July 8, 2007

It’s this week in classical music, an update on what’s happening in the classical music world, I’m Randy Kinkel.

Opera Star Beverly Sills has died.  The Brooklyn-born soprano died Monday night at her Manhattan home, surrounded by her family and doctor.  She was 78.  Sills