Culture news Why are Italian musicians protesting Venice Opera's new conductor? Beatrice Venezi was appointed as music director of La Fenice opera house in September. Musicians and staff are demanding her revocation over her lack of experience and ties to the far-right. 27/11/2025
Cinema Meeting John Malkovich, Sergiu Celibidache and The Yellow Tie The Yellow Tie is a new film which tells the remarkable story of Romanian conductor, Sergiu Celibidache. Starring John Malkovich and Sean Bean it's the latest in a series of movies that's bringing more of Hollywood to Bucharest. 12/11/2025
Culture news Baku International Arts Festival targets cross-cultural projects The second week of the Baku International Arts Festival features international stars of theatre, music, dance, and opera, along with unique collaborations, premieres, and ethnic projects. 09/11/2025
Culture news Protests at Paris Philharmonic disrupt Israeli conductor's concert Pro-Palestinian activists threw smoke bombs during the concert by Israeli conductor Lahav Shani at the Philharmonie de Paris. 07/11/2025
Culture news Putin awards Order of Friendship award to German pianist Justus Frantz Pianist and composer Justus Frantz has regularly divided opinion in Germany's classical music world over his close relationship with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Now he's set disapproving tongues wagging again within the industry by accepting Moscow's Order of Friendship award. 05/11/2025
Culture news Eric Lu celebrates 'dream come true' victory at Chopin competition American classical pianist Eric Lu is celebrating a "dream come true" after winning the International Chopin Competition with a stunning performance in Warsaw. 22/10/2025
Culture news Polish pianist carries home hopes into Chopin competition final The jury of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, chaired by Garrick Ohlsson, have decided on 11 pianists for the final round of competition with local hopes resting on the playing hands of Poland's Piotr Alexewicz. 17/10/2025
Culture news War and Chopin: Behind the photographic lens with Wojciech Grzędziński For two decades now, a certain important pretext has drawn photojournalist Wojciech Grzędziński away from the front line and traditionally leads him to Warsaw - the Chopin International Piano Competition. But what does Chopin have to do with war and conflict? 14/10/2025
Culture news Italian tenor Bocelli brings his voice to Samarkand’s historic heart Under the starry sky of the ancient Uzbek city, Andrea Bocelli's famous tenor voice rose against the backdrop of Registan Square – a site that has stood for centuries as the heart of Silk Road culture. 03/09/2025
Culture news The best things to do, hear, see or watch in Europe this week A London exhibition pays tribute to Jean-Francois Millet's riveting rural portraits, Austin Butler stars in crime caper 'Caught Stealing', and Sabrina Carpenter releases her highly-anticipated (and controversial) new album. 25/08/2025
Cult Gabala Music Festival: Six days of opera and jazz in the Caucasus In partnership with Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Every summer, the Gabala International Music Festival turns this Azerbaijani mountain resort into an open-air stage, hosting world-class jazz, opera and orchestras against the backdrop of the Caucasus. 20/08/2025
Culture news Meet the Austrian carpenter safeguarding precious flutes Professional flutists often face a problem when it comes to protecting their fragile and expensive instruments: many cases don't hold the flutes in place, making them vulnerable to damage. But a carpenter from a small Austrian town may have changed that... 09/08/2025
Changemakers of Uzbekistan Behzod Abduraimov: a childhood dream hits the world’s stage In partnership with Center for the Production of Content for Mass Media under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov describes his musical journey, from humble beginnings in Tashkent to performing in storied venues around the world. 05/08/2025
Culture news Italy disinvites pro-Putin classical conductor from Caserta concert The news of the cancellation of the performance by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, who is known to be very close to President Vladimir Putin, has been hailed as a victory by Kremlin critic Yulia Navalnaya and Ukrainian associations in Italy. 21/07/2025
Culture news Chopin, Sand, Scheffer and Delacroix: music, art and friends in Paris Ary Scheffer’s Paris studio was a vibrant meeting place for painters, writers, and musicians - Chopin among them. A true centre of Romantic life in 19th-century Paris, its spirit has been revived at the Frederic Chopin Museum in Warsaw in a new exhibition. 21/06/2025
Culture news Renowned pianist and writer Alfred Brendel dies aged 94 Over a six-decade career, Brendel became known for his interpretations of classical masters including Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert. 18/06/2025