Michael Helmrath (born 15 April 1954) is a German oboist and conductor and since the 2016/2017 season, active as General Music Director of the . Life Born in Wuppertal, after studying oboe and conducting at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Kö ...
as their next ''Generalmusikdirektor'' (GMD), for 2 seasons, from the period of 2016–2018. *
March 9 Events Pre-1600 *141 BC – Liu Che, posthumously known as Emperor Wu of Han, assumes the throne over the Han dynasty of China. *1009 – First known mention of Lithuania, in the annals of the monastery of Quedlinburg. * 1226 – ...
– The
Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal Op ...
, Covent Garden announces the appointment of William Spaulding as its next chorus director, effective with the 2016–2017 season. *
March 10 Events Pre-1600 * 241 BC – First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates: The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing the First Punic War to an end. * 298 – Roman Emperor Maximian concludes his campaign in North Africa and makes a t ...
** The
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) is a British chamber ensemble based in Birmingham, England specialising in the performance of new and contemporary music. BCMG performs regularly at the CBSO Centre and Symphony Hall in Birmingham, tour ...
announces the appointment of Stephan Meier as its next artistic director, effective August 2016. ** The
Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...
announces the appointment of
Thomas Adès Thomas Joseph Edmund Adès (born 1 March 1971) is a British composer, pianist and conductor. Five compositions by Adès received votes in the 2017 Classic Voice poll of the greatest works of art music since 2000: '' The Tempest'' (2004), ''V ...
as its first-ever Artistic Partner, for a period of 3 years commencing in August 2016. *
March 14 Events Pre-1600 * 1074 – Battle of Mogyoród: Dukes Géza and Ladislaus defeat their cousin Solomon, King of Hungary, forcing him to flee to Hungary's western borderland. * 1590 – Battle of Ivry: Henry of Navarre and the Huguen ...
– Mid Wales Opera announces the appointments of Jonathan Lyness as its next music director, and of Richard Studer as its next artistic director, effective April 2017. *
March 15 Events Pre-1600 * 474 BC – Roman consul Aulus Manlius Vulso celebrates an ovation for concluding the war against Veii and securing a forty years' truce. *44 BC – The assassination of Julius Caesar takes place. * 493 – Odoa ...
– The Landeskapelle Eisenach announces the appointment of Andreas Fellner as its new chief conductor, effective with the 2016–2017 season. *
March 18 Events Pre-1600 * 37 – Roman Senate annuls Tiberius' will and proclaims Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ''(aka Caligula = Little Boots)'' emperor.Tacitus, ''Annals'' V.10. * 1068 – An earthquake in the Levant and the Ara ...
– The chorus of English National Opera (ENO) announced that its union, Equity, negotiated with ENO management a guaranteed annual pay package of £35,000, rather than the management-proposed reduction to £30,685. The ENO chorus subsequently did not resort to industrial action in protest at the earlier proposal, as had been decided on 26 February. *
March 21 Events Pre-1600 * 537 – Siege of Rome: King Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern city walls, but is repulsed at the Praenestine Gate, known as the ''Vivarium'', by the defenders under the Byzantine generals Bessas an ...
– The
Gloucester Cathedral Gloucester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the River Severn. It originated with the establishment of a minster dedicated to S ...
Choir announces that it is to recruit girl choristers for the first time in its history, in April 2016. *
March 22 Events Pre-1600 * 106 – Start of the Bostran era, the calendar of the province of Arabia Petraea. * 235 – Roman emperor Severus Alexander is murdered, marking the start of the Crisis of the Third Century. * 871 – Æthelr ...
Mark Wigglesworth Mark Wigglesworth (born 19 July 1964) is a British conductor. Biography Born in Sussex, Wigglesworth attended Bryanston School, Manchester University, and the Royal Academy of Music in London. He won the Kondrashin Conducting Competition in ...
announces his resignation as music director of English National Opera, effective at the end of the 2015–2016 season. *
March 24 Events Pre-1600 * 1199 – King Richard I of England is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting in France, leading to his death on April 6. *1387 – English victory over a Franco- Castilian-Flemish fleet in the Battle of Margate off ...
– The Orchestre national de Lille announces the appointment of Alexandre Bloch as its new music director, effective with the 2016–2017 season. *
March 29 Events Pre-1600 * 845 – Paris is sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collects a huge ransom in exchange for leaving. * 1430 – The Ottoman Empire under Murad II captures Thessalonica from the Republic of ...
– Jeff Melanson resigns as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the
Toronto Symphony Orchestra The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1906, the TSO gave regular concerts at Massey Hall until 1982, and since then has performed at Roy Thomson Hall. The TSO also manages the Toronto ...
(TSO). The orchestra announces that Sonia Baxendale is to be the TSO's interim CEO. Both actions are with immediate effect. *
April 5 Events Pre-1600 * 823 – Lothair I is crowned King of Italy by Pope Paschal I. * 919 – The second Fatimid invasion of Egypt begins, when the Fatimid heir-apparent, al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah, sets out from Raqqada at the head of his a ...
– The
Orchestre National de Lyon The Orchestre National de Lyon (ONL) is a French orchestra based in Lyon. Its primary concert venue is l'Auditorium de Lyon. The orchestra operates with the help of a subsidy from the French Ministry of Culture and from the Rhône-Alpes regional ...
announces that
Leonard Slatkin Leonard Edward Slatkin (born September 1, 1944) is an American conductor, author and composer. Early life and education Slatkin was born in Los Angeles to a Jewish musical family that came from areas of the Russian Empire now in Ukraine. His fat ...
is to stand down as its music director after the 2016–2017 season, and subsequently to take the title of ''Directeur musical honoraire''. *
April 13 Events Pre-1600 *1111 – Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. * 1204 – Constantinople falls to the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade, temporarily ending the Byzantine Empire. 1601–1900 *1612 – In one of the epic samurai ...
** The City of London Festival announces that it is ceasing operations. **
NorrlandsOperan The NorrlandsOperan (literal translation, ''The Norrland's Opera''; NOP), is a Swedish opera company in Umeå, located in Norrland, Sweden. The ownership of NOP is divided between the Umeå Municipality (40%) and the Västerbotten County Council ...
announces the appointment of Elim Chan as its next chief conductor, effective in 2017, with an initial contract of 3 years. ** The
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (German: ''ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien'', or RSO Wien) is the orchestra of the Austrian national broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF). Unlike most other Austrian orchestras, the RSO Wien has a sub ...
announces that
Cornelius Meister Cornelius Meister (born 23 February 1980 in Hannover, is a German conductor and pianist. Biography Meister's father, Konrad Meister, was a pianist and professor of piano at the Musikhochschule Hannover. His mother is also a piano teacher. His h ...
is to stand down as its chief conductor in 2018, at the end of his current contract. *
April 14 Events Pre-1600 * 43 BC – Legions loyal to the Roman Senate, commanded by Gaius Pansa, defeat the forces of Mark Antony in the Battle of Forum Gallorum. * 69 – Vitellius, commanding Rhine-based armies, defeats Roman emperor Otho ...
– The
Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is operat ...
announces that
James Levine James Lawrence Levine (; June 23, 1943 – March 9, 2021) was an American conductor and pianist. He was music director of the Metropolitan Opera from 1976 to 2016. He was terminated from all his positions and affiliations with the Met on March 1 ...
is to retire as its music director at the end of the 2015=2016 season, and subsequently to take the title of music director emeritus. *
April 18 Events Pre-1600 * 796 – King Æthelred I of Northumbria is murdered in Corbridge by a group led by his ealdormen, Ealdred and Wada. The ''patrician'' Osbald is crowned, but abdicates within 27 days. * 1428 – Peace of Ferrara betw ...
** The
Royal Northern College of Music The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) is a conservatoire located in Manchester, England. It is one of four conservatoires associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. In addition to being a centre of music education ...
announces the appointment of Sir John Tomlinson as its next president, for a term of 5 years, effective January 2017. ** The Göttingen Symphony Orchestra announces that Christoph-Mathias Mueller is to conclude his chief conductorship of the orchestra after the close of the 2017–2018 season. *
April 19 Events Pre-1600 *AD 65 – The freedman Milichus betrays Piso's plot to kill the Emperor Nero and all the conspirators are arrested. * 531 – Battle of Callinicum: A Byzantine army under Belisarius is defeated by the Persians at ...
** The city of
Wuppertal Wuppertal (; "''Wupper Dale''") is, with a population of approximately 355,000, the seventh-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia as well as the 17th-largest city of Germany. It was founded in 1929 by the merger of the cities and to ...
announces the appointment of
Julia Jones Julia Jones (born January 23, 1981) is an American actress, known for playing Leah Clearwater in '' The Twilight Saga'' films and Kohana in the HBO series ''Westworld''. She also co-stars on '' Dexter: New Blood''. Early life and education Jul ...
as the next General Music Director (''Generalmusikdirektorin'') of the Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra (Sinfonieorchesters Wuppertal), which also encompasses the music directorship of the Wuppertal Opera (''Wuppertaler Bühnen''), with an initial contract for 3 years, effective with the 2016–2017 season. ** The
RIAS Kammerchor The RIAS Kammerchor (RIAS Chamber Choir) is a German choir based in Berlin, Germany. It receives support from the Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre GmbH Berlin ("Berlin Radio Orchestra and Choirs"), a limited-liability company owned by the public bro ...
announces the appointment of Justin Doyle as its next chief conductor and artistic director, effective with the 2017–2018 season. *
April 20 Events Pre-1600 * 1303 – The Sapienza University of Rome is instituted by a bull of Pope Boniface VIII. 1601–1900 * 1653 – Oliver Cromwell dissolves England's Rump Parliament. * 1657 – English Admiral Robert Blake destroy ...
– The
Scottish Chamber Orchestra The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is an Edinburgh-based UK chamber orchestra. One of Scotland's five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and S ...
announces the appointment of Gavin Reid as its next chief executive, effective 29 August 2016. In parallel, Reid is to stand down as director of the
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) is a Scottish broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), it is the oldest full-time professional rad ...
on 28 August 2016. *
April 23 Events Pre-1600 * 215 BC – A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Lake Trasimene. * 599 – Maya king Uneh Chan of Calakmul attacks rival city-state Palenque in southe ...
– The London Woodwind Orchestra, the first professional woodwind orchestra in the UK, gives its debut performance at
St John's Smith Square St John's Smith Square is a redundant church in the centre of Smith Square, Westminster, London. Sold to a charitable trust as a ruin following firebombing in the Second World War, it was restored as a concert hall. This Grade I listed churc ...
. *
April 29 Events Pre-1600 *1091 – Battle of Levounion: The Pechenegs are defeated by Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. * 1386 – Battle of the Vikhra River: The Principality of Smolensk is defeated by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and beco ...
– English National Opera announces the appointment of Daniel Kramer as its next artistic director, effective 1 August 2016. *
May 5 Events Pre-1600 * 553 – The Second Council of Constantinople begins. *1215 – Rebel barons renounce their allegiance to King John of England — part of a chain of events leading to the signing of the Magna Carta. * 1260 – Ku ...
– The
Bayerischer Rundfunk Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR; "Bavarian Broadcasting") is a public-service radio and television broadcaster, based in Munich, capital city of the Free State of Bavaria in Germany. BR is a member organization of the ARD consortium of public broadcas ...
announces the appointment of Ivan Repušić as the next chief conductor of the
Munich Radio Orchestra The Munich Radio Orchestra (German: ''Münchner Rundfunkorchester'') is a German symphony broadcast orchestra based in Munich. It is one of the two orchestras affiliated with the Bavarian Radio (Bayerischer Rundfunk), the other being the Bavarian ...
, effective in 2017. *
May 12 Events Pre-1600 * 254 – Pope Stephen I succeeds Pope Lucius I, becoming the 23rd pope of the Catholic Church, and immediately takes a stand against Novatianism. * 907 – Zhu Wen forces Emperor Ai into abdicating, ending the Tang d ...
– The
European Union Youth Orchestra The European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) is a youth orchestra with members drawn from the 27 members states of the European Union. Since its foundation in 1976, it has connected music colleges and the professional music world for generations o ...
announces that it is to cease operations as of 1 September 2016, because of a lack of financial support from the
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
. *
May 15 Events Pre-1600 * 221 – Liu Bei, Chinese warlord, proclaims himself emperor of Shu Han, the successor of the Han dynasty. * 392 – Emperor Valentinian II is assassinated while advancing into Gaul against the Frankish usurper Arbog ...
– Sheku Kanneh-Mason wins the 2016
BBC Young Musician of the Year BBC Young Musician is a televised national music competition broadcast wikt:biennially, biennially on BBC Television and BBC Radio 3. Originally BBC Young Musician of the Year, its name was changed in 2010. The competition, a former member of t ...
award. *
May 17 Events Pre-1600 *1395 – Battle of Rovine: The Wallachians defeat an invading Ottoman army. * 1521 – Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason. * 1527 – Pánfilo de Narváez departs Spain to explore Flo ...
Itzhak Perlman Itzhak Perlman ( he, יצחק פרלמן; born August 31, 1945) is an Israeli-American violinist widely considered one of the greatest violinists in the world. Perlman has performed worldwide and throughout the United States, in venues that hav ...
announces via his Facebook page the cancellation of his scheduled 18 May 2016 appearance with the
North Carolina Symphony The North Carolina Symphony (NCS) is an American orchestra based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with sixty-six full-time musicians. The orchestra performs in Meymandi Concert Hall and performs occasionally with the Carolina Ballet and the Opera Com ...
, in protest at House Bill 2 (North Carolina General Assembly 2016 Second Extra Session). *
May 18 Events Pre-1600 * 332 – Emperor Constantine the Great announces free distributions of food to the citizens in Constantinople. * 872 – Louis II of Italy is crowned for the second time as Holy Roman Emperor at Rome, at the age of 4 ...
** The ''Hessische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst'' announces the appointment of Patrick Lange as the next ''Generalmusikdirektor'' of the Staatstheater Wiesbaden, as of the 2017–2018 season. **
San Francisco Opera San Francisco Opera (SFO) is an American opera company founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola (1881–1953) based in San Francisco, California. History Gaetano Merola (1923–1953) Merola's road to prominence in the Bay Area began in 1906 when he ...
announces that
Nicola Luisotti Nicola Luisotti (born 26 November 1961, in Viareggio, Italy) is an Italian conductor. He currently holds the title "Director Principal Invitado" (principal guest conductor) of Madrid's Teatro Real. Biography Luisotti grew up in Bargecchia. He ...
is to conclude his music directorship of the company at the close of the 2017–2018 season. *
May 20 Events Pre-1600 * 325 – The First Council of Nicaea is formally opened, starting the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church. * 491 – Empress Ariadne marries Anastasius I. The widowed '' Augusta'' is able to choose her ...
Oliver Knussen Stuart Oliver Knussen (12 June 1952 – 8 July 2018) was a British composer and conductor. Early life Oliver Knussen was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Stuart Knussen, was principal double bass of the London Symphony Orchestra, and a ...
receives The Queen's Medal for Music 2015, in a private audience with HRH Queen
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
. *
May 24 Events Pre-1600 * 919 – The nobles of Franconia and Saxony elect Henry the Fowler at the Imperial Diet in Fritzlar as king of the East Frankish Kingdom. * 1218 – The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. * 1276 – Magnus La ...
**
Sotheby's Sotheby's () is a British-founded American multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, and ...
auctions a contract signed in 1829 by music editor
Adolf Bernhard Marx Friedrich Heinrich Adolf Bernhard Marx . B. Marx(15 May 1795, Halle – 17 May 1866, Berlin) was a German music theorist, critic, and musicologist. Life Marx was the son of a Jewish doctor in Halle who, though a member of the congregation, was ...
and publisher
Adolf Martin Schlesinger Adolf Martin Schlesinger (4 October 1769 – 11 October 1838) was a German music publisher whose firm became one of the most influential in Berlin in the early nineteenth century. Career Schlesinger was Jewish, and was born Aaron Moses Schlesing ...
to publish
Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...
's ''
St Matthew Passion The ''St Matthew Passion'' (german: Matthäus-Passion, links=-no), BWV 244, is a '' Passion'', a sacred oratorio written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander. It sets ...
''. ** Universal Classics USA announces the appointment of Graham Parker as its next president. *
May 25 Events Pre-1600 * 567 BC – Servius Tullius, the king of Rome, celebrates a triumph for his victory over the Etruscans. *240 BC – First recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. * 1085 – Alfonso VI of Castile takes Tol ...
– The
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (GSO; sv, Göteborgs Symfoniker) is a Swedish symphony orchestra based in Gothenburg. The GSO is resident at the Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen. The orchestra received the title of the National Orche ...
announces the appointment of
Santtu-Matias Rouvali Santtu-Matias Rouvali (born 5 November 1985) is a Finnish conductor and percussionist. He is currently chief conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, and principal conductor of the Philharmonia Orc ...
as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 4 years. *
June 1 Events Pre-1600 *1215 – Zhongdu (now Beijing), then under the control of the Jurchen people, Jurchen ruler Emperor Xuanzong of Jin, is captured by the Mongols under Genghis Khan, ending the Battle of Zhongdu. *1252 – Alfonso X is pr ...
– The European Commission announces funding of 600K € for the European Union Youth Orchestra, as a short-term solution to prevent the pending closure of the orchestra. *
June 2 Events Pre-1600 * 455 – Sack of Rome: Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks. * 1098 – First Crusade: The first Siege of Antioch ends as Crusader forces take the city; the second siege began five days later. 1601 ...
** The
Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is operat ...
announces the appointment of
Yannick Nézet-Séguin Yannick Nézet-Séguin, CC (; born Yannick Séguin;David Patrick Stearns, "Nezet-Seguin signs Philadelphia Orchestra contract". ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', 19 June 2010. 6 March 1975) is a Canadian ( Québécois) conductor and pianist. He ...
as its next music director, effective with the 2020–2021 season, with an initial contract of 5 seasons. ** The
Grand Rapids Symphony The Grand Rapids Symphony is a professional orchestra located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1930, the Symphony is celebrating its 90th anniversary season in 2019-20. In 2006, its recording ''Invention and Alchemy'' was nominated for ...
announces the appointment of Marcelo Lehninger as its next music director, effective with the 2016–2018 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. *
June 6 Events Pre-1600 * 913 – Constantine VII, the eight-year-old illegitimate son of Leo VI the Wise, becomes nominal ruler of the Byzantine Empire under the regency of a seven-man council headed by Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos, appointed b ...
– The
University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
announces the appointment of the Ligeti Quartet as the first holders of the Cambridge Chamber Music Residency. *
June 8 Events Pre-1600 * 218 – Battle of Antioch: With the support of the Syrian legions, Elagabalus defeats the forces of emperor Macrinus. * 452 – Attila leads a Hun army in the invasion of Italy, devastating the northern provinces ...
– The ''Tiroler Landestheater'' and the Innsbruck Symphony Orchestra announce that Francesco Angelico is to conclude his chief conductorship of both institutions after the 2016–2017 season. *
June 12 Events Pre-1600 * 910 – Battle of Augsburg: The Hungarians defeat the East Frankish army under King Louis the Child, using the famous feigned retreat tactic of the nomadic warriors. * 1240 – At the instigation of Louis IX of Fr ...
– Queen's Birthday Honours **
Alison Balsom Alison Louise Balsom, Lady Mendes, (born 7 October 1978) is an English trumpet soloist, arranger, producer, and music educator. Balsom was awarded Artist of the Year at the 2013 Gramophone Awards and has won three Classic BRIT Awards and thre ...
is awarded an
Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
(OBE). ** Brian Lang,
Colin Lawson Colin James Lawson (born 24 July 1949) is a British clarinettist, scholar, and Television presenter, broadcaster. He was born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea and educated at Bradford Grammar School. A pupil of Thea King, Lawson was a member of the Natio ...
, Paul Lewis, John McLeod are each made a
Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
. *
June 13 Events Pre-1600 * 313 – The decisions of the Edict of Milan, signed by Constantine the Great and co-emperor Licinius, Valerius Licinius, granting religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire, are published in Nicomedia. *1325 – Ib ...
**
Radio France Radio France is the French national public radio broadcaster. Stations Radio France offers seven national networks: *France Inter — Radio France's "generalist" station, featuring entertaining and informative talk mixed with a wide variety of ...
announces the appointment of
Emmanuel Krivine Emmanuel Krivine (born 7 May 1947, Grenoble) is a French conductor. Biography The son of a Polish mother and a Russian father, Krivine studied the violin as a youth. He was a winner of the ''Premier Prix'' at the Paris Conservatoire, at age 16. ...
as the next music director of the
Orchestre National de France The Orchestre national de France (ONF; literal translation, ''National Orchestra of France'') is a French symphony orchestra based in Paris, founded in 1934. Placed under the administration of the French national radio (named Radio France since ...
, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. ** The
Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...
announces that Chris Cotton, its current chief executive, is to retire. *
June 15 Events Pre-1600 * 763 BC – Assyrians record a solar eclipse that is later used to fix the chronology of Mesopotamian history. * 844 – Louis II is crowned as king of Italy at Rome by pope Sergius II. * 923 – Battle of So ...
– The Ministry of Science, Research and Art
Baden-Württemberg Baden-Württemberg (; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million inhabitants across a ...
announces the appointment of Cornelius Meister as the next ''Generalmusikdirektor'' (GMD) of the
Stuttgart State Opera The Staatsoper Stuttgart (Stuttgart State Opera) is a German opera company based in Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The Staatsorchester Stuttgart serves as its resident orchestra. History Performances of operas, ballet a ...
and of the
Stuttgart State Orchestra The Staatsorchester Stuttgart (Stuttgart State Orchestra; full name, ''Württembergisches Staatsorchester oder Orchester der Württembergischen Staatstheater'') is a German symphony orchestra based in Stuttgart. The orchestra is resident at the St ...
, effective with the 2018–2019 season, with an initial contract of six seasons. *
June 23 Events Pre-1600 * 229 – Sun Quan proclaims himself emperor of Eastern Wu. * 1266 – War of Saint Sabas: In the Battle of Trapani, the Venetians defeat a larger Genoese fleet, capturing all its ships. * 1280 – The Spanish Re ...
** The Mieczysła Karłowicz Philharmonic Orchestra announces the appointment of Rune Bergmann as its next artistic director and principal conductor, effective with the 2016–2017 season. ** The
Kennedy Center Honors The Kennedy Center Honors are annual honors given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. They have been presented annually since 1978, culminating each December in a gala celebrating five hono ...
announces its list of 2016 honorees, which includes
Martha Argerich Martha Argerich (; Eastern Catalan: ɾʒəˈɾik born 5 June 1941) is an Argentine classical concert pianist. She is widely considered to be one of the greatest pianists of all time. Early life and education Argerich was born in Buenos Ai ...
. *
June 24 Events Pre-1600 * 1312 BC – Mursili II launches a campaign against the Kingdom of Azzi-Hayasa. * 109 – Roman emperor Trajan inaugurates the Aqua Traiana, an aqueduct that channels water from Lake Bracciano, northwest of Rome. * ...
** Never heard during the composer's lifetime, ''Still Point'' by
Daphne Oram Daphne Blake Oram (31 December 1925 – 5 January 2003) was a British composer and electronic musician. She was one of the first British composers to produce electronic sound, and was an early practitioner of musique concrète in the UK. As a c ...
receives its world premiere at St John's Smith Square, London, 67 years after Oram composed the work. ** The
Aix-en-Provence Aix-en-Provence (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Ais de Provença in classical norm, or in Mistralian norm, ; la, Aquae Sextiae), or simply Aix ( medieval Occitan: ''Aics''), is a city and commune in southern France, about north of Marseille. ...
Festival announces the appointment of Pierre Audi as its next artistic director, effective 2018. In parallel, Audi is to stand down as artistic director of De Nederlandse Opera. *
June 26 Events Pre-1600 * 4 – Augustus adopts Tiberius. * 221 – Roman emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as his heir and receives the title of Caesar. * 363 – Roman emperor Julian is killed during the retreat f ...
– The Cypress String Quartet gives their final concert in San Francisco, at the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera, before formally disbanding. *
June 27 Events Pre-1600 * 1358 – The Republic of Ragusa is founded. * 1497 – Cornish rebels Michael An Gof and Thomas Flamank are executed at Tyburn, London, England. * 1499 – Americo Vespucci, on Spanish financed trip, sights coas ...
Kentucky Opera The Kentucky Opera is an American opera company based in Louisville, Kentucky. The company is resident at the Brown Theatre, as part of Kentucky Performing Arts. The Louisville Orchestra is the accompanying orchestra for the company. Moritz von ...
announces the appointment of Ian Derrer as its new general director, effective 1 September 2016. *
June 29 Events Pre-1600 * 226 – Cao Rui succeeds his father as emperor of the Kingdom of Wei. *1149 – Raymond of Poitiers is defeated and killed at the Battle of Inab by Nur ad-Din Zangi. * 1194 – Sverre is crowned King of Norway, ...
Opera de Montreal Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a ...
announces the appointment of Patrick Corrigan as its next general director, effective September 2016. *
June 30 Events Pre-1600 * 296 – Pope Marcellinus begins his papacy. * 763 – The Byzantine Empire, Byzantine army of emperor Constantine V defeats the First Bulgarian Empire, Bulgarian forces in the Battle of Anchialus (763), Battle of Anc ...
**
Barbara Hannigan Barbara Hannigan (born 8 May 1971) is a Canadian soprano and Conducting, conductor, known for her performances of Contemporary classical music, contemporary opera. Education Hannigan's initial musical education came from music teachers in her ...
and Gerald Fagan are each appointed a
Member of the Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with ...
. ** The
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra The New Jersey Symphony, formerly the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, is an American symphony orchestra based in the state of New Jersey. The New Jersey Symphony is the state orchestra of New Jersey, performing classical subscription concert serie ...
announces the appointment of Gabriel van Aalst as its new president and chief executive officer, effective October 2016. *
July 9 Events Pre-1600 *118 – Hadrian, who became emperor a year previously on Trajan's death, makes his entry into Rome. * 381 – The end of the First Council of Christian bishops convened in Constantinople by the Roman Emperor Theodos ...
– The first complete performance of the Cello Concerto of
Herbert Howells Herbert Norman Howells (17 October 1892 – 23 February 1983) was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music. Life Background and early education Howells was born in Lydney, Gloucest ...
occurs at Gloucester Cathedral as part of the Cheltenham Festival. *
July 11 Events Pre-1600 * 472 – After being besieged in Rome by his own generals, Western Roman Emperor Anthemius is captured in St. Peter's Basilica and put to death. * 813 – Byzantine emperor Michael I, under threat by conspiracies, abd ...
– The
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The orchestra gives the majority of its performances in the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons. It is also the resident orchestra for the Calgary Opera, A ...
announces the appointment of Rune Bergmann as its next music director, effective with the 2017–2018 season. *
July 13 Events Pre-1600 * 1174 – William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173–74, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Henry II of England. * 1249 – Coronation of Alexander III as King of Scots. *1260 – The Livon ...
– The
Guildhall School of Music and Drama The Guildhall School of Music and Drama is a conservatoire and drama school located in the City of London, United Kingdom. Established in 1880, the school offers undergraduate and postgraduate training in all aspects of classical music and jazz ...
announces the appointment of Lynne Williams as its next principal, effective in 2017. *
July 17 Events Pre-1600 * 180 – Twelve inhabitants of Scillium (near Kasserine, modern-day Tunisia) in North Africa are executed for being Christians. This is the earliest record of Christianity in that part of the world. * 1048 – Damas ...
– The
SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg The Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra (also known in English as the SWR Baden-Baden Freiburg Symphony Orchestra and in German as the Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks) was a German radio orchestra located in the German cities of Bad ...
gives its final concert in Freiburg, before its scheduled merger with the
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra The Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (German: ''Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR'') was a German radio orchestra based in Stuttgart in Germany. History The ensemble was founded in 1945 by American occupation authorities as the orchest ...
. *
July 26 Events Pre-1600 * 657 – First Fitna: In the Battle of Siffin, troops led by Ali ibn Abu Talib clash with those led by Muawiyah I. * 811 – Battle of Pliska: Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I is killed and his heir Staurakios is seri ...
– The Konstanzer Gemeinderat announces the appointment of Ari Rasilainen as the next chief conductor of the Südwestdeutschen Philharmonie, effective with the 206–2017 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. *
July 28 Events Pre-1600 * 1364 – Troops of the Republic of Pisa and the Republic of Florence clash in the Battle of Cascina. * 1540 – Henry VIII of England marries his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, on the same day his former Chancellor, T ...
– The
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra The Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (German: ''Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR'') was a German radio orchestra based in Stuttgart in Germany. History The ensemble was founded in 1945 by American occupation authorities as the orchest ...
gives its final concert in London at the
Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...
as part of
The Proms The BBC Proms or Proms, formally named the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts Presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hal ...
, before its scheduled merger with the
SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg The Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra (also known in English as the SWR Baden-Baden Freiburg Symphony Orchestra and in German as the Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks) was a German radio orchestra located in the German cities of Bad ...
. *
August 2 Events Pre-1600 *338 BC – A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Battle of Chaeronea, securing Macedonian hegemony in Greece and the Aegean. *216 BC – The Carthaginian arm ...
– The
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) is a Scottish broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), it is the oldest full-time professional rad ...
announces the appointment of Dominic Parker as its new Director, in succession to Gavin Reid. *
August 18 Events Pre-1600 * 684 – Battle of Marj Rahit: Umayyad partisans defeat the supporters of Ibn al-Zubayr and cement Umayyad control of Syria. * 707 – Princess Abe accedes to the imperial Japanese throne as Empress Genmei. *1304 & ...
** The Finnish National Opera and Ballet announces the appointment of
Esa-Pekka Salonen Esa-Pekka Salonen (; born 30 June 1958) is a Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. He is principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and music di ...
as its first-ever Artist in Association, for the period from September 2016 to 2021. ** The
Toronto Symphony Orchestra The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1906, the TSO gave regular concerts at Massey Hall until 1982, and since then has performed at Roy Thomson Hall. The TSO also manages the Toronto ...
announces the appointment of Gary Hanson as its interim chief executive officer, effective 26 September 2016, with a contract of up to 2 years. *
August 23 Events Pre-1600 *30 BC – After the successful invasion of Egypt, Octavian executes Marcus Antonius Antyllus, the eldest son of Mark Antony, and Caesarion, the last king of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt and only child of Julius Caesar ...
– The
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (RPhO; nl, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest) is a Dutch symphony orchestra based in Rotterdam. Its primary venue is the concert hall De Doelen. The RPhO is considered one of the Netherlands' two principal orc ...
announces the appointment of Lahav Shani as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2018–2019 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. *
September 7 Events Pre-1600 * 70 – A Roman army under Titus occupies and plunders Jerusalem. * 878 – Louis the Stammerer is crowned as king of West Francia by Pope John VIII. *1159 – Pope Alexander III is chosen. *1191 – Third Cru ...
– Never publicly performed during the composer's lifetime, the
BBC Philharmonic The BBC Philharmonic is a national British broadcasting symphony orchestra and is one of five radio orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The Philharmonic is a department of the BBC North Group division based at MediaC ...
gave the premiere of the Symphony No 6 of Arnold Cooke at the BBC Philharmonic Studio, MediaCityUK, in Salford Quays. *
September 8 Events Pre-1600 * 617 – Battle of Huoyi: Li Yuan defeats a Sui dynasty army, opening the path to his capture of the imperial capital Chang'an and the eventual establishment of the Tang dynasty. * 1100 – Election of Antipope Theodor ...
– The musicians of the
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Fort Worth, Texas. The orchestra is resident at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall. In addition to its symphonic and pops concert series, the FWSO ...
take industrial action and go on strike, following a breakdown in contract negotiations between the orchestra's management and musicians. *
September 9 Events Pre-1600 * 337 – Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans succeed their father Constantine I as co-emperors. The Roman Empire is divided between the three Augusti. *1000 – Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. * 1141 – ...
** The Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini announces the appointment of Alpesh Chauhan as its next principal conductor, effective September 2017. ** The
Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music is an annual Festival dedicated to contemporary symphonic music by living composers. The music director since 2017 has been Cristian Măcelaru. According to Jesse Rosen, CEO of the League of American Orc ...
announces the appointment of Cristian Măcelaru as its new music director, with immediate effect. *
September 12 Events Pre-1600 *490 BC – Battle of Marathon: The conventionally accepted date for the Battle of Marathon. The Athenians and their Plataean allies defeat the first Persian invasion force of Greece. * 372 – Sixteen Kingdoms: Ji ...
** The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden announces the appointment of Oliver Mears as its next Director of Opera, effective March 2017. ** The
Colorado Symphony The Colorado Symphony is an American symphony orchestra located in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1989 as the successor to the Denver Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony performs in Boettcher Concert Hall, located in the Denver Performing ...
announces the appointment of
Brett Mitchell Brett Mitchell (born July 2, 1979) is an American conductor, composer, and pianist. He began a three-year term as Artistic Director & Conductor of the Sunriver Music Festival in August 2022. He previously served as music director of the Colorad ...
as its next music director, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 4 years. *
September 16 Events Pre-1600 * 681 – Pope Honorius I is posthumously excommunicated by the Sixth Ecumenical Council. *1400 – Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers. 1601–1900 * 1620 – A determined band of 35 relig ...
– The
Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern The Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern (German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern) is a German radio orchestra. Its administrative headquarters is in Saarbrücken, at the ''Funkhaus Halberg''. The or ...
announces the appointment of
Pietari Inkinen Pietari Inkinen (born 29 April 1980, Kouvola, Finland) is a Finnish violinist and conductor. Biography Inkinen began violin and piano studies at age 4. As a youth, he also performed in a rock band. He attended the Sibelius Academy and gradu ...
as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 4 years. *
September 22 Events Pre-1600 * 904 – The warlord Zhu Quanzhong kills Emperor Zhaozong, the penultimate emperor of the Tang dynasty, after seizing control of the imperial government. * 1236 – The Samogitians defeat the Livonian Brothers of th ...
** The
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) is a South Korean orchestra based in Seoul. Founded in 1948, it is one of the oldest orchestras in South Korea. Its first foreign tour came on a 1965 trip to Japan, followed by performances in Southeast Asia ...
announces the appointments of
Thierry Fischer Thierry Fischer (born 28 September 1957) is a Swiss orchestra conductor and flutist. Early life and education Fischer was born in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Zambia) to Swiss parents. He studied flute with Aurèle Nicolet and began h ...
as principal guest conductor and of
Markus Stenz Markus Stenz (born 28 February 1965, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate) is a German conductor. He studied at the Hochschule für Musik Köln with Volker Wangenhein and at Tanglewood with Leonard Bernstein and Seiji Ozawa. Stenz has ...
as 'conductor-in-residence', both effective January 2017, with initial contracts of 3 years, following the resignation of Myung-whun Chung as music director of the orchestra at the end of 2015. ** The
SWR Symphonieorchester The SWR Symphonieorchester (Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra) is a radio orchestra affiliated with the ''Südwestrundfunk'' (Southwest German Radio) public broadcasting network. Formed in 2016, the orchestra is administratively based in S ...
, formed from the merger of the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, gives its first concert at the Liederhalle, Stuttgart, under the direction of
Péter Eötvös Péter Eötvös ( hu, Eötvös Péter, ; born 2 January 1944) is a Hungarian composer, conductor and teacher. Eötvös was born in Székelyudvarhely, Transylvania, then part of Hungary, now Romania. He studied composition in Budapest and Colog ...
. *
September 27 Events Pre-1600 *1066 – William the Conqueror and his army set sail from the mouth of the Somme river, beginning the Norman conquest of England. * 1331 – The Battle of Płowce is fought, between the Kingdom of Poland and the Teuto ...
– The
San Francisco Symphony The San Francisco Symphony (SFS), founded in 1911, is an American orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980 the orchestra has been resident at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in the city's Hayes Valley neighborhood. The San Fr ...
announces that Brent Assink is to stand down as the orchestra's executive director in 2017. *
September 30 Events Pre-1600 * 489 – The Ostrogoths under Theoderic the Great defeat the forces of Odoacer for the second time. * 737 – The Turgesh drive back an Umayyad invasion of Khuttal, follow them south of the Oxus, and capture their b ...
** The musicians of the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra The ''Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra'' (''PSO'') is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District, Pittsburgh, Cultural District. History The Pittsburgh Sy ...
take industrial action and go on strike, for only the second time in the orchestra's history. ** The musicians of the
Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription ...
take industrial action and go on strike, one hour before its scheduled Opening Night Gala concert. ** The management of the Montevideo Philharmonic Orchestra informed its musicians of the appointment of Ligia Amadio as its next artistic director, effective 2017. The orchestra formally announced Amadio's appointment on 23 December 2016. *
October 1 Events Pre-1600 * 331 BC – Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. * 366 – Pope Damasus I is consecrated. * 959 – Edgar the Peaceful becomes king of all England, in succession to Eadwig. ...
– The
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra The is recognized as the oldest symphony orchestra in Japan. It was founded in 1911 and debuted at the original Matsuzakaya store in Nagoya as the . It relocated to Tokyo in 1938. As of 2005, it has 166 members. The orchestra plays frequently a ...
announces the appointment of Andrea Battistoni as its new chief conductor, with immediate effect. *
October 2 Events Pre-1600 * 829 – Theophilos succeeds his father Michael II as Byzantine Emperor. * 939 – Battle of Andernach: Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, crushes a rebellion against his rule, by a coalition of Eberhard of Franconia and ot ...
– The musicians of the
Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription ...
vote 73–11 to ratify a new contract proposed by orchestra management, ending the industrial action initiated on 30 September. *
October 5 Events Pre-1600 * 610 – Heraclius arrives at Constantinople, kills Byzantine Emperor Phocas, and becomes emperor. * 816 – King Louis the Pious is crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the Pope. * 869 – The Fourth Co ...
** The
Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most el ...
announces that its current president, Joseph Polisi, is to stand down from the post in June 2018. ** Five former members of the
Hilliard Ensemble The Hilliard Ensemble was a British male vocal quartet originally devoted to the performance of early music. The group was named after the Elizabethan miniaturist painter Nicholas Hilliard. Founded in 1974, the group disbanded in 2014. Although ...
reunite for a benefit concert for Music for Open Ears, in London at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden. *
October 6 Events Pre-1600 * 105 BC – Cimbrian War: Defeat at the Battle of Arausio accelerates the Marian reforms of the Roman army of the mid-Republic. *69 BC – Third Mithridatic War: The military of the Roman Republic subdue Armenia. *AD ...
** The
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra The Berlin Philharmonic (german: Berliner Philharmoniker, links=no, italic=no) is a German orchestra based in Berlin. It is one of the most popular, acclaimed and well-respected orchestras in the world. History The Berlin Philharmonic was fo ...
announces the appointment of Andrea Zietzschmann as its new ''Intendantin'' (managing director), effective 1 September 2017. **
Les Violons du Roy Les Violons du Roy is a French-Canadian chamber orchestra based in Quebec City, Quebec. The orchestra's principal venue is the Palais Montcalm in Québec City. The orchestra also performs concerts in Montréal at the Place des Arts, the Montreal ...
announces the appointment of Jonathan Cohen as its next music director, effective with the 2017–2018 season. *
October 18 Events Pre-1600 * 33 – Heartbroken by the deaths of her sons Nero and Drusus, and banished to the island of Pandateria by Tiberius, Agrippina the Elder dies of self-inflicted starvation. * 320 – Pappus of Alexandria, Greek philos ...
** The Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin announces that
Ivan Fischer Ivan () is a Slavic male given name, connected with the variant of the Greek name (English: John) from Hebrew meaning 'God is gracious'. It is associated worldwide with Slavic countries. The earliest person known to bear the name was Bulgari ...
is to conclude his tenure as its chief conductor after the end of the 2017–2018 season. ** The Orchestre symphonique de l'Estuaire announces the appointment of Dina Gilbert as its next music director, effective June 2017. *
October 20 Events Pre-1600 *1568 – The Spanish Duke of Alba defeats a Dutch rebel force under William the Silent. * 1572 – Eighty Years' War: Three thousand Spanish soldiers wade through fifteen miles of water in one night to effect the rel ...
