JULY 8, 2025
Neeme Järvi temporarily steps away from the stage after podium fall
Estonian conductor Neeme Järvi, 87, will take a temporary break from conducting after falling from the podium during an outdoor concert on Sunday evening at the XXVIII Festival of Song in Tallinn.
The accident occurred at the end of the performance, as Järvi was distributing flowers to the soloists during the encore, Kodumaa. According to festival spokesperson Sten Weidebaum, the conductor is recovering in hospital and remains in good spirits, though he sustained an injury to his cervical vertebrae.
In statements to several media outlets, including Delfi and ERR, Järvi acknowledged that recovery will take time and expressed regret that the fall happened in front of such a large audience. He also noted that, at his age, balance issues are not uncommon: “I behaved like a young man. I just need to be more careful,” he said, adding that both he and his doctors are optimistic.
Järvi, father of conductors Paavo Järvi and Kristjan Järvi, is expected to remain off the podium for the foreseeable future, following medical advice.
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JULY 4, 2025
Owain Park to succeed Sofi Jeannin as Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers
Owain Park has been appointed Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers, beginning in autumn 2026. He will succeed Sofi Jeannin, who has led the ensemble since 2018.
Park, who is currently Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers, described the appointment as “an honour” and praised Jeannin’s “inspiring work” over the past years. A composer and conductor born in 1993 in Bristol, Park is the founder of The Gesualdo Six and has worked with ensembles such as the Southbank Sinfonia and Capella Cracoviensis.
His recent highlights include conducting the BBC Singers at the 2024 Proms, and winning a Gramophone Award for Battle Cry, an album featuring his music.
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JULY 2, 2025
Leonard Fu joins the Juilliard String Quartet as second violinist
As it nears its 80th anniversary, the Juilliard String Quartet has announced the appointment of Leonard Fu as its new second violinist. A Juilliard graduate (Artist Diploma ’23), Fu succeeds Ronald Copes, who steps down after 28 years with the ensemble. Copes will remain on the Juilliard violin faculty.
Fu joins Areta Zhulla, Molly Carr, and Astrid Schween in one of the world’s leading string quartets. The group, in residence at The Juilliard School, is known for its distinguished legacy, commitment to new music, and global touring presence. With this appointment, Fu also becomes a member of Juilliard’s faculty.
The 2025–26 season will continue the quartet’s Letters to Ludwig project and includes a new commission by Michelle Barzel Ross. Full season details will be announced soon.
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JULY 2, 2025
The Berliner Philharmoniker ends the season with a new visit to Japan
The Berliner Philharmoniker concludes its 2025/26 season with a new journey to Japan under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel, marking their 25th visit to the country and their fifth collaboration on Japanese stages.
The trip begins on 2 July at the World Expo in Osaka, where the orchestra returns for the first time since 1970. The concert takes place at the Festival Hall, with a programme of works by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.
A second stop in Nagoya follows, featuring the same repertoire. The Berliners first performed there in 1957, and this year’s concert will be held at the Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre.
The tour concludes at the foot of Mount Fuji, with two outdoor concerts at the Kawaguchiko Stellar Theater. Inspired by the orchestra’s Waldbühne tradition, these performances present a programme of works from North and South America — and mark the Berliners’ debut in Kawaguchiko.
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JUNE 30, 2025
Team from Italy wins 2025 Ring Award for bold reimagining of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo
The 2025 edition of the Ring Award—the international competition for emerging talents in opera direction and design—concluded on 29 June with a live final at Schauspielhaus Graz. Among three diverse interpretations of L’Orfeo (Acts II–III), the main prize went to an Italian team led by director Giorgio Pesenti for Orfeo. The End of Things, praised for its emotional intensity and its interplay between realism and dreamlike imagery.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Ring Award is considered one of the most important platforms for young artists in music theatre. This year, a record 353 participants from 38 countries submitted proposals, with nine finalist teams invited to Graz for the semifinals. Three were selected for the final round, where they staged their concepts live before an international jury.
Additional prizes went to teams from Russia/Israel/Germany (L’Orfeo. The Myth Next Door) and Hungary/UK/France (Orfeo – Recording In Session), while several artists received production opportunities at institutions including Konzert und Theater St. Gallen and Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier.
The full final is available for free on OperaVision until 29 December 2025.
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JUNE 30, 2025
Visa issues force Aigul Akhmetshina to withdraw from Il Barbiere di Siviglia in Paris
Mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina has withdrawn from the current production of Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Opéra Bastille due to unresolved visa issues. After missing rehearsals and the first two performances, the singer announced via Instagram: “Together with the theatre, we made the mutual decision that I will step down from this production. It breaks my heart, but sometimes bureaucracy takes control.”
A few days earlier, she had expressed hope of still joining the run: “I’m really sad to announce that I won’t be able to sing the first night […] as I’m still waiting for my visa,” adding: “Fingers crossed that I’ll be able to sing the second show.” Ultimately, that was not possible.
Akhmetshina thanked the Paris Opera for their support during this “stressful time,” and praised Isabel Leonard, who stepped in as Rosina: “A big thank you to the amazing Isabel Leonard […] I know it will be a beautiful performance.”
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JUNE 27, 2025
Peter Whelan named next Music Director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale
The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale has appointed Peter Whelan as its next Music Director, starting in the 2026–27 season. His initial three-year term will make him the fourth music director in the ensemble’s 45-year history.
A conductor, harpsichordist, and bassoonist, Whelan is known for his work with period ensembles, including the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Ensemble Marsyas. He made his debut with Philharmonia in March 2025 conducting Handel’s Alceste and was praised for his historically informed approach and engaging leadership.
Based in London and originally from Dublin, Whelan will oversee programming for the 2026–27 season, including Philharmonia’s regular subscription series and projects such as SESSIONS and Jews & Music. He is also set to make his debut at the BBC Proms in August 2025 with Handel’s Alexander’s Feast, performed with the Irish Baroque Orchestra.
Philharmonia Baroque, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, is recognized for its performances of Baroque and Classical repertoire using period instruments. Whelan succeeds Richard Egarr, who has held the role since 2020.
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