JANUARY 28, 2026
Robert Treviño appointed Principal Conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic
Robert Treviño has been appointed Principal Conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic, beginning with the 2026–27 season. The appointment follows his debut with the orchestra in November 2025.
According to the Philharmonic, Treviño’s tenure will focus on imaginative programming, international touring, and a recording partnership with Ondine. His leadership is expected to play a central role in the lead-up to the orchestra’s 160th anniversary season in 2028–29.
Treviño described the appointment as the result of a strong artistic connection established from their first collaboration, noting a shared musical language and aesthetic vision between conductor and orchestra.
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JANUARY 28, 2026
Guitarist Roberto Aussel (1954–2026) has died
Roberto Aussel, the Argentine classical guitarist, teacher, and interpreter closely associated with contemporary guitar repertoire, has died at the age of 71. His death in 2026 has been confirmed.
Born in La Plata in 1954, Aussel studied with Jorge Martínez Zárate and won major international competitions early in his career, including the Radio France International Guitar Competition. He pursued an extensive international performing career and was a long-standing professor of classical guitar at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, where he taught from the mid-1990s until 2021.
A central figure in the expansion of the modern guitar repertoire, Aussel inspired numerous composers to write works for him, including Astor Piazzolla, who dedicated his Five Pieces for Guitar to him. His repertoire ranged from Baroque music to contemporary and Latin American traditions, and his final recording, Tangos y Milongas (2019), reflected his lasting connection to Argentine musical culture.
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JANUARY 24, 2026
Renée Fleming cancels Kennedy Center concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra
Renée Fleming has cancelled her scheduled appearances with the National Symphony Orchestra on 29 and 30 May 2026 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Kennedy Center said the soprano withdrew due to a scheduling conflict. A new soloist and repertoire will be announced, while the remainder of the programme remains unchanged.
The cancellation follows recent leadership and policy changes at the Kennedy Center after decisions taken by Donald Trump, including the renaming of the institution as the Trump Kennedy Center. Fleming resigned in February from her role as Artistic Advisor at Large, referring in her resignation letter to the importance of the centre’s long-standing bipartisan support.
Fleming had been due to appear under James Gaffigan in a programme featuring works by Charles Ives and Aaron Copland. Her withdrawal comes amid a broader series of cancellations by other high-profile artists scheduled to perform at the Kennedy Center in recent months.
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JANUARY 22, 2026
Gran Teatre del Liceu renews Víctor Garcia de Gomar’s contract through 2030/31
The Executive Committee of the Gran Teatre del Liceu has approved the renewal of Víctor Garcia de Gomar as Artistic Director through the end of the 2030/31 season. The decision extends his mandate until July 2031 and is presented by the theatre as a move aimed at reinforcing institutional stability and continuity.
Garcia de Gomar has held the post since 2019. During his tenure, the Liceu has combined major international productions with a stronger focus on contemporary opera, new commissions, and collaborations with artists from outside the traditional operatic sphere, positioning the theatre as an institution engaged with broader cultural and artistic debates.
The renewed term coincides with the period of Jonathan Nott as Music Director and with preparations for the future Liceu Mar, a project the Liceu has identified as a key element in its long-term artistic and institutional development.
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