– The
Victoria Symphony The Victoria Symphony is a Canadian orchestra based in Victoria, British Columbia. It is considered Vancouver Island's best-known active performing arts organization. Currently conducted by Danish conductor Christian Kluxen, the orchestra consists o ...
announces the appointment of Christian Kluxen as its next music director, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 4 years. *
October 21 Events Pre-1600 *1096 – A Seljuk Turkish army successfully fights off the People's Crusade. *1097 – First Crusade: Crusaders led by Godfrey of Bouillon, Bohemund of Taranto, and Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse, begin the Siege of A ...
**
English National Opera English National Opera (ENO) is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with The Royal Opera. ENO's productions are sung in English ...
announces the appointment of
Martyn Brabbins Martyn Charles Brabbins (born 13 August 1959) is a British conductor. The fourth of five children in his family, he learned to play the euphonium, and then the trombone during his youth at Towcester Studio Brass Band. He later studied compositi ...
as its new music director, with immediate effect, with an initial contract through October 2020. ** The
Cincinnati May Festival The Cincinnati May Festival is a two-week annual choral festival, held in May in Cincinnati, Ohio, US. History The festival's roots go back to the 1840s, when '' Saengerfests'' were held in that city, bringing singers from all over the United Sta ...
announces the appointment of
Juanjo Mena Juanjo Mena (also known as Juan José Mena; born 21 September 1965, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain) is a Spanish conductor. Biography Mena began his music studies at the Vitoria-Gasteiz Conservatory. He later attended the Madrid Ro ...
as its new principal conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. *
October 24 Events Pre-1600 *AD 69 – In the Second Battle of Bedriacum, troops loyal to Vespasian defeat those of Emperor Vitellius. * 1260 – Chartres Cathedral is dedicated in the presence of King Louis IX of France. * 1360 – The Treaty ...
– The
Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...
announces the appointment of Craig Hassall as its next chief executive, effective 2017. *
October 25 Events Pre-1600 * 285 (or 286) – Execution of Saints Crispin and Crispinian during the reign of Diocletian, now the patron saints of leather workers, curriers, and shoemakers. * 473 – Emperor Leo I acclaims his grandson Leo II a ...
– Originally completed in 1997, the opera ''Jane Eyre'' by composer John Joubert and librettist Kenneth Birkin received its world premiere in a revised version in 2 acts, at the Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, Birmingham. *
October 26 Events Pre-1600 *1185 – The Uprising of Asen and Peter begins on the feast day of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki and ends with the creation of the Second Bulgarian Empire. *1341 – The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 formally begi ...
** The
Interlochen Center for the Arts Interlochen Center for the Arts is a non-profit corporation which operates arts education institutions and performance venues in northwest Michigan. It is situated on a campus in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly southwest of Traverse City. In ...
announces the appointment of Trey Devey as its next president, effective June 2017. ** The
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its primary concert venue is Music Hall. In addition to its symphony concerts, the orchestra gives pops concerts as the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. The Cincin ...
announces that Trey Devey is to stand down as its president in April 2017. *
October 29 Events Pre-1600 * 312 – Constantine the Great enters Rome after his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, stages a grand '' adventus'' in the city, and is met with popular jubilation. Maxentius' body is fished out of the Tiber ...
– The Elbland Philharmonie Sachsen announces the appointment of Ekkehard Klemm as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season. *
November 3 Events Pre-1600 * 361 – Emperor Constantius II dies of a fever at Mopsuestia in Cilicia; on his deathbed he is baptised and declares his cousin Julian rightful successor. *1333 – The River Arno floods causing massive damage in F ...
– The Basque National Orchestra announces the appointment of Robert Treviño as its next music director, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 3 seasons. *
November 4 Events Pre-1600 *1429 – Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War: Joan of Arc liberates Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier. * 1493 – Christopher Columbus reaches Leeward Island and Puerto Rico. * 1501 – Catherine of Aragon (later Henry VIII's ...
– The UK government announced withdrawal of funding support for the proposed new London Concert Hall. *
November 15 Events Pre-1600 * 655 – Battle of the Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. *1315 – Growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy: The Schweizer Eidgenossenschaft ambushes the army of Leopold I in the Battle of Morg ...
– The Australian Festival of Chamber Music announces the appointment of
Kathryn Stott Kathryn Stott (born 10 December 1958)
as its next artistic director, effective in 2018, with an initial contract of 3 years. *
November 18 Events Pre-1600 * 326 – The old St. Peter's Basilica is consecrated by Pope Sylvester I. * 401 – The Visigoths, led by king Alaric I, cross the Alps and invade northern Italy. * 1095 – The Council of Clermont begins: called ...
Michigan Opera Theatre Detroit Opera is the principal opera company in Michigan, USA. The company is based in Detroit, where it performs in the Detroit Opera House. Prior to February 28, 2022, the company was named the Michigan Opera Theatre. Each year it presents an ope ...
announces the appointment of
Stephen Lord Stephen Lord (born 1 October 1971) is an English actor, known for playing Jase Dyer in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 2007 to 2008 and Dominic Meak in the Channel 4 comedy drama series, '' Shameless'', between 2012 and 2013. In 2021, ...
to the newly created position of principal conductor, with an initial contract through the 2018–2019 season, with immediate effect. *
November 23 Events Pre-1600 * 534 BC – Thespis of Icaria becomes the first recorded actor to portray a character on stage. *1248 – Conquest of Seville by Christian troops under King Ferdinand III of Castile. * 1499 – Pretender to the th ...
– The
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra The ''Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra'' (''PSO'') is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District, Pittsburgh, Cultural District. History The Pittsburgh Sy ...
announces the ratification of a 5-year agreement by the orchestra musicians, ending their industrial action. *
November 25 Events Pre-1600 *571 BC – Servius Tullius, king of Rome, celebrates the first of his three triumphs for his victory over the Etruscans. *1034 – Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Scots, dies. His grandson, Donnchad, son of Bethó ...
– The Royal Danish Opera (''Det Kongelige Kapel'') announces the appointment of
Alexander Vedernikov Alexander Alexandrovich Vedernikov (; 11 January 1964 – 29 October 2020) was a Russian conductor. He held major posts with the Bolshoi Theatre the Odense Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Danish Opera, and the Mikhailovsky Theatre. Biography Bor ...
as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season. *
November 27 Events Pre-1600 *AD 25 – Luoyang is declared capital of the Eastern Han dynasty by Emperor Guangwu of Han. * 176 – Emperor Marcus Aurelius grants his son Commodus the rank of " Imperator" and makes him Supreme Commander of the ...
– In a letter to the mayor of Dresden,
Michael Sanderling Michael Sanderling (born 21 February 1967) is a German conductor and violoncellist. Biography Born in East Berlin, Michael Sanderling is the son of the contrabassist Barbara Wagner and the conductor Kurt Sanderling. He received his first cel ...
announces that he is to stand down as chief conductor of the
Dresden Philharmonic The Dresdner Philharmonie (Dresden Philharmonic) is a German symphony orchestra based in Dresden. Its principal concert venue is the ''Kulturpalast''. The orchestra also performs at the Kreuzkirche, the Hochschule für Musik Dresden, and the ...
after the end of his current contract in 2019, in protest at learning of proposed culture budget reductions via media reports instead of being informed directly from the civic authorities. *
November 28 Events Pre-1600 * 587 – Treaty of Andelot: King Guntram of Burgundy recognizes Childebert II as his heir. * 936 – Shi Jingtang is enthroned as the first emperor of the Later Jin by Emperor Taizong of Liao, following a revolt again ...
– The Grawemeyer Foundation announces
Andrew Norman Andrew Norman (born October 31, 1979) is an American composer of contemporary classical music whose texturally complex music is influenced by architecture and the visual arts. His string trio ''The Companion Guide to Rome'' (2010), was a runner- ...
as the winner of the 2017 Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition, for his orchestral work ''Play''. *
November 29 Events Pre-1600 * 561 – Following the death of King Chlothar I at Compiègne, his four sons, Charibert I, Guntram, Sigebert I and Chilperic I, divide the Frankish Kingdom. * 618 – The Tang dynasty scores a decisive victory over t ...
– The autograph manuscript of the Symphony No. 2 of
Gustav Mahler Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and the modernism ...
is sold at Sotheby's (London) for £4,546,250. *
December 1 Events Pre-1600 * 800 – A council is convened in the Vatican, at which Charlemagne is to judge the accusations against Pope Leo III. *1420 – Henry V of England enters Paris alongside his father-in-law King Charles VI of France. * ...
– The Metropolitan Opera gives its first performance of ''
L'Amour de loin ' (''Love from Afar'') is an opera in five acts with music by Kaija Saariaho and a French-language libretto by Amin Maalouf. The opera received its world premiere performance on 15 August 2000 at the Salzburg Festival. Saariaho, living in Paris si ...
'' of
Kaija Saariaho Kaija Anneli Saariaho (; ; born 14 October 1952) is a Finnish composer based in Paris, France. During the course of her career, Saariaho has received commissions from the Lincoln Center for the Kronos Quartet and from IRCAM for the Ensemble Inter ...
, the first opera by a female composer to be staged at the Metropolitan Opera since 1903, and the second opera by a female composer ever to be presented in the history of the company. *
December 2 Events Pre-1600 * 1244 – Pope Innocent IV arrives at Lyon for the First Council of Lyon. *1409 – The University of Leipzig opens. 1601–1900 *1697 – St Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt to the design of Sir Christopher Wren followin ...
– At the
Mariinsky Theatre The Mariinsky Theatre ( rus, Мариинский театр, Mariinskiy teatr, also transcribed as Maryinsky or Mariyinsky) is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music th ...
in St Petersburg, the
Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra or just the Mariinsky Orchestra (formerly known as the Kirov Orchestra) is located in the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. The orchestra was founded in 1783 during the reign of Catherine the Great, it wa ...
, conducted by
Valery Gergiev Valery Abisalovich Gergiev (russian: Вале́рий Абиса́лович Ге́ргиев, ; os, Гергиты Абисалы фырт Валери, Gergity Abisaly fyrt Valeri; born 2 May 1953) is a Russian conductor and opera company d ...
, gave the second-ever performance of ''Pogrebal'naya Pesnya'' (Funeral Song) by
Igor Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (6 April 1971) was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor, later of French (from 1934) and American (from 1945) citizenship. He is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the ...
, following the rediscovery of the work in 2015. *
December 6 Events Pre-1600 *1060 – Béla I of Hungary, Béla I is crowned king of Kingdom of Hungary in the Middle Ages, Hungary. *1240 – Mongol invasion of Rus': Kyiv, defended by Voivode Dmytro, Siege of Kiev (1240), falls to the Mongols u ...
– The
Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz The Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz (''State Theatre at Gärtnerplatz''), commonly called the Gärtnerplatztheater, is an opera house and opera company in Munich. (The "Gärtnerplatz" is an urban square in the borough Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt.) ...
announces the appointment of
Anthony Bramall Anthony Bramall (born 1957) is a British conductor. Career Born in London, Bramall studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and subsequently completed postgraduate studies in conducting there with Maestro Vilem Tausky. At the ...
as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season. *
December 7 Events Pre-1600 *43 BC – Cicero, Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Formia on orders of Marcus Antonius. * 574 – Byzantine Emperor Justin II, suffering recurring seizures of insanity, adopts his general Tiberius II Constant ...
** Northern Ireland Opera announces the appointment of Walter Sutcliffe as its next artistic director, effective February 2017. ** The musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra approved a new labour agreement with the orchestra's management, contracted through 2020, after an anonymous donor made a gift of US$700K toward musician salaries. *
December 8 Events Pre-1600 * 395 – Later Yan is defeated by its former vassal Northern Wei at the Battle of Canhe Slope. *757 – The poet Du Fu returns to Chang'an as a member of Emperor Xuanzong's court, after having escaped the city during ...
Dmitri Hvorostovsky Dmitri Aleksandrovich Hvorostovsky (russian: Дми́трий Алекса́ндрович Хворосто́вский, ; 16 October 1962 – 22 November 2017) was a Russian operatic baritone. Early life and education Hvorostovsky was born i ...
announces that he is withdrawing from all of his currently scheduled opera performances 'for the foreseeable future', because of health concerns, to focus on concert and recital work, and health treatment. *
December 10 Events Pre-1600 *1317 – The "Nyköping Banquet": King Birger of Sweden treacherously seizes his two brothers Valdemar, Duke of Finland and Eric, Duke of Södermanland, who were subsequently starved to death in the dungeon of Nyköpin ...
– The Metropolitan Opera presents ''
L'Amour de loin ' (''Love from Afar'') is an opera in five acts with music by Kaija Saariaho and a French-language libretto by Amin Maalouf. The opera received its world premiere performance on 15 August 2000 at the Salzburg Festival. Saariaho, living in Paris si ...
'' of
Kaija Saariaho Kaija Anneli Saariaho (; ; born 14 October 1952) is a Finnish composer based in Paris, France. During the course of her career, Saariaho has received commissions from the Lincoln Center for the Kronos Quartet and from IRCAM for the Ensemble Inter ...
as part of the
Metropolitan Opera Live in HD Metropolitan Opera Live in HD (also known as The Met: Live in HD) is a series of live opera performances transmitted in high-definition video via satellite from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City to select venues, primarily movie theaters, ...
series to cinemas, the first opera by a female composer, and the first opera conducted by a female conductor (
Susanna Mälkki Susanna Ulla Marjukka Mälkki (born 13 March 1969) is a Finnish conductor and cellist. Early life and education Susanna Ulla Marjukka Mälkki was born on 13 March 1969 in Helsinki. She began to learn the violin, piano, and cello in her youth ...
), in the series. *
December 12 Events Pre-1600 * 627 – Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II's Persian forces, commanded by General Rhahzadh. *1388 – Maria of Enghien sells the lordship of Argos and Nauplia to ...
– The
San Francisco Symphony The San Francisco Symphony (SFS), founded in 1911, is an American orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980 the orchestra has been resident at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in the city's Hayes Valley neighborhood. The San Fr ...
announces that it is cancelling its scheduled April 2017 concert appearances in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, in protest at House Bill 2 (North Carolina General Assembly 2016 Second Extra Session). *
December 13 Events Pre-1600 *1294 – Saint Celestine V resigns the papacy after only five months to return to his previous life as an ascetic hermit. *1545 – The Council of Trent begins as the embodiment of the Counter-Reformation. *1577 &nd ...
– The
Queen's Hall, Edinburgh The Queen's Hall is a performance venue in the Southside, Edinburgh, Scotland. The building opened in 1824 as Hope Park Chapel and reopened as the Queen's Hall in 1979. Hope Park Chapel opened as a chapel of ease within the West Kirk parish i ...
announces that its chief executive, Adrian Harris, is to retire at the end of December 2016. *
December 19 Events Pre-1600 *1154 – Henry II of England is crowned at Westminster Abbey. * 1187 – Pope Clement III is elected. * 1490 – Anne, Duchess of Brittany, is married to Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor by proxy. * 1562 – ...
** The
Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg The Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg is an Austrian orchestra, based in the town and state of Salzburg. The orchestra gives concerts in several Salzburg venues, including the ''Großes Festspielhaus'', the Great Hall of the Stiftung Mozarteum. I ...
announces the appointment of
Riccardo Minasi Riccardo Minasi (born 1978) is an Italian violinist and conductor in the field of historically informed performance. Life Born in Rome, Minasi received his first music lessons from his mother, studying modern violin with Paolo Centurioni and A ...
as its next chief conductor, effective September 2017. ** The Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen announces the appointment of Fawzi Haimor as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. *
December 20 Events Pre-1600 *AD 69 – Antonius Primus enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor for Nero's former general Vespasian. * 1192 – Richard I of England is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria on his way home to England a ...
– The
St. Louis Symphony The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) is the second-oldest professional symphony or ...
announces that David Robertson is to conclude his tenure as its music director at the end of the 2018–2019 season. *
December 21 Events Pre-1600 *AD 69 – The Roman Senate declares Vespasian emperor of Rome, the last in the Year of the Four Emperors. * 1124 – Pope Honorius II is consecrated, having been elected after the controversial dethroning of Pope Cele ...
– The Austrian Ministry of Culture simultaneously announced that Dominique Meyer is to conclude his tenure as general director (''Intendant'') of the
Vienna State Opera The Vienna State Opera (, ) is an opera house and opera company based in Vienna, Austria. The 1,709-seat Renaissance Revival venue was the first major building on the Vienna Ring Road. It was built from 1861 to 1869 following plans by August S ...
at the end of the 2019–2020 season, and that Bogdan Roscic is to be the new ''Intendant'' of the Vienna State Opera effective with the 2020–2021 season. *
December 23 Events Pre-1600 * 484 – The Arian Vandal Kingdom ceases its persecution of Nicene Christianity. * 558 – Chlothar I is crowned King of the Franks. * 583 – Maya queen Yohl Ik'nal is crowned ruler of Palenque. * 962 &ndas ...
– The
Philharmonia Orchestra The Philharmonia Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, a classical music record producer for EMI. Among the conductors who worked with the orchestra in its early years were Richard Strauss, W ...
announces the appointment of Helen Sprott as its new managing director, effective April 2017. *
December 26 Events Pre-1600 * 887 – Berengar I is elected as king of Italy by the lords of Lombardy. He is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy at Pavia. * 1481 – Battle of Westbroek: An army of 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers raised by David of Bu ...
— The
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (abbreviation IPO; Hebrew: התזמורת הפילהרמונית הישראלית, ''ha-Tizmoret ha-Filharmonit ha-Yisra'elit'') is an Israeli symphony orchestra based in Tel Aviv. Its principal concert venue ...
announces that
Zubin Mehta Zubin Mehta (born 29 April 1936) is an Indian conductor of Western classical music. He is music director emeritus of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) and conductor emeritus of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mehta's father was the foun ...
is to stand down as its music director as of October 2019. *
December 29 Events Pre-1600 *1170 – Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II; he subsequently becomes a saint and martyr in the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church. ...
– The Orquesta de Cámara de Valdivia announces the appointment of Emmanuele Baldini as its new music director, effective in 2017. *
December 30 Events Pre-1600 *534 – The second and final edition of the Code of Justinian comes into effect in the Byzantine Empire. *999 – Battle of Glenmama: The combined forces of Munster and Meath under king Brian Boru inflict a crushi ...
** New Year's Honours 2017 *** Dame
Evelyn Glennie Dame Evelyn Elizabeth Ann Glennie, (born 19 July 1965) is a Scottish people, Scottish percussionist. She was selected as one of the two laureates for the Polar Music Prize of 2015. Early life Glennie was born in Methlick, Aberdeenshire in Sco ...
is made a
Companion of Honour The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded on 4 June 1917 by King George V as a reward for outstanding achievements. Founded on the same date as the Order of the British Empire, it is sometimes ...
. ***
Jeffrey Tate Sir Jeffrey Philip Tate (28 April 19432 June 2017) was an English conductor of classical music. Tate was born with spina bifida and had an associated spinal curvature. After studying medicine at the University of Cambridge and beginning a me ...
and
Bryn Terfel Sir Bryn Terfel Jones, (; born 9 November 1965) (known professionally as Bryn Terfel) is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly '' Figaro'', ''Leporello'' and ''D ...
are each made a
Knight Bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are the ...
. *** Lennox Mackenzie and Stephen Maddock are each made an
Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
. ***
Iestyn Davies Iestyn Davies (born 16 September 1979) is a British classical countertenor. Education and background Davies was born in York, England and first studied piano and recorder, mentored in his early years by his father Ioan, the founding cellist ...
and Anthony Forbes are each made a
Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
. ** Order of Canada ***
Russell Braun Russell Braun (born 19 July 1965) is a Canadian operatic lyric baritone and Juno Award winner. Much sought-after as a soloist and for opera roles, Russell Braun performs regularly at the Metropolitan Opera, the Salzburg Festival, the Lyric ...
and
Howard Shore Howard Leslie Shore (born October 18, 1946) is a Canadian composer and conductor noted for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably the scores for ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Hobbit'' film trilogies. ...
are each appointed an
Officer of the Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the ...
. ***
Michael Schade Michael Schade (born 23 January 1965) is a Canadian operatic tenor, who was born in Geneva and raised in Germany and Canada. He and his wife Dee McKee, and their youngest child live in Vienna, Austria; the rest of the family lives in Canada. ...
receives an honorary appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada.


