JANUARY 31, 2026
James Gaffigan extends tenure as General Music Director of the Komische Oper Berlin until 2030
James Gaffigan has extended his contract as General Music Director of the Komische Oper Berlin through 2030, the company announced. Gaffigan is currently in his third season in the role.
Under his leadership, the Komische Oper has highlighted the orchestra’s continued artistic development and stylistic versatility, with Gaffigan conducting a broad spectrum of repertoire ranging from major opera productions to projects aimed at younger audiences. The theatre’s co-artistic leadership cited his collaborative approach and close work with stage directors as key factors behind the renewal.
Alongside his work in Berlin, Gaffigan has recently been appointed Music Director of the Houston Grand Opera, where he will serve as Music Director Designate in the 2026–27 season before formally assuming the post in 2027–28. His career has also included leadership roles at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia and earlier positions with the Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and Lucerne Symphony Orchestra.
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JANUARY 30, 2026
Lucienne Renaudin Vary receives the Leonard Bernstein Award 2026
The French trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin Vary has been named the recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award for 2026. Awarded by the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, the prize is intended to support outstanding young musicians in the development of an international career.
Renaudin Vary will receive the award at a prizewinner’s concert on 21 August 2026 in Lübeck, performing with ensemble reflektor under the direction of Vimbayi Kaziboni. The programme includes Joseph Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto and George Gershwin’s An American in Paris, reflecting the artist’s engagement with both classical and jazz traditions.
Founded in 2002 and sponsored by the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, the Leonard Bernstein Award marks its 25th anniversary in 2026, with the prize money increased to €20,000. Previous recipients include Lang Lang, Lisa Batiashvili, Jan Lisiecki, Alisa Weilerstein, and, most recently, Hayato Sumino.
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JANUARY 30, 2026
Rolando Villazón extended as Artistic Director of the Mozarteum through 2031
Rolando Villazón has been reappointed Artistic Director of the International Stiftung Mozarteum, with his mandate extended through 2031. The decision follows the 2026 edition of the Mozartwoche, which Villazón has led as Intendant since 2019.
Villazón assumed overall artistic leadership of the Stiftung Mozarteum in 2021. After an initial contract extension in 2022 through 2028, the foundation’s board has now confirmed a further extension, placing him in charge of the institution’s artistic direction for the remainder of the decade.
The Stiftung Mozarteum cited Villazón’s contribution to the international profile of the institution over more than a decade, as well as the continued development of its programming in Salzburg, as key factors behind the decision.
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JANUARY 29, 2026
Elsa Dreisig withdraws from Louise by Charpentier premiere at the Opéra de Lyon
Soprano Elsa Dreisig has withdrawn from the premiere of **Louise by Gustave Charpentier at the Opéra de Lyon, citing illness and vocal exhaustion. In a statement shared on social media, Dreisig explained that the decision was taken to avoid further strain after an intense rehearsal and performance schedule, and to reduce the risk of cancelling the remainder of the run.
She is currently observing three days of complete vocal rest and has expressed hope of returning to the production on Saturday. Gabrielle Philiponet steps in for the premiere performance.
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JANUARY 29, 2026
World premiere: Lisa Streich’s Black Swan for piano and orchestra in Kansas City
A new work by Lisa Streich, Black Swan for piano and orchestra, receives its world premiere on 30 January 2026 with the Kansas City Symphony. The piece is a co-commission by the orchestra and is performed under the direction of Music Director Matthias Pintscher, with Tamara Stefanovich as soloist.
The premiere opens a programme that also includes Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Symphony No. 4, with additional performances on 31 January and 1 February. Black Swan adds to Streich’s recent series of large-scale orchestral and concertante works exploring timbre, contrast, and instrumental transformation. An European premiere is scheduled for 12 June 2026 in Munich with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.
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