This year has been a big one for Limelight, with a brand new website and more online readers than ever before. Here are the top ten classical music stories that had people clicking in 2017.
10. Martha Argerich Cancels Her Australian Debut
Fans were devastated when revered pianist Martha Argerich cancelled her long-awaited Australian debut in June. Argerich was due to perform with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the baton of her lifetime musical partner Charles Dutoit, but cancelled several weeks out. Among the most disappointed was Limelight Editor Clive Paget, who interviewed Charles Dutoit and Daniel Barenboim about the enigmatic pianist for a cover feature ahead of her performances.
Martha Argerich. Photo © Adriano Heitmann/Immagina, Deutsche Grammophon
9. Richard Gill Weighs in on Guardian Musical Notation Story
An article in the UK sparked heated debate when it suggested teaching children music notation as “elitist”. Musicians around the world, including Sir Simon Rattle, weighed in, with some accusing the author of anti-intellectualism, as did our very own maestro of music education Richard Gill, who dubbed the concept “a strange idea indeed.”
8. Kaufmann Charms at Candid Opera Australia Conference
In Sydney for Opera Australia’s Parsifal, the superstar tenor spoke about Wagner, upcoming roles, and his withdrawal from The Met’s Tosca. Laura Tingle interviewed Kaufmann, who featured on the cover of Limelight’s August issue.
Photograph courtesy of Opera Australia.
7. Dog Steals Show in Orchestra Performance
A Labrador planted himself next to the concertmaster during a performance of Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony in Turkey, and the internet went wild.
6. Brisbane Baroque Goes Into Liquidation Owing $800,000
The Executive Director of Brisbane Baroque Jarrod Carland put the company into administration, leaving artists little hope of payment. The scandal surrounding the company’s demise rocked the classical music world in Australia, with later reports closer to $1 million with the Liquidator saying there was “ample” public evidence to suggest criminality.
5. Opera Stars Proud to Celebrate Alternative Inauguration
In US news, opera singers including Daniel Sumegi, Isabel Leonard, Nathan Gunn, Lawrence Brownlee, Patricia Racette and Matthew Polenzani lined up to celebrate an alternative to Donald Trump inauguration as president organised by Glen Roven.
Glen Roven with Adrienne Danrich and Camille Zamora at recording sessions.
4. Earplugs Essential for Orchestral Musicians, Study Finds
A study from the Netherlands found that physical measures such as placing screens between sections or creating more space between players are largely ineffective for protecting musicians’ hearing.
3. Elderly Soprano’s Passionate Verdi Stuns the Internet
Italian soprano Fausta Truffa became a sensation after her remarkable performance of La Vergine Deli Angeli went viral.
2. Richard Gill: Alarms Bells Should be Ringing!
Conductor and passionate music education advocate Richard Gill raised the alarm about the state of music education in Australian schools in what has been the second most read article on the Limelight website this year.
Richard-Gill. Photo by Brendan-Read.
The Number 1 Most Read Classical Music Story on Limelight in 2017
Christa Ludwig Raises an Eyebrow at Netrebko and Overhype
Limelight’s most read article for 2017 reported on an a wide-ranging 89th birthday interview the great mezzo gave to Swiss publication NZZ, in which she spoke frankly about her career and art – as well as delivering the odd serve to the likes of Anna Netrebko and Fritz Wunderlich.
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