New works

*
Hans Abrahamsen Hans Abrahamsen (born 23 December 1952) is a Danish composer born in Kongens Lyngby near Copenhagen. His '' Let me tell you'' (2013), a song cycle for soprano and orchestra, was ranked by music critics at ''The Guardian'' as the finest work of t ...
– '' Left, alone'' for piano left hand and orchestra *
John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Befor ...
– ''Roll Over Beethoven'' *
Samuel Carl Adams Samuel Adams (born December 30, 1985) is an American composer. He was born in San Francisco, California. He is a recipient of a 2019 Guggenheim Fellowship. Life and career Adams grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he performed double b ...
** ''for jenny''WQXR, 96.3 FM, "Listen: Part Two of Jennifer Koh's 'Shared Madness'", 31 May 2016
/ref> ** Quartet Movement * Julia Adolphe – ''Unearth, Release'' (viola concerto) * Iddo Aharony – ''...the way nets cannot hold water'' *
Julian Anderson Julian Anderson (born 6 April 1967) is a British composer and teacher of composition. Biography Anderson was born in London. He studied at Westminster School, then with John Lambert at the Royal College of Music, with Alexander Goehr at Cambri ...
– ''Incantesimi'' * Timo Andres – ''Winding Stair'' *
Matthew Aucoin Matthew Aucoin (born April 4, 1990) is an American composer, conductor, pianist, and writer best known for his operas. Aucoin has received commissions from the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the American Repertory Thea ...
** ''Merrill Songs'' ** ''resolve''WQXR, 96.3 FM, "Listen: 16 World Premieres with Jennifer Koh's 'Shared Madness'", 24 May 2016
/ref> *
Lera Auerbach Lera Auerbach (russian: Лера Авербах, born Valeria Lvovna Averbakh, russian: Валерия Львовна Авербах; October 21, 1973) is a Soviet-born American classical composer and concert pianist.
– ''The Infant Minstrel and His Peculiar Menagerie'' * Lawrence Axelrod – 'From the Shore' * Drew Baker – ''NOX'' * Richard Baker – ''Hwyl fawr ffrindiau'' * Michael Bakrnčev – ''Sky Jammer''Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, ''2016 Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers Concert'' programme, 10 February 2016
/ref> * Marcos Balter – ''Divertimento Concertante'' * Patricia Barber – ''Angels, Birds, and I'' * Jean-Baptiste Barrière – ''Palimpsest Capriccio *
Sally Beamish Sarah Frances Beamish (born 26 August 1956) is a British composer and violist. Her works include chamber, vocal, choral and orchestral music. She has also worked in the field of music, theatre, film and television, as well as composing for chi ...
** Chaconne (for organ) ** ''A Shakespeare Masque'' (text by
Carol Ann Duffy Dame Carol Ann Duffy (born 23 December 1955) is a Scottish poet and playwright. She is a professor of contemporary poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University, and was appointed Poet Laureate in May 2009, resigning in 2019. She was the first ...
) ** ''Merula perpetua'' ** Piano Concerto No 2 ('Cauldron of the Speckled Seas') *
Luke Bedford Luke Bedford (born 25 April 1978) is a British composer. He studied composition with Edwin Roxburgh and Simon Bainbridge at the Royal College of Music, and won the Mendelssohn Scholarship in 2000. This was followed by post-graduate study with Sim ...
** ''Three Caves'' ** ''In Black Bright Ink'' * Franck Bedrossian – ''Twist'' for orchestra and electronicsSWR Symphonieorchester, 18 October 2016 programme
/ref> * Lembit Beecher – ''Limestone'' *
Michael Berkeley Michael Fitzhardinge Berkeley, Baron Berkeley of Knighton, (born 29 May 1948) is an English composer, broadcaster on music and member of the House of Lords. Early life Berkeley is the eldest of the three sons of Elizabeth Freda (née Bernstein ...
– Violin Concerto (in memoriam D.R.) *
Derek Bermel Derek Bermel (born 1967, in New York City) is an American composer, clarinetist and conductor whose music blends various facets of world music, funk and jazz with largely classical performing forces and musical vocabulary. He is the recipien ...
– ''Twenty Questions'' * Lisa Bielawa – ''Vireo Caprice *
Judith Bingham Judith Bingham (born 21 June 1952) is an English composer and mezzo-soprano singer. Life Bingham was born on 21 June 1952, in Nottingham. Her parents are Jack Bingham and Peggy Bingham (née McGowan). She was educated at High Storrs Grammar ...
– ''The Orchid and Its Hunters'' *
Harrison Birtwistle Sir Harrison Birtwistle (15 July 1934 – 18 April 2022) was an English composer of contemporary classical music best known for his operas, often based on mythological subjects. Among his many compositions, his better known works include ''Th ...
– ''Five Lessons in a Frame'' * Daniel Bjarnason – ''First Escape * Olivia Block – ''Lazarus'' * Darren Bloom – ''Dr Glaser's Experiment'' *
William Bolcom William Elden Bolcom (born May 26, 1938) is an American composer and pianist. He has received the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Arts, a Grammy Award, the Detroit Music Award and was named 2007 Composer of the Year by Musical America. He ...
– Trombone Concerto * Mark David Boden – ''Ghyll'' * Seth Boustead – 'Chicago Song' *
Charlotte Bray Charlotte Bray (born 1982) is a British composer. She was championed by the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London Sinfonietta and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, BBC Symphony Orchestra. Her music has been performed by many notable condu ...
** ''Agnus Dei''Robert Hughill, "Seven world premieres – the impressive debut of Suzi Digby and Ora Singers". Planet Hughill blog, 10 February 2016
/ref> ** ''Stone Dancer'' ** ''Falling in the Fire'' (for cello and orchestra) * John Wolf Brennan – ''Dädaleum'' for vocalists and chamber orchestra< * Joey Brink – ''Letters from the Sky'' * Eliza Brown – ''A Soundwalk with Resi'' * Michael Brown – ''Surfaces'' * David Bruce – ''Marzipan'' *
Courtney Bryan Courtney Jamaal Bryan (born October 2, 1984) is a former American football safety. He was born in San Jose, California, and played college football at New Mexico State. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He i ...
– ''Yet Unheard'' *
Diana Burrell Diana Elizabeth Jane Burrell (born 25 October 1948) is an English composer and viola player. Life and career Burrell was born on 25 October 1948 in Norwich, England. Her parents were Bernard Burrell, a schoolteacher by profession who served as ...
– Concerto for Brass and Orchestra * Jay Capperauld – ''Fèin-Aithne'' * Paul Carr – Violin Concerto * Joshua Cerdenia – ''Spoliarium'' *
Friedrich Cerha Friedrich Cerha (born 17 February 1926) is an Austrian composer, conductor and music educator. Education and Career Cerha was born in Vienna, Austria, and educated at the Viennese Music Academy (violin with Váša Příhoda, composition with A ...
– ''Sechs Postludien'' (composed 2014) * Christopher Cerrone – ''Shall I Project A World?'' * Anthony Cheung – ''Character Studies * Bob Chilcott – ''My Perfect Stranger'' * Pablo Santiago Chin – ''(in)armonia: retratos I'' * Chiu-yu Chou – ''Tongue'' * Carlo Ciceri -''šìr'' * Seán Clancy – ''Seven Lines of Music Slow Down and Eventually Stop'' * Joe Clark – ''not merely bad or broken'' * Desmond Clarke ** Viola Concerto ** ''Xyla'' *
Anna Clyne Anna Clyne (born 9 March 1980, in London) is an English composer, now resident in New York, US. She has worked in both acoustic music and electro-acoustic music. Biography Clyne began writing music as a child, completing her first composition a ...
– ''This Lunar Beauty'' * Francisco Coll: ** ''Chanson et Bagatelle'' ** ''Ceci n'est pas un Concerto'' *
Ronald Corp Ronald Geoffrey Corp, (born 4 January 1951) is a composer, conductor and Anglican priest. He is founder and artistic director of the New London Orchestra (NLO) and the New London Children's Choir. Corp is musical director of the London Chorus, a ...
– "Behold, the sea" * Tom Coult ** ''Sonnet Machine'' ** ''Spirit of the Staircase'' * Laurence Crane – ''Cobbled Section After Cobbled Section''BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, 7 May 2016 programme
/ref> *
Richard Danielpour Richard Danielpour (born January 28, 1956) is an American composer. Early life Danielpour was born in New York City of Persian Jewish descent and grew up in New York City and West Palm Beach, Florida. He studied at Oberlin College and the New En ...
– ''The Wounded Healer'' (percussion concerto) *
Jean-Luc Darbellay Jean-Luc Darbellay (born 2 July 1946) is a Swiss composer, conductor, clarinetist and physician. He was chairman of the Swiss Society for New Music and board member of the International Society for Contemporary Music. Darbellay is a member of the ...
** ''Miroirs'' (for solo cello) ** ''Nocturne'' (for piano and string quartet) * Joseph Davies – ''The Shortest Day'' *
Brett Dean Brett Dean (born 23 October 1961) is an Australian composer, violist and conductor. Biography Brett Dean was born, raised and educated in Brisbane. He started learning violin at the age of eight, and later studied viola with Elizabeth Morgan a ...
– ''From Melodious Lay (A Hamlet Diffraction)'' * Stephen Deazley (music) and Martin Riley (text) – ''The Rattler'' *
Donnacha Dennehy Donnacha Dennehy (born 17 August 1970) is an Irish composer and leader of the Crash Ensemble specializing in contemporary classical music. According to musicologist Bob Gilmore, Dennehy's "high profile of his compositions internationally, togeth ...
: ''Tessellatum'' *
Bryce Dessner Bryce David Dessner (born April 23, 1976) is an American composer and guitarist based in Paris, as well as a member of the rock band the National. Dessner's twin brother Aaron is also a member of the group. Together they write the music, in coll ...
– ''Gift * Zosha Di Castri – ''Patina * James Dillon – ''The Gates'' for string quartet and orchestraSWR Symphonieorchester, 14 October 2016 programme
/ref> * Stylianos Dimou – ''Metallics'' *
Jonathan Dove Jonathan Dove (born 18 July 1959) is an English composer of opera, choral works, plays, films, and orchestral and chamber music. He has arranged a number of operas for English Touring Opera and the City of Birmingham Touring Opera (now Birmin ...
– ''Catching Fire'' * Richard Dubugnon – Piano Concerto * Cathy van Eck – ''412 Meter laufen'' * Aurélio Edler-Copes – ''Presence'' * Nomi Epstein – ''for Collect/Project'' * Richard Emsley – ''Strange Attractor'' *
Reena Esmail Reena Esmail (born 11 February 1983) is an Indian-American music composer of Indian and Western classical music. Esmail has been commissioned to compose pieces for ensembles including Amherst College Choir and Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Consp ...
– ''Avartan'' for Orchestra and Video *
Ēriks Ešenvalds Ēriks Ešenvalds (born January 26, 1977) is a Latvian composer. From 2011 to 2013 he was Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. Biography Ēriks Ešenvalds was born in Priekule, Latvia in 1977. He studie ...
– ''Infelix ego'' * David Fennessy – ''Panopticon'' * Augustin Fernandez – ''Rio Bravo'' *
Edmund Finnis Edmund Finnis (born 1984) is a British composer of Classical music, classical and electronic music. His works have been commissioned and performed by orchestras and ensembles including the Britten Sinfonia, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Lon ...
– ''Parallel Colour'' *
Alissa Firsova Alissa Firsova (Russian language, Russian: Алиса Фирсова; 24 July 1986) is a Russian-British classical music, classical composer, pianist and Conducting, conductor. Born in Moscow to the composers Elena Firsova and Dmitri Smirnov (c ...
** ''Paradisi Gloria'' ** ''Bride of the Wind'' * Johannes Fischer – ''Canons and Sparrows'' * Chris Fisher-Lochhead – ''stutter-step the concept'' * Cheryl Frances-Hoad – ''Game On'' (for piano and Commodore 64) * Ryan Francis – ''Anthem'' (for violin and electronics) * Paul Frehner (music) and
Peter Mettler Peter Mettler (born September 7, 1958) is a Swiss-Canadian film director and cinematographer. He is best known for his unique, intuitive approach to documentary, evinced by such films as ''Picture of Light'' (1994), ''Gambling, Gods and LSD'' (20 ...
(video images) – ''From the Vortex Perspective'' * Fredrick Gifford – ''MOBILE 2016 (Shadow play)'' * Jeremy Gill – ''Serenada Concertante'' for Oboe and Orchestra * Dan Gillingwater – Overture ''Ad Fontem'' * Kathleen Ginther – ''Lake Effect'' * Philip Glass – ''Sarabande in Common Time * Michael Gordon – ''kwerk *
Michael Zev Gordon Michael Zev Gordon (born 1963, London) is a British composer of Jewish descent. A past oboe player, Gordon studied composition at King's College, Cambridge with Robin Holloway, and subsequently with Oliver Knussen and John Woolrich, and in I ...
– ''In the Middle of Things'' * Pierce Gradone – ''To Paint Their Madness'' * Philip Grange – ''Shifting Thresholds'' *
Sally Greenaway Sally Greenaway (born 1984) is a composer and pianist based in Canberra, Australia. Career Greenaway trained in jazz at Canberra's Australian National University School of Music and the Royal College of Music in London. After winning Jazzgroo ...
– ''Worlds Within Worlds'' * Mark Grey – ''Twenty'' *
Helen Grime Helen Grime (born 1981) is a Scottish composer whose work, ''Virga'', was selected as one of the best ten new classical works of the 2000s by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Though she was born in York, England, Grime's parents returned ...
– ''Two Eardley Pictures'' * Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen – ''Ad cor'''Seven Responses' programme, 24–25 June 2016
/ref> *
Georg Friedrich Haas Georg Friedrich Haas (born 16 August 1953 in Graz, Austria) is an Austrian composer. In a 2017 ''Classic Voice'' poll of the greatest works of art music since 2000, pieces by Haas received the most votes (49), and his composition ''in vain'' (20 ...
– Concerto for trombone and orchestra * Saad Haddad ** ''Manarah'' ** ''Takht'' *
John Harbison John Harris Harbison (born December 20, 1938) is an American composer, known for his symphonies, operas, and large choral works. Life John Harris Harbison was born on December 20, 1938, in Orange, New Jersey, to the historian Elmore Harris Harb ...
– ''Painting The Floors Blue'' *
Cristóbal Halffter Cristóbal Halffter Jiménez-Encina (24 March 1930 – 23 May 2021) was a Spanish classical composer. He was the nephew of two other composers, Rodolfo and Ernesto Halffter and is regarded as the most important Spanish composer of the gener ...
– String Quartet No. 9 ("In memoriam Miguel de Cervantes") * Tom Harrold ** ''Nightfires'' ** ''Raze'' * Malcolm Hayes – Violin Concerto * Morgan Hayes – Overture: ''The Kiss'' * Wim Henderickx – ''Blossomings'' * David Hertzberg – ''Sunday Morning'' * Will Healy – ''Kolmanskop'' *
David Philip Hefti David Philip Hefti (born 1975) is a Swiss composer and conductor. Career Born in St. Gallen, Hefti studied composition, conducting, clarinet and chamber music with Wolfgang Rihm, Cristóbal Halffter, Wolfgang Meyer, Rudolf Kelterborn and Elmar S ...
– ''Poème noctambule'' *
Piers Hellawell Piers Hellawell (born 14 July 1956) is a British composer and professor of composition, currently residing in Northern Ireland. Biography Hellawell grew up in England and studied composition with James Wood. and later Nicholas Maw at the Univ ...
– ''Wild Flow'' * Markus Hofer – ''Duo'' *
Robin Holloway Robin Greville Holloway (born 19 October 1943) is an English composer, academic and writer. Early life Holloway was born in Leamington Spa. From 1953 to 1957, he was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral and was educated at King's College School, ...
– Chorale Prelude on 'Alle Menschen Müssen Sterben' * Dani Howard – ''Ostara'' (for clarinet, cello and piano) * Emily Howard ** ''Chaos or Chess'' ** ''Torus (Concerto for Orchestra)'' * Andrew Hsu – ''Vale'' * Huang Ruo – ''THE SONIC GREAT WALL'' * Francisco Huguet – ''La flor mas rara'' * Jessica A. Hunt – ''Colloquy'' * Thomas Hyde – ''Piano Trio: after Picasso'' * Vijay Iyer – ''Zany, Cute, Interesting'' * Martin Jaggi – ''Caral'' for orchestra * Christopher Wendell Jones – ''Plastic Moment'' * Patrick John Jones – ''Locks of the approaching storm'' * Gabriel Kahane – ''The Single Art Form Is Dead'' *
Daniel Kidane Daniel Kidane (born 1986) is a British composer. His piece "Woke" opened the last night of the 2019 Proms. In 2016 his "Sirens" was one of a group of five short works commissioned by the BBC Philharmonic to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Sh ...
– ''Sirens'' * Marc Kilchenmann – ''apeiron'' * Phil Kline – ''Bedeviled'' * Tonia Ko ** ''Games of Belief'' ** ''Strange Sounds and Explosions Worldwide'' * Hans Koller – ''Twelve Re-inventions for George Russell'' * Catherine Kontz – ''Fruitmarket'' *
Olli Kortekangas Olli Paavo Antero Kortekangas (born 16 May 1955) is a Finnish composer. Kortekangas was born in Turku. His early career in music began at Espoon Musiikkiopisto (Espoo Music Institute) and the youth choir Candomino. He then studied at the Sibel ...
– ''Migrations'' * Franck Krawczyk – ''Après'' * Larysa Kuzmenko (music) and Talia Zajac (text) – ''Golden Harvest'' *
Alexander L'Estrange Alexander Richard William L'Estrange (born 7 April 1974) is an English composer of choral music and music for television and an arranger for world-class vocal ensembles. He is also an accomplished jazz musician (piano and double bass), choral ...
– ''Show me, deare Christ'' * David Lang ** ''low resolution ** ''the public domain'' * Vivian Lash ** ''Music for Eight Lungs'' ** ''Six Etudes and a Dream'' * Kevin Lau – Concerto Grosso for Orchestra, String Quartet, and Turntables * Jonathan Leshnoff – Clarinet Concerto ('Nekudim') *
Mica Levi Mica Levi (; b. 28 February 1987), also known by their stage name Micachu, is an English singer, songwriter, composer and producer. Levi is classically trained and since 2008 has released experimental pop music with their band Good Sad Happy Bad ...
– ''Signal Before War'' * Gideon Lewensohn – ''Movements and Gestures'' (for clarinet and string quartet) * George Lewis – ''String Quartet 1.5: Experiments in Living'' * Sarah Lianne Lewis – ''Altissimum planetam tergeminum observavi'' * Yuan-Chen Li – 'Mist' *
Christian Lindberg Christian Lindberg (born 15 February 1958) is a Swedish trombonist, conductor and composer, Biography Early life and career Lindberg was born in Danderyd. As a youth, he learned to play the trumpet, and subsequently began to learn the trombone ...
** ''Robot Gardens'' ** ''Liverpool Lullabies'' *
Magnus Lindberg Magnus Gustaf Adolf Lindberg (born 27 June 1958) is a Finnish composer and pianist. He was the New York Philharmonic's composer-in-residence from 2009 to 2012 and has been the London Philharmonic Orchestra's composer-in-residence since the begin ...
– ''Two Episodes'' *
David T. Little David T. Little (born October 25, 1978) is a Grammy-nominated American composer, record producer, and drummer known for his operatic, orchestral, and chamber works, most notably his operas ''JFK (opera), JFK,'' ''Soldier Songs'', and ''Dog Days ( ...
** ''Ghostlight'' ** ''dress in magic amulets, dark, from My feet'' * Hope Littwin – ''A Lullaby for the Tender Hearted in the Age of Anxiety'' * Loren Loiacono – ''Waxing Cerulean'' * David Ludwig – ''Moto Perpetuo'' *
Clare Maclean Clare Maclean (born 1958 on the South Island of New Zealand, at Timaru) is a New Zealand composer. She received her formative musical training under Gillian Bibby at the Wellington Polytechnic. She then moved to Australia, where she studied comp ...
– 'That I Did Always Love' *
James MacMillan Sir James Loy MacMillan, (born 16 July 1959) is a Scottish classical composer and conductor. Early life MacMillan was born at Kilwinning, in North Ayrshire, but lived in the East Ayrshire town of Cumnock until 1977. His father is James MacMi ...
– ''Stabat Mater'' * Eric Malmquist – ''Prairie Music'' * Kevin Malone – ''Unsung HerStories'' * Sasha Johnson Manning – ''Miss Me, But Let Me Go'' *
Wynton Marsalis Wynton Learson Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter, composer, teacher, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has promoted classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awar ...
– ''The Jungle'' (Symphony No 4) * Barnaby Martin – ''Shine Forth'' * Zoë Martlew – ''Broad St. Burlesque'' * Christian Mason ** ''Isolarion III'' ** ''In the Midst of the Sonorous Islands'' *
Benedict Mason Benedict Mason, born on 23 February 1954, is a British composer. Mason was educated at King's College, Cambridge (1971–75) and took a degree in film-making at the Royal College of Art (1975–78). He did not turn to composition until his early ...
– ''Horns Strings and Harmony'' * James Matheson – ''Capriccio'' * David Matthews – ''Norfolk March'' * Missy Mazzoli – ''Kinski Paganini'' * Andrew McIntosh ** ''Five Songs'' ** ''We See the Flying Bird'' * Andrew McManus – ''the has-been to beachey'' *
Harold Meltzer Harold Meltzer (born 1966 in Brooklyn) is an American composer. Harold is inspired by a wide variety of stimuli, from architectural spaces to postmodern fairy tales and messages inscribed in fortune cookies. In ''Fanfare (magazine), Fanfare Magazin ...
– ''Vision Machine'' *
Anna Meredith Anna Howard Meredith (born 12 January 1978) is a Scottish composer and performer of electronic and acoustic music. She is a former composer-in-residence with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and former PRS/RPS Composer in the House with Si ...
– ''Tripotage Miniatures'' * David Mettens – ''Tangled lines, luminous tangents'' * Janice Misurell-Mitchell – ''Clameurs, Mélodie'' * Philip Moore – ''Requiem'' *
Paul Moravec Paul Moravec (born November 2, 1957) is an American composer and a University Professor at Adelphi University on Long Island, New York and also a member of the composition department of the Mannes School of Music . Already a prolific composer, he ...
– Concertante for violin, cello, oboe and bassoon * Jocelyn Morlock – ''Undark'' * Jan W Morthenson – ''Omega'' for orchestra *
Jeffrey Mumford Jeffrey Mumford (born June 22, 1955) is a U.S. composer whose orchestral works have been performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Cincinnati S ...
– ''Three Windows'' (texts by
Sonia Sanchez Sonia Sanchez (born Wilsonia Benita Driver; September 9, 1934) is an American poet, writer, and professor. She was a leading figure in the Black Arts Movement and has written over a dozen books of poetry, as well as short stories, critical essay ...
) * Tim Munro – ''breath'' * Eric Nathan – ''Far Beyond Far *
Marc Neikrug Marc Edward Neikrug (born September 24, 1946) is a contemporary American composer, pianist, and conductor. He was born in New York City, the son of cellists George Neikrug and Olga Zundel. He is best known for a Piano Concerto (1966), the theater ...
– ''Flash'' * Andrew Norman – ''Still Life'' *
Bayan Northcott Bayan Peter Northcott (24 April 1940 – 13 December 2022) was an English music critic and composer. Biography Born in Harrow on the Hill (London), Northcott read English at Oxford University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oxford i ...
– ''Concerto for Orchestra'' *
Michael Nyman Michael Laurence Nyman, Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 23 March 1944) is an English composer, pianist, libretto, librettist, musicologist, and filmmaker. He is known for numerous film soundtrack, scores (many written during his length ...
– ''Two Sonnets of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz'' * Carolyn O'Brien – ''Plectra'' * Elizabeth Ogonek – ''Sleep & Unremembrance'' * Scott Ordway – ''Tonight We Tell the Secrets of the World'' * Timothy Page – 'Fences' * Mario Pagliarani – ''Mozartmaschine und Luftkadenz'' * Ben Palmer – ''Flying in the Fire'' *
Roxanna Panufnik Roxanna Panufnik (born 24 April 1968) is a British composer of Polish heritage. She is the daughter of the composer and conductor Sir Andrzej Panufnik and his second wife Camilla, née Jessel. Panufnik was born in London. She attended Bedales ...
– ''Kyrie'' after Byrd * Owain Park – ''Upheld by stillness'' * Aaron Parker – ''After sunset fades'' * Jeff Parker – ''Water on Glass'' *
Anthony Payne Anthony Edward Payne (2 August 1936 – 30 April 2021) was an English composer, music critic and musicologist. He is best known for his acclaimed completion of Edward Elgar's third symphony, which subsequently gained wide acceptance into Elga ...
– ''Of Land, Sea and Sky'' * Michael Pelzel – Concerto for Contrabass Clarinet *
Krzysztof Penderecki Krzysztof Eugeniusz Penderecki (; 23 November 1933 – 29 March 2020) was a Polish composer and conductor. His best known works include ''Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima'', Symphony No. 3, his '' St Luke Passion'', ''Polish Requiem'', ''A ...
– String Quartet No 4 *
Joseph Phibbs Joseph Phibbs (born 25 April 1974) is an English composer of orchestral, choral and chamber music. He has also composed for theatre, both in the UK and Japan. Since 1998 he has written regularly to commissions for Festivals (including for Chelten ...
– ''Partita'' * John Pickard – Symphony No 5 *
Tobias Picker Tobias Picker (born July 18, 1954) is an American composer, artistic director, and pianist, noted for his orchestral works ''Old and Lost Rivers'', ''Keys To The City'', and ''The Encantadas'', as well as his operas ''Emmeline'', ''Fantastic Mr. ...
– ''Opera without Words'' * Michael Pisaro – ''fields have ears (10)''BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra programme, 8 May 2016
/ref> * Sophya Polevaya – ''Carousel'' * Francis Pott – ''Laudate Dominum'' * John Powell – ''A Prussian Requiem'' * Paola Prestini (music) and
Royce Vavrek Royce Vavrek is a Canadian-born Brooklyn-based librettist, playwright, dance scenarist, musical theatre writer and filmmaker known for his collaborations with composers David T. Little, Missy Mazzoli, Mikael Karlsson, Ricky Ian Gordon, Paola Prest ...
(librettist) – ''The Hubble Cantata'' * Alwynne Pritchard – ''Rockaby'' *
Gene Pritsker Gene Pritsker (born 1971) is a Russian-born composer, guitarist, rapper and record producer living in New York City. He moved to the United States with his family in 1978 and lived in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. He attended the Manhattan School of ...
– ''Spirits'' * Ryan Probert – ''Mattei'' * Hilary Purrington – ''For your judicious and pious consideration'' * Shulamit Ran – ''Birkat Haderekh – Blessing for the Road II'' *
Alexander Raskatov Alexander Mikhailovich Raskatov (Russian: Алекса́ндр Миха́йлович Раска́тов; born 9 March 1953, in Moscow) is a Russian composer. Life Alexander Raskatovs father was a leading journalist of the magazine ''Krokodil'', h ...
– ''Green Mass'' *
Santa Ratniece Santa Ratniece (born 1977) is a Latvian composer. Santa Ratniece was born in Jelgava, and started her musical studies with piano playing classes at Valmiera Music School. In 1992 she took up music theory classes in Emīls Dārziņš College in ...
– ''My soul will sink into you'' * William Jason Raynovich – ''how dark and single'' *
Steve Reich Stephen Michael Reich ( ; born October 3, 1936) is an American composer known for his contribution to the development of minimal music in the mid to late 1960s. Reich's work is marked by its use of repetitive figures, slow harmonic rhythm, a ...
– ''Pulse'' * Tomeka Reid – ''Prospective Dwellers'' * David Reminick – ''Seven Somniloquies'' *
Wolfgang Rihm Wolfgang Rihm (born 13 March 1952) is a German composer and academic teacher. He is musical director of the Institute of New Music and Media at the University of Music Karlsruhe and has been composer in residence at the Lucerne Festival and the Sa ...
– ''Toccata capricciosa'' * Sarah J. Ritch – ''Dirge'' * Enric Riu – ''From Freigeld to the Bitcoin'' * Derek Rodgers – Clarinet Concerto * Ana-Maria Rodriguez – ''Les miroirs'' * Matt Rogers – ''We Happened to Travel'' * Christopher Rountree – ''because I left it there * Christopher Rouse – Organ Concerto * Roberto David Rusconi – ''Rituale'' *
Peter Ruzicka Peter Ruzicka (born 3 July 1948) is a German composer and conductor of classical music. He was director of the Hamburg State Opera, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Hamburg and the Salzburg Festival. Ruzicka was managing director and Intendant of ...
– ''Elegie'' * Alexandre Rydin – ''Psaume 61'' * Tomás I. Gueglio Saccone – ''Invention – Music for Bells'' *
Kaija Saariaho Kaija Anneli Saariaho (; ; born 14 October 1952) is a Finnish composer based in Paris, France. During the course of her career, Saariaho has received commissions from the Lincoln Center for the Kronos Quartet and from IRCAM for the Ensemble Inter ...
– ''Sense'' * Jorge Sánchez-Chiong – Concerto for Contrabass Clarinet, Turntable, E-Guitar and Videotechnician * Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol – ''Harabat / The Intoxicated'' * Igor Santos – ''études'' *
David Sawer David Sawer (born 14 September 1961), is a British composer of opera and choral, orchestral and chamber music. Biography Sawer was born in Stockport, England. After attending Ipswich School, he studied music at the University of York where he b ...
– ''April\March'' * Klaus Schedl – ''Blutrausch'' for orchestra and electronics *
Adam Schoenberg Adam Schoenberg (born November 15, 1980) is an American composer. A member of the Atlanta School of Composers, his works have been performed by numerous orchestras and ensembles in the U.S. Schoenberg was the 2010-2012 guest composer for the As ...
– ''Tres Mujeres'' (texts by Janine Salinas Schoenberg) * Alfred Schweizer – ''Musik für Klavier zu vier Händen und Streicher'' (Piano Music for Four Hands and Strings) * Frederick Scott – ''Toccata seconda'' * Caroline Shaw – ''To the Hands'' * Jack Sheen – ''Lung'' * Sean Shepherd – ' *
Percy Sherwood Percy Sherwood (23 May 1866 - 15 May 1939) was a German-born composer and pianist of English nationality. He was born in Dresden, the son of a lecturer in English at Dresden University, John Sherwood, and a German mother Auguste Koch, who had be ...
– Concerto for Violin and Cello * Aleksandr Shymko – Cello concerto * Mark Simpson – ''Hommage à Kurtág'' * Noam Sivan – ''Concentrated Stillness *
Howard Skempton Howard While Skempton (born 31 October 1947) is an English composer, pianist, and accordionist. Since the late 1960s, when he helped to organise the Scratch Orchestra, he has been associated with the English school of experimental music. Skempt ...
– Piano Concerto * Sleeping Giant (composers' collective; individual composers and works listed below): ''Ash'' **
Timo Andres Timo is a masculine given name. It is primarily used in Finnish, Estonian, Dutch and German societies. It may be used as an abbreviation of Timothy. Arts and entertainment *Timo Alakotila (born 1959), Finnish musician * Timo Andres (born 1985), ...
– 'Small Wonder' **
Christopher Cerrone Christopher Cerrone (born March 5, 1984) is an American composer based in New York City. He was a 2014 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, a 2014 Fromm Foundation commission recipient, a 2015 Rome Prize winner in Music Composition, and has received nu ...
– 'On Being Wrong' **
Jacob Cooper Jacob Alonzo Cooper, also known as Jacob Safari, is an American musician, remixer, record producer, songwriter, and occasional DJ. Cooper has been a drummer of the bands Wavves, The Mae Shi, Cold Showers, Har Mar Superstar, and previously had ...
– 'Ley Lines' **
Ted Hearne Ted Hearne (born 1982) is an American composer, singer and conductor. He currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. Biography Ted Hearne was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where he was a member of the Chicago Children's Choir and graduate of W ...
– 'DaVZ23BzMH0' ** Robert Honstein – 'Orison' ** Andrew Norman – 'For Ashley' * Samuel Smith – ''interior cities'' *
Lewis Spratlan M. Lewis Spratlan Jr. (born September 5, 1940) is an American music academic and composer of contemporary classical music. Biography Lewis Spratlan, recipient of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize in music and the Charles Ives Opera Award (2016) from the Ame ...
– ''Common Ground'' * Will Stackpole – ''Aft Agley'' * Christopher Stark ** ''Nanoconcerto'' 2 ** ''Winter Music'' ** ''Spring Music'' ** ''Horizon'' * Joe Steele – ''from different countries'' *
Steven Stucky Steven Edward Stucky (November 7, 1949 − February 14, 2016) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer. Life and career Stucky was born in Hutchinson, Kansas. At age 9, he moved with his family to Abilene, Texas, where, as a teenager, he ...
– ''The Music of Light'' * Martin Suckling – Piano Concerto *
Iris Szeghy Iris Szeghy (born 1956) is a Slovak composer living in Switzerland. Biography Iris Szeghy was born in Prešov, Slovakia. She studied piano and composition at the Conservatory in Košice and composition at the Music Academy in Bratislava, she ende ...
– ''It-Movements'' * Michael Taplin – ''Lambent fires'' * Iris ter Schiphorst – ''Gravitational Waves'' * Third Coast Percussion – ''Reaction Yield'' * Hans Thomalla ** ''Bagatellen'' ** ''I come near you'' * Augusta Read Thomas – ''Venus Enchanted * Anna Thorvaldsdottir – ''Ad Genua/To the knees'' * Francisco Castillo Trigueros – ''En la orilla gris, silencio'' * Alex Turley – ''City of Ghosts'' *
Mark-Anthony Turnage Mark-Anthony Turnage Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 10 June 1960) is a British composer of classical music. Biography Turnage was born in Corringham, Essex. He began composing at age nine and at fourteen began studying a ...
– ''Strapless'' (ballet in one act, choreography by
Christopher Wheeldon Christopher Peter Wheeldon OBE (born 22 March 1973) is an English international choreographer of contemporary ballet. Life and career Born in Yeovil, Somerset, to an engineer and a physical therapist, Wheeldon began training to be a ballet dan ...
) * Sohrab Uduman – ''Dann klingt es auf...'' *
Pēteris Vasks Pēteris Vasks (born 16 April 1946) is a Latvian composer. Biography Vasks was born in Aizpute, Latvia, into the family of a Baptist pastor. He trained as a violinist at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, as a double-bass player wi ...
– Viola Concerto *
Ian Venables Ian Venables (born 1955) is a British composer of art songs and chamber music. Biography Ian Venables was born in Liverpool in 1955 and was educated at Liverpool Collegiate Grammar School. He studied music with Richard Arnell at the Trinity ...
– ''Through these pale cold days'' *
Carl Vine Carl Edward Vine, (born 8 October 1954) is an Australian composer of contemporary classical music. From 1975 he has worked as a freelance pianist and composer with a variety of theatre and dance companies, and ensembles. Vine's catalogue inclu ...
– ''Five Hallucinations'' (for trombone and orchestra) *
Kevin Volans Kevin Volans (born 26 July 1949) is a South African born Irish composer and pianist. He studied with Karlheinz Stockhausen and Mauricio Kagel in Cologne in the 1970s and later became associated with the ''Neue Einfacheit'' (New Simplicity) mo ...
** String Quartet No. 12 ** Piano Concerto No. 4 *
Rolf Wallin Rolf Wallin (born 7 September 1957) is a Norwegian composer, trumpeter and avant-garde performance artist. Biography Wallin was born in Oslo, where he studied with Finn Mortensen and Olav Anton Thommessen. He later studied at the University of Ca ...
– ''Swans Kissing'' (string quartet) * Anne Wang – ''Quartered'' *
Huw Watkins Huw Thomas Watkins (born 13 July 1976) is a British composer and pianist. Born in South Wales, he studied piano and composition at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, where he received piano lessons from Peter Lawson. He then went on to re ...
– Cello Concerto * Randall West – ''Copper'' * Nina Whiteman – ''The map of days outworn'' * Adrian Williams – Piano Trio *
Roderick Williams Roderick Gregory Coleman Williams OBE (born 1965) is a British baritone and composer. Biography Williams was born in North London to a Welsh father and a Jamaican mother. He attended Christ Church Cathedral School in Oxford and Haberdashers' ...
– ''Ave verum corpus re-imagined'' * René Wohlhauser – ''Une Nuit toute passionée'' *
Julia Wolfe Julia Wolfe (born December 18, 1958) is an American composer and professor of music at New York University. According to ''The Wall Street Journal'', Wolfe's music has "long inhabited a terrain of its own, a place where classical forms are rech ...
– ''Spinning Jenny'' *
John Woolrich John Woolrich ( ; born 1954 in Cirencester) is an English composer. Biography Woolrich has founded a group (the Composers Ensemble), a festival (Hoxton New Music Days), and has been composer in association with the Orchestra of St John's and th ...
– ''Swan Song'' * Maurice Wright – ''Resounding Drums'' (concerto for timpani and orchestra) * Amy Wurtz – ''Songs and Dances'' * Katherine Young – ''the moss glows and the water is black'' * Kemal Yusuf – ''Cain''


New operas

*
Michel van der Aa Michel van der Aa (; born 10 March 1970) is a Dutch composer of contemporary classical music. Early years Michel van der Aa was born 10 March 1970 in Oss. He trained as a recording engineer at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, and studie ...
– ''Blank Out'' *
Thomas Adès Thomas Joseph Edmund Adès (born 1 March 1971) is a British composer, pianist and conductor. Five compositions by Adès received votes in the 2017 Classic Voice poll of the greatest works of art music since 2000: '' The Tempest'' (2004), ''V ...
and Tom Cairns – ''The Exterminating Angel'' * Robert Aldridge and Herschel Garfein – ''Sister Carrie'' * Gerald Barry – ''
Alice's Adventures Under Ground ''Alice's Adventures Under Ground'' may refer to: *''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named ...
''. *
Iain Bell Iain Bell (born 1980) is an English composer whose output is predominantly of vocal works, namely opera, art song or orchestral song. Life and career Bell was born in London. His first opera, ''A Harlot's Progress'', to a libretto by Peter Ackro ...
(music), David Antrobus and Emma Jenkins (libretto) – ''In Parenthesis'' *
Konrad Boehmer Konrad Boehmer (24 May 1941 – 4 October 2014) was a German-Dutch composer, educator, and writer. Life Boehmer was born in Berlin. A self-declared member of the Darmstadt School, he studied composition in Cologne with Karlheinz Stockhausen and Go ...
and Albert Ostermaier – ''Sensor'' * David Bruce and
Glyn Maxwell Glyn Maxwell (born 1962) is a British poet, playwright, novelist, librettist, and lecturer. Early life Of primarily Welsh heritage — his mother Buddug-Mair Powell (b. 1928) acted in the original stage show of Dylan Thomas's ''Under Milk Wood'' ...
– ''Nothing'' * Anthony Davis and Richard Wesley – ''Five'' *
Avner Dorman Avner Dorman (Hebrew: אבנר דורמן; born April 14, 1975 in Tel Aviv, Israel) is an Israeli-born composer, educator and conductor. Education Dorman holds a doctorate in music composition from the Juilliard School, where he studied as a C ...
and Lutz Huebner and Sarah Nemitz – ''Wahnfried.'' *
Emily Hall Emily Hall (born 1978) is a composer of classical music, electronica and songs. Her music has been performed by the Duke Quartet, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Brodsky Quartet, the London Sinfonietta, and the Philharmonia; it has been broa ...
– '' Found and Lost'' *
Jake Heggie Jake Heggie (born March 31, 1961) is an American composer of opera, vocal, orchestral, and chamber music. He is best known for his operas and art songs as well as for his collaborations with internationally renowned performers and writers. B ...
and
Gene Scheer Gene Scheer (born April 28, 1958) is an American songwriter, librettist and lyricist. Brother to Samuel Scheer, an English teacher at Windsor High School and part-time musician. Education and early career Scheer was born in New York City. He receiv ...
– ''It's a Wonderful Life'' * Ingfried Hoffmann – ''Die Heinzelmännchen zu Köln'' *
Toshio Hosokawa is a Japanese composer of contemporary classical music. He studied in Germany but returned to Japan, finding a personal style inspired by classical Japanese music and culture. He has composed operas, the oratorio ''Voiceless Voice in Hiroshima' ...
and Hannah Duebgen – ''Stilles Meer'' * Nicholas Jackson – ''The Rose and the Ring'' * Hannah Kendall and Tessa McWatt – ''The Knife of Dawn'' * Lori Laitman and David Mason – ''The Scarlet Letter'' * David Lang and
Mark Dion Mark Dion (born August 28, 1961) is an American conceptual artist best known for his use of scientific presentations in his installations. His work examines the manner in which prevalent ideologies and institutions influence our understanding ...
– ''anatomy theater'' *
Elena Langer Elena Langer (born 1974 in Moscow) is a Russian-born British composer of opera and other contemporary classical music. Her work has been performed at the Royal Opera House, Zurich Opera, Carnegie Hall, Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performi ...
and
David Pountney Sir David Willoughby Pountney (born 10 September 1947) is a British-Polish theatre and opera director and librettist internationally known for his productions of rarely performed operas and new productions of classic works. He has directed over ...
– ''
Figaro Gets a Divorce ''Figaro Gets a Divorce'' is an opera by the Russian-British composer Elena Langer to a libretto by David Pountney. It premiered on 21 February 2016 at the Welsh National Opera at Cardiff. Background ''Figaro Gets a Divorce'' is conceived as a se ...
'' *
David T. Little David T. Little (born October 25, 1978) is a Grammy-nominated American composer, record producer, and drummer known for his operatic, orchestral, and chamber works, most notably his operas ''JFK (opera), JFK,'' ''Soldier Songs'', and ''Dog Days ( ...
and
Royce Vavrek Royce Vavrek is a Canadian-born Brooklyn-based librettist, playwright, dance scenarist, musical theatre writer and filmmaker known for his collaborations with composers David T. Little, Missy Mazzoli, Mikael Karlsson, Ricky Ian Gordon, Paola Prest ...
– ''
JFK John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination i ...
'' * Evan Mack and Joshua McGuire – ''Roscoe'' * Stuart MacRae and
Louise Welsh Louise Welsh (born 1 February 1965 in London) is an English-born author of short stories and psychological thrillers, resident in Glasgow, Scotland. She has also written three plays, an opera, edited volumes of prose and poetry, and contributed ...
– ''The Devil Inside'' * Kevin Malone – ''Mysterious 44 (complete)'' * Kevin March and
Michel Marc Bouchard Michel Marc Bouchard, (born February 2, 1958) is a Canadian playwright. He has received the Prix Journal de Montreal, Prix du Cercle des critiques de l'Outaouais, the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play, the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian ...
– ''Les Feluettes'' * Sir
Peter Maxwell Davies Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (8 September 1934 – 14 March 2016) was an English composer and conductor, who in 2004 was made Master of the Queen's Music. As a student at both the University of Manchester and the Royal Manchester College of Music ...
– ''The Hogboon'' *
Missy Mazzoli Missy Mazzoli (born October 27, 1980) is an American composer and pianist who is a member of the composition faculty at the Mannes College of Music. She has received critical acclaim for her chamber, orchestral and operatic work. In 2018 she becam ...
and
Royce Vavrek Royce Vavrek is a Canadian-born Brooklyn-based librettist, playwright, dance scenarist, musical theatre writer and filmmaker known for his collaborations with composers David T. Little, Missy Mazzoli, Mikael Karlsson, Ricky Ian Gordon, Paola Prest ...
– ''
Breaking the Waves ''Breaking the Waves'' is a 1996 psychological drama film directed and co-written by Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier and starring English stage actress Emily Watson as her feature film acting debut. Set in the Scottish Highlands in the early 197 ...
'' *
Paul Moravec Paul Moravec (born November 2, 1957) is an American composer and a University Professor at Adelphi University on Long Island, New York and also a member of the composition department of the Mannes School of Music . Already a prolific composer, he ...
and Mark Campbell – '' The Shining'' * Alasdair Nicolson and John Gallas – ''The Iris Murder'' * Jack Perla and
Rajiv Joseph Rajiv Joseph (born June 16, 1974) is an American playwright. He was named a finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play ''Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo'', and he won an Obie Award for Best New American Play for his play ''Descri ...
– ''Shalimar the Clown'' * Kaija Saariaho – ''Only The Sound Remains'' (''Always Strong'' and ''Feather Mantle'') *
Bright Sheng Bright Sheng (Chinese: 盛宗亮 pinyin: ''Shèng Zōngliàng''; born December 6, 1955) is a Chinese-born American composer, pianist and conductor. Sheng has earned many honors for his music and compositions, including a MacArthur Fellowship in ...
and David Henry Hwang – ''Dream of the Red Chamber (opera), Dream of the Red Chamber'' * Mark Simpson and Melanie Challenger – ''Pleasure'' * Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce – ''Fellow Travelers'' * Miroslav Srnka and Tom Holloway – ''South Pole'' * Oscar Strasnoy Comeback at Staatsoper Berlin Unter den Linden * Philip Sunderland and Gareth Prior – ''The Glass Knight'' * Peter-Anthony Togni and Sharon Singer – ''Isis and Osiris'' * Eicca Toppinen and Perttu Kivilaakso (music), Sami Parkkinen (libretto) - ''Indigo'' * Jacob TV – ''The News'' * Philip Venables – ''4.48 Psychosis#Opera, 4.48 Psychosis'' *
Rolf Wallin Rolf Wallin (born 7 September 1957) is a Norwegian composer, trumpeter and avant-garde performance artist. Biography Wallin was born in Oslo, where he studied with Finn Mortensen and Olav Anton Thommessen. He later studied at the University of Ca ...
and Mark Ravenhill – ''Elysium'' * Gareth Williams and Anna Chatterton – ''Rocking Horse Winner'' * Luna Pearl Woolf and Caitlin Vincent: ''Better Gods'' * Du Yun and
Royce Vavrek Royce Vavrek is a Canadian-born Brooklyn-based librettist, playwright, dance scenarist, musical theatre writer and filmmaker known for his collaborations with composers David T. Little, Missy Mazzoli, Mikael Karlsson, Ricky Ian Gordon, Paola Prest ...
: ''Angel's Bone''


Albums

* ''Alfred Brendel. The Complete Philips Recordings'' * Walter Braunfels ** ''Don Juan'', ''Symphonic Variations'' ** Orchestral Songs, Volume 2 *
Wolfgang Rihm Wolfgang Rihm (born 13 March 1952) is a German composer and academic teacher. He is musical director of the Institute of New Music and Media at the University of Music Karlsruhe and has been composer in residence at the Lucerne Festival and the Sa ...
– ''Two Other Movements''; ''Abkehr''; ''Schattenstück'' *
Hans Abrahamsen Hans Abrahamsen (born 23 December 1952) is a Danish composer born in Kongens Lyngby near Copenhagen. His '' Let me tell you'' (2013), a song cycle for soprano and orchestra, was ranked by music critics at ''The Guardian'' as the finest work of t ...
– ''let me tell you'' * Spektral Quartet – ''Serious Business'' *
Brett Dean Brett Dean (born 23 October 1961) is an Australian composer, violist and conductor. Biography Brett Dean was born, raised and educated in Brisbane. He started learning violin at the age of eight, and later studied viola with Elizabeth Morgan a ...
, Ross Edwards (composer), Ross Edwards, Peter Sculthorpe – Amy Dickson (saxophone), ''Island Songs'' * Robert De Visée – ''Intimité et grandeur'' * Anders Hillborg – ''Sirens'', ''Cold Heat;'', ''Beast Sampler'' *
Elena Langer Elena Langer (born 1974 in Moscow) is a Russian-born British composer of opera and other contemporary classical music. Her work has been performed at the Royal Opera House, Zurich Opera, Carnegie Hall, Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performi ...
– ''Landscape with Three People'' * Francis Chagrin – Symphonies Nos 1 and 2 * Louise Farrenc, Germaine Tailleferre, Pauline Viardot, Lili Boulanger, Mélanie Bonis, Claude Arrieu – ''Liberté, Égalité, Sororité'' * Gabriel Kahane – ''The Fiction Issue'' * Giacinto Scelsi – Complete Flute Music * ''Scherben'' – Ensemble musikFabrik: Jonathan Harvey (composer), Jonathan Harvey, ''Sringara Chaconne'';
Kaija Saariaho Kaija Anneli Saariaho (; ; born 14 October 1952) is a Finnish composer based in Paris, France. During the course of her career, Saariaho has received commissions from the Lincoln Center for the Kronos Quartet and from IRCAM for the Ensemble Inter ...
, ''Notes on Light''; Nonne Poppe, ''Scherben''; Emmanuel Nunes, ''Chessed I'' * Marie Jaëll – ''Symphonic and Piano Music'' * Beethoven – Symphonies Nos 4 and 5 (Concentus Musicus Wien; Nikolaus Harnoncourt) * David Matthews – ''Complete String Quartets, Vol 4'' * Henryk Górecki – Symphony No 4 * Mason Bates – ''The B-Sides'', ''Alternative Energy'', ''Liquid Interface'' * Johannes Matthias Sperger – Symphonies *
Jake Heggie Jake Heggie (born March 31, 1961) is an American composer of opera, vocal, orchestral, and chamber music. He is best known for his operas and art songs as well as for his collaborations with internationally renowned performers and writers. B ...
– "The Moon's a Gong, Hung in the Wild" *
Julian Anderson Julian Anderson (born 6 April 1967) is a British composer and teacher of composition. Biography Anderson was born in London. He studied at Westminster School, then with John Lambert at the Royal College of Music, with Alexander Goehr at Cambri ...
– ''In Lieblicher Bläue'' * Gaetano Donizetti – ''Le Duc d'Albe'' * Bent Sørensen (composer), Bent Sørensen – ''Works for Choir'' * Philippe de Monte, William Byrd, Roxanna Panufnik, Francis Pott, Alexander L'Estrange, Owain Park, Charlotte Bray, Roderick Williams – ''Upheld by Stillness'' (ORA Choir) * Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen – ''Incontri'', ''Mirror II'', ''Symphony-Antiphony'' * Arthur Honegger and Jacques Ibert – ''L'Aiglon'' * Errolyn Wallen – ''Photography'' * James Wood (composer), James Wood – ''Cloud-Polyphonies'' / ''Tongues of Fire'' * Wim Henderickx – ''At the Edge of the World'', ''Empty Mind 1'', ''Groove!'' *
Thomas Adès Thomas Joseph Edmund Adès (born 1 March 1971) is a British composer, pianist and conductor. Five compositions by Adès received votes in the 2017 Classic Voice poll of the greatest works of art music since 2000: '' The Tempest'' (2004), ''V ...
, Per Nørgard,
Hans Abrahamsen Hans Abrahamsen (born 23 December 1952) is a Danish composer born in Kongens Lyngby near Copenhagen. His '' Let me tell you'' (2013), a song cycle for soprano and orchestra, was ranked by music critics at ''The Guardian'' as the finest work of t ...
– Works for String Quartet * Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari – ''I Gioielli della Madonna'' * Peter Eötvös – ''DoReMi'', ''Cello Concerto Grosso'' * Jürg Frey – ''Guitarist, Alone'' (Cristián Alvear, guitarist) * George Benjamin (composer), George Benjamin – ''Dream of the Song'',
Magnus Lindberg Magnus Gustaf Adolf Lindberg (born 27 June 1958) is a Finnish composer and pianist. He was the New York Philharmonic's composer-in-residence from 2009 to 2012 and has been the London Philharmonic Orchestra's composer-in-residence since the begin ...
– ''Era'', Tan Dun – ''The Wolf'' * Anthony Burgess – Orchestral Music * Christopher Gunning – Violin Concerto, Cello Concerto * Kenneth Hesketh – ''Horae (pro Clara)'' *
Per Nørgård Per Nørgård (; born 13 July 1932) is a Danish composer and music theorist. Though his style has varied considerably throughout his career, his music has often included repeatedly evolving melodies—such as the infinity series—in the vein o ...
– Symphonies Nos 2, 4, 5 and 6 * David Lang – ''the national anthems'' * Colin Matthews – Violin Concerto / Cello Concerto No 2 * Beethoven – ''Missa Solemnis'', Concentus Musicus Wien; Nikolaus Harnoncourt (his final recording) * Beat Furrer – ''Enigmas'', ''Voices – Still'', ''Cold and Calm and Moving'' * Gérard Grisey – ''Les Espaces Acoustiques'' * ''Polish Violin Concertos'' (Andrzej Panufnik – Violin Concerto; Grażyna Bacewicz – Violin Concerto No 1; Alexandre Tansman – ''Cinq Pièces pour Violon et Petit Orchestre''; Michał Spisak – ''Andante et Allegro'') *
Brett Dean Brett Dean (born 23 October 1961) is an Australian composer, violist and conductor. Biography Brett Dean was born, raised and educated in Brisbane. He started learning violin at the age of eight, and later studied viola with Elizabeth Morgan a ...
– ''Shadow Music'', ''Short Stories'' * Gabriel Jackson (composer), Gabriel Jackson – ''Vox Clara'' * Emily Howard – ''Magnetite'', ''Afference'' * Ernst Krenek ** ''Reisebuch aus den Österreichischen Alpen'' ** ''Orpheus und Eurydike'' * Iván Fischer – ''Composer's Portrait 1'' * John Coolidge Adams, John Adams – ''Scheherazade.2'' * Mark Bowden – ''Lyra'' et al. * Richard Causton (composer), Richard Causton, Kenneth Hesketh – ''A Land So Luminous'' * Alfred Hill (composer), Alfred Hill, George Frederick Boyle – Piano Concertos * Charles Wuorinen – Eighth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto * ''Harnoncourt: The Complete Sony Recordings'' * Kristine Tjøgersen, Jan Martin Smørdal, Oren Ambarchi and James Rushford, Alvin Lucier, Julian Skar – Ensemble neoN * Gavin Bryars – ''The Fifth Century'' * Matthew Trusler (violin) and Ashley Wass (piano) – ''Wonderland'' * Gesualdo Six – ''English Motets'' * ''Mozart 225''


Deaths

*
January 1 January 1 or 1 January is the first day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 364 days remaining until the end of the year (365 in leap years). This day is also known as New Year's Day since the day marks the beginning of the yea ...
: ** Alan S. Gordon, American labour union leader of arts and choral performers, 70 ** Gilbert Kaplan, American businessman and philanthropist, aficionado and amateur conductor of the music of
Gustav Mahler Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and the modernism ...
, 71 * January 5 – Pierre Boulez, French composer and conductor, 90 * January 6 – Marion Studholme, British soprano, 88 *
January 13 Events Pre-1600 * 27 BC – Octavian transfers the state to the free disposal of the Roman Senate and the people. He receives Spain, Gaul, and Syria as his province for ten years. * 532 – The Nika riots break out, during the racing ...
– Bern Herbolsheimer, American composer, 67 *
January 21 Events Pre-1600 * 763 – Following the Battle of Bakhamra between Alids and Abbasids near Kufa, the Alid rebellion ends with the death of Ibrahim, brother of Isa ibn Musa. * 1525 – The Swiss Anabaptist Movement is founded when Co ...
– Bogusław Kaczyński, Polish classical music journalist, 73 * January 23 – Robert Tuggle, American opera archivist, 83 * January 24 – Jacques Brourman, American conductor, 84 * January 25 ** Denise Duval, French soprano, 94 ** Leif Solberg, Norwegian composer and organist, 101 *
January 28 Events Pre-1600 * 98 – On the death of Nerva, Trajan is declared Roman emperor in Cologne, the seat of his government in lower Germany. * 814 – The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession o ...
– Francis Akos, Hungarian-born American orchestral violinist, 93 *
January 29 Events Pre-1600 * 904 – Sergius III is elected pope, after coming out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher. * 946 – Caliph Al-Mustakfi is blinded and deposed by Emir Mu'izz al-Dawla, ruler o ...
– Aurèle Nicolet, Swiss flautist, 90 *
February 2 Events Pre-1600 * 506 – Alaric II, eighth king of the Visigoths, promulgates the Breviary of Alaric (''Breviarium Alaricianum'' or ''Lex Romana Visigothorum''), a collection of "Roman law". * 880 – Battle of Lüneburg Heath: King ...
– Carl David Hall, American orchestral flautist, 64 *
February 3 Events Pre-1600 * 1112 – Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, and Douce I, Countess of Provence, marry, uniting the fortunes of those two states. *1451 – Sultan Mehmed II inherits the throne of the Ottoman Empire. *1488 – ...
– Saulius Sondeckis, Lithuanian violinist and conductor, 87 *
February 4 Events Pre–1600 * 211 – Following the death of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus at Eboracum (modern York, England) while preparing to lead a campaign against the Caledonians, the empire is left in the control of his two quarrellin ...
** Ulf Söderblom, Finnish conductor, 85 ** Leslie Bassett, American composer, 93 * February 14 –
Steven Stucky Steven Edward Stucky (November 7, 1949 − February 14, 2016) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer. Life and career Stucky was born in Hutchinson, Kansas. At age 9, he moved with his family to Abilene, Texas, where, as a teenager, he ...
, American composer, 66 *
February 15 Events Pre-1600 * 438 – Roman emperor Theodosius II publishes the law codex Codex Theodosianus * 590 – Khosrau II is crowned king of Persia. * 706 – Byzantine emperor Justinian II has his predecessors Leontios and Tiberi ...
**Piero Buscaroli, Italian musicologist, 85 **Louis Lane, American conductor, 92 * February 16 – Gwyneth George, British concert cellist and academic * February 17 – Rainer Mehne, German orchestral violinist, 68 *
February 18 Events Pre-1600 * 1229 – The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, signs a ten-year truce with al-Kamil, regaining Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem with neither military engagements nor support from the papacy. * 1268 &ndas ...
– Robert Baustian, American opera conductor and teacher, 94 * February 20 ** Ove Verner Hansen, Danish actor and opera singer, 83 ** Ralph Morton, Australian composer, choral conductor, and organist, 67 * February 21 ** Pascal Bentoiu, Romanian composer, 88 ** Freda, Lady Berkeley, widow of Sir Lennox Berkeley and patroness of classical music, 92 * February 23 – Peter Kamnitzer, German-born American violist of the LaSalle Quartet and conservatory professor, 93 *
February 25 Events Pre-1600 * 138 – Roman emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius as his son, effectively making him his successor. * 628 – Khosrow II, the last great Shah of the Sasanian Empire (Iran), is overthrown by his son Kavadh II. ...
** Otto-Werner Mueller, German-born American conductor and conducting instructor, 89 *
February 26 Events Pre-1600 *747 BC – According to Ptolemy, the epoch (origin) of the Nabonassar Era began at noon on this date. Historians use this to establish the modern BC chronology for dating historic events. * 364 – Valentinian I is p ...
** Eri Klas, Estonian conductor, 76 ** Sherwood Mobley, American timpanist and music administrator, 59 * February 28 – Winfried Maczewski, German-born chorus master, resident in The Netherlands, 74 *
March 4 Events Pre-1600 *AD 51 – Nero, later to become Roman emperor, is given the title '' princeps iuventutis'' (head of the youth). * 306 – Martyrdom of Saint Adrian of Nicomedia. * 852 – Croatian Knez Trpimir I issues a st ...
– Zhou Xiaoyan, Chinese vocal pedagogue and classical soprano, 98 * March 5 – Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Austrian conductor, cellist and scholar, 86 * March 8 – Sir George Martin, British recording producer, 90 *
March 14 Events Pre-1600 * 1074 – Battle of Mogyoród: Dukes Géza and Ladislaus defeat their cousin Solomon, King of Hungary, forcing him to flee to Hungary's western borderland. * 1590 – Battle of Ivry: Henry of Navarre and the Huguen ...
– Sir
Peter Maxwell Davies Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (8 September 1934 – 14 March 2016) was an English composer and conductor, who in 2004 was made Master of the Queen's Music. As a student at both the University of Manchester and the Royal Manchester College of Music ...
, British composer, 81 * March 17 – Charles Kaufman (educator), Charles Kaufman, American music education administrator, 87 * March 20 – Peter Williams, British musicologist, 78 * March 23 – Gegham Grigoryan, Armenian opera singer, 65 *
March 24 Events Pre-1600 * 1199 – King Richard I of England is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting in France, leading to his death on April 6. *1387 – English victory over a Franco- Castilian-Flemish fleet in the Battle of Margate off ...
– Sir Peter Moores (businessman), Peter Moores, British classical music philanthropist, 83 * March 31 – Bernard Lurie, American orchestra leader (concertmaster), 82 * April 4 – Royston Nash, British conductor, 82 *
April 5 Events Pre-1600 * 823 – Lothair I is crowned King of Italy by Pope Paschal I. * 919 – The second Fatimid invasion of Egypt begins, when the Fatimid heir-apparent, al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah, sets out from Raqqada at the head of his a ...
– Elsie Morison, Australian soprano, 91 * April 6 – Jeremy Siepmann, American-born British pianist, teacher, writer and broadcaster, 74 * April 8 – Marcel Farago, American orchestral cellist and composer, 92 * April 12 – Alan Loveday, New Zealand-born British violinist, 88 * April 15 – Guy Woolfenden, British composer, 79 * April 16 – Theo Lap, Dutch classical record label executive, 54 *
April 18 Events Pre-1600 * 796 – King Æthelred I of Northumbria is murdered in Corbridge by a group led by his ealdormen, Ealdred and Wada. The ''patrician'' Osbald is crowned, but abdicates within 27 days. * 1428 – Peace of Ferrara betw ...
– Brian Asawa, American opera singer, 49 * April 22 – Lincoln Clark, American opera director, 90 * April 24 – George Pieterson, Dutch orchestral clarinetist, 74 * April 27 – Gabriele Sima, Austrian mezzo-soprano, 61 *
April 29 Events Pre-1600 *1091 – Battle of Levounion: The Pechenegs are defeated by Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. * 1386 – Battle of the Vikhra River: The Principality of Smolensk is defeated by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and beco ...
– Dmytro Hnatyuk, Ukrainian operatic baritone, 91 * May 4 – Ursula Mamlok, German-born American composer, 93 *
May 15 Events Pre-1600 * 221 – Liu Bei, Chinese warlord, proclaims himself emperor of Shu Han, the successor of the Han dynasty. * 392 – Emperor Valentinian II is assassinated while advancing into Gaul against the Frankish usurper Arbog ...
** Bernard van Beurden, Dutch composer, 82 ** Jane Little (musician), Jane Little, American orchestral double bassist, 87 *
May 17 Events Pre-1600 *1395 – Battle of Rovine: The Wallachians defeat an invading Ottoman army. * 1521 – Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason. * 1527 – Pánfilo de Narváez departs Spain to explore Flo ...
– Huguette Dreyfus, French harpsichordist, 87 * May 26 ** Gustav Meier, Swiss-born American conductor, 86 ** Robert O'Hearn, American theatre and opera production designer, 94 * June 4 – Phyllis Curtin, 94, American soprano. *
June 6 Events Pre-1600 * 913 – Constantine VII, the eight-year-old illegitimate son of Leo VI the Wise, becomes nominal ruler of the Byzantine Empire under the regency of a seven-man council headed by Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos, appointed b ...
– Rolf Schweizer, German composer, 80 * June 9 – J. Reilly Lewis, American choral conductor and Baroque music specialist, 71 * June 11 – Alberto Remedios, British tenor, 81 *
June 13 Events Pre-1600 * 313 – The decisions of the Edict of Milan, signed by Constantine the Great and co-emperor Licinius, Valerius Licinius, granting religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire, are published in Nicomedia. *1325 – Ib ...
** Anahid Ajemian, Armenian-American violinist and champion of new music, 92 ** Oleg Karavaychuk, Soviet and Russian composer, 88 * June 18 – Peter Feuchtwanger, German-born pianist and piano pedagogue resident in the UK, 76 * June 21 – Karen O'Connor, British orchestral oboist, 60 * June 22 – Harry Rabinowitz, South African-born British conductor and composer, 100 *
June 24 Events Pre-1600 * 1312 BC – Mursili II launches a campaign against the Kingdom of Azzi-Hayasa. * 109 – Roman emperor Trajan inaugurates the Aqua Traiana, an aqueduct that channels water from Lake Bracciano, northwest of Rome. * ...
** Charles Chaynes, French composer, 90 ** Edoardo Müller, Italian conductor, 78 *
June 27 Events Pre-1600 * 1358 – The Republic of Ragusa is founded. * 1497 – Cornish rebels Michael An Gof and Thomas Flamank are executed at Tyburn, London, England. * 1499 – Americo Vespucci, on Spanish financed trip, sights coas ...
**Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Danish composer, 83 **Harry Halbreich, Belgian musicologist, 85 *
June 29 Events Pre-1600 * 226 – Cao Rui succeeds his father as emperor of the Kingdom of Wei. *1149 – Raymond of Poitiers is defeated and killed at the Battle of Inab by Nur ad-Din Zangi. * 1194 – Sverre is crowned King of Norway, ...
**Inocente Carreño, Venezuelan composer, 96. **Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Indian singer and composer, 67 **Vasyl Slipak, Ukrainian opera singer, 41 (shot) *
June 30 Events Pre-1600 * 296 – Pope Marcellinus begins his papacy. * 763 – The Byzantine Empire, Byzantine army of emperor Constantine V defeats the First Bulgarian Empire, Bulgarian forces in the Battle of Anchialus (763), Battle of Anc ...
– Franz Cibulka, Austrian composer, 69 * July 2 – David Patrick Gedge, English organist, 77 * July 5 ** Alirio Díaz, Venezuelan classical guitarist, 92 ** Gladys Nordenstrom, American composer, 92 *
July 9 Events Pre-1600 *118 – Hadrian, who became emperor a year previously on Trajan's death, makes his entry into Rome. * 381 – The end of the First Council of Christian bishops convened in Constantinople by the Roman Emperor Theodos ...
– Maralin Niska, American soprano, 89 * July 12 – Gregg Smith, American choral conductor and composer, 84 * July 18 – Stewart Pearce, American opera administrator and developer of Tessitura (software), Tessitura, 65 * July 20 – André Isoir, French organist, 81 * July 25 – Alasdair Graham (pianist), Alasdair Graham, British pianist and academic, 82 *
July 26 Events Pre-1600 * 657 – First Fitna: In the Battle of Siffin, troops led by Ali ibn Abu Talib clash with those led by Muawiyah I. * 811 – Battle of Pliska: Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I is killed and his heir Staurakios is seri ...
** Hiroko Nakamura, Japanese classical pianist, 72 ** Paul Robertson, British violinist, leader of the Medici String Quartet, 63 * July 27 ** Einojuhani Rautavaara, Finnish composer, 87 ** Elena Doria, American opera children's chorus director, 90 *
July 28 Events Pre-1600 * 1364 – Troops of the Republic of Pisa and the Republic of Florence clash in the Battle of Cascina. * 1540 – Henry VIII of England marries his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, on the same day his former Chancellor, T ...
– Seth Carlin, American pianist and university professor, 71 * July 29 – Peter Sadlo, German percussionist and music teacher, 54 * August 1 – Andre Hajdu, Hungarian-born Israeli composer and ethnomusicologist, 84 * August 4 – Patrice Munsel, American soprano, 91 * August 6 – Temple Painter, American harpsichordist, 83 * August 10 – Iris Kells, English operatic soprano, 93 * August 14 – Neil Black, English oboist, 84 * August 19 – Mary Gallagher O'Rourke, Irish violinist and orchestra founder, 76 * August 20 – Daniela Dessì, Italian soprano, 59 * August 28 – John Stenhouse, British orchestral bass clarinetist, 74 * August 31 – Raymond Daveluy, Canadian composer, organist, music educator and arts administrator, 89 *
September 8 Events Pre-1600 * 617 – Battle of Huoyi: Li Yuan defeats a Sui dynasty army, opening the path to his capture of the imperial capital Chang'an and the eventual establishment of the Tang dynasty. * 1100 – Election of Antipope Theodor ...
– Johan Botha (tenor), Johan Botha, South African tenor, 51 * September 24 – Emilio Gravagno, American orchestral double bassist, 82 *
October 2 Events Pre-1600 * 829 – Theophilos succeeds his father Michael II as Byzantine Emperor. * 939 – Battle of Andernach: Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, crushes a rebellion against his rule, by a coalition of Eberhard of Franconia and ot ...
** Sir Neville Marriner, British conductor and violinist, 92 ** Thomas Round, British tenor, 100 *
October 5 Events Pre-1600 * 610 – Heraclius arrives at Constantinople, kills Byzantine Emperor Phocas, and becomes emperor. * 816 – King Louis the Pious is crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the Pope. * 869 – The Fourth Co ...
– Pompeiu Hărășteanu, Romanian opera singer, 81 * October 7 – Anne Pashley, British opera singer and Olympic athlete, 81 * October 8 – Peter Allen (US broadcaster), Peter Allen, Canadian-born American radio announcer and past host of the Metropolitan Opera radio transmissions, 96 * October 28 – John Del Carlo, American bass-baritone, 61 *
October 29 Events Pre-1600 * 312 – Constantine the Great enters Rome after his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, stages a grand '' adventus'' in the city, and is met with popular jubilation. Maxentius' body is fished out of the Tiber ...
– Roland Dyens, Tunisian-born French guitarist, 61 * November 6 – Zoltán Kocsis, Hungarian pianist, conductor and composer, 64 * November 11 – George Reynolds, British orchestral trumpeter, 78 *
November 15 Events Pre-1600 * 655 – Battle of the Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. *1315 – Growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy: The Schweizer Eidgenossenschaft ambushes the army of Leopold I in the Battle of Morg ...
– Jules Eskin, American orchestral cellist, 85 * November 24 – Pauline Oliveros, American composer, 84 * November 26 – Russell Oberlin, American countertenor, 88 *
November 28 Events Pre-1600 * 587 – Treaty of Andelot: King Guntram of Burgundy recognizes Childebert II as his heir. * 936 – Shi Jingtang is enthroned as the first emperor of the Later Jin by Emperor Taizong of Liao, following a revolt again ...
– Mark Taimanov, Russian pianist and chess grandmaster, 90 * November 30 – Donald Montanaro, American orchestral clarinetist and music institute teacher, 82 * December 3 – Gigliola Frazzoni, Italian operatic soprano, 89 * December 14 – Karel Husa, Czech-born American composer, 95 *
December 23 Events Pre-1600 * 484 – The Arian Vandal Kingdom ceases its persecution of Nicene Christianity. * 558 – Chlothar I is crowned King of the Franks. * 583 – Maya queen Yohl Ik'nal is crowned ruler of Palenque. * 962 &ndas ...
– Heinrich Schiff, Austrian cellist, 65 * December 24 – Philip Cannon (composer), Philip Cannon, British composer, 87 * December 28 – Bernard Zaslav, US viola player, 90'American Violist Bernard Zaslav Has Died – Aged 90', The Violin Channel webpage


Major awards

* 2016 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Music: Henry Threadgill – ''In for a Penny, In for a Pound'' * 2016 Grawemeyer Award Winner in Music:
Hans Abrahamsen Hans Abrahamsen (born 23 December 1952) is a Danish composer born in Kongens Lyngby near Copenhagen. His '' Let me tell you'' (2013), a song cycle for soprano and orchestra, was ranked by music critics at ''The Guardian'' as the finest work of t ...
– ''let me tell you''


Grammy Awards

* Best Orchestral Performance: Dmitri Shostakovich – ''Under Stalin's Shadow'' – Symphony No. 10 (Shostakovich), Symphony No. 10;
Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...
; Andris Nelsons, conductor (Deutsche Grammophon) * Best Opera Recording: Maurice Ravel: ''L'enfant et les sortilèges'' / ''Shéhérazade (Ravel), Shéhérazade''; Isabel Leonard ''et al''.; Saito Kinen Orchestra; SKF Matsumoto Chorus & SKF Matsumoto Children's Chorus; Seiji Ozawa, conductor (Decca) * Best Choral Performance: Sergei Rachmaninoff – ''All-Night Vigil (Rachmaninoff), All-Night Vigil''; Kansas City Chorale and Phoenix Chorale; Charles Bruffy, conductor (Chandos) * Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance: ''Filament'' – eighth blackbird (Cédille Records) * Best Classical Instrumental Solo: Henri Dutilleux – Violin Concerto (''L'Arbre Des Songes''), Symphony No. 2 ('Le Double'); Augustin Hadelich, violinist; Seattle Symphony; Ludovic Morlot, conductor (Seattle Symphony Media) * Best Classical Solo Vocal Album: ''Joyce & Tony – Live From Wigmore Hall''; Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano; Antonio Pappano, piano (Erato) * Best Classical Compendium: Stephen Paulus – ''Three Places Of Enlightenment'', ''Veil Of Tears'', ''Grand Concerto''; Nathan J. Laube, organist; Nashville Symphony; Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor (Naxos) * Best Contemporary Classical Composition: Stephen Paulus – ''Prayers & Remembrances''; True Concord Voices and Orchestra; Eric Holtan, conductor (Reference Recordings)


Juno Awards

Classical Albums of the Year: * Solo or Chamber Ensemble: César Franck and Richard Strauss, Violin Sonatas; James Ehnes and Andrew Armstrong (Onyx) * Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment: Camille Saint-Saëns, Samy Moussa, and
Kaija Saariaho Kaija Anneli Saariaho (; ; born 14 October 1952) is a Finnish composer based in Paris, France. During the course of her career, Saariaho has received commissions from the Lincoln Center for the Kronos Quartet and from IRCAM for the Ensemble Inter ...
, ''Symphonie et créations pour orgue et orchestre''; Olivier Latry, Jean-Willy Kunz, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Kent Nagano, conductor (Analekta) * Vocal or Choral Performance: ''Las Ciudades de Oro''; L'Harmonie des Saisons (ATMA) Classical Composition of the Year: Dinuk Wijeratne – ''Two Pop Songs on Antique Poems'' (Centrediscs)


Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2016

* Baroque Instrumental: Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, Biber – ''Rosary Sonatas''; Rachel Podger, Jonathan Manson, David Miller, Marcin Swiatkiewicz (Channel Classics) * Baroque Vocal: Monteverdi – ''Madrigali, Vol 1 – Cremona''; Les Arts Florissants (ensemble), Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew (Les Arts Florissants Editions) * Chamber: Tippett – String Quartets; Heath Quartet (Wigmore Hall Live) * Choral: Schoenberg – ''Gurrelieder''; Barbara Haveman, Claudia Mahnke, Brandon Jovanovich, Gerhard Siegel, Thomas Bauer, Johannes Martin Kränzle; Netherlands Female Youth Choir; Cologne Cathedral Choir, Male Voices and Vocal Ensemble; Chorus of the Bach-Verein, Cologne; Kartäuserkantorei, Cologne; Cologne Gürzenich Orchestra;
Markus Stenz Markus Stenz (born 28 February 1965, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate) is a German conductor. He studied at the Hochschule für Musik Köln with Volker Wangenhein and at Tanglewood with Leonard Bernstein and Seiji Ozawa. Stenz has ...
(Hyperion Records, Hyperion) * Concerto: Britten. Korngold – Violin Concertos; Vilde Frang, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, James Gaffigan (Warner Classics) * Contemporary: Hans Abrahamsen – ''let me tell you''; Barbara Hannigan, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons (Winter & Winter) * Early Music: ''Western Wind''; Taverner Choir & Players / Andrew Parrott (Avie) * Instrumental: JS Bach – ''Goldberg Variations'' / Beethoven – ''Diabelli Variations'' / Frederic Rzewski – ''The People United Will Never Be Defeated!''; Igor Levit (Sony Classical) * Opera: Verdi – ''Aida''; Anja Harteros, Jonas Kaufmann, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Ludovic Tézier, Erwin Schrott, Marco Spotti, Eleonora Buratto, Paolo Fanale; Chorus and Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Sir Antonio Pappano (Warner Classics) * Orchestral: Shostakovich – Symphony No 10 ('Under Stalin's Shadow);
Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...
, Andris Nelsons (Deutsche Grammophon) * Recital: Mozart – ''The Weber Sisters''; Sabine Devieilhe, Arnaud de Pasqual; Ensemble Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon (Erato) * Solo Vocal: ''Néère''; Véronique Gens, Susan Manoff (Alpha) * Recording of the Year: Bruckner – JS Bach – ''Goldberg Variations'' / Beethoven – ''Diabelli Variations'' / Frederic Rzewski – ''The People United Will Never Be Defeated!''; Igor Levit (Sony Classical) * Young Artist of the Year: Benjamin Appl * Label of the Year: Warner Classics * Artist of the Year: Daniil Trifonov * Lifetime Achievement Award: Christa Ludwig * Special Achievement Award: BBC Radio 3


British Composer Awards

* Amateur or Young Performers:
Jonathan Dove Jonathan Dove (born 18 July 1959) is an English composer of opera, choral works, plays, films, and orchestral and chamber music. He has arranged a number of operas for English Touring Opera and the City of Birmingham Touring Opera (now Birmin ...
– ''The Monster in the Maze'' * Chamber Ensemble: Leo Chadburn – ''Freezywater'' * Choral:
Roderick Williams Roderick Gregory Coleman Williams OBE (born 1965) is a British baritone and composer. Biography Williams was born in North London to a Welsh father and a Jamaican mother. He attended Christ Church Cathedral School in Oxford and Haberdashers' ...
– ''Ave verum corpus re-imagined'' * Community or Educational Project: John Webb (composer), John Webb – ''Into the Light'' * Contemporary Jazz Composition: Joe Cutler – ''Karembeu's Guide to the Complete Defensive Midfielder'' * Orchestral: Rebecca Saunders – ''Alba'' * Small Chamber: Oliver Leith – ''A Day at the Spa'' * Solo or Duo: Mark Bowden – ''Five Memos'' * Sonic Art: Claudia Molitor – ''Sonorama'' * Stage Works: Tansy Davies – ''Between Worlds'' * Wind Band or Brass Band: Shri Sriram – ''Just a Vibration''


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{{DEFAULTSORT:2016 In classical music 2016 in music, Classical Classical music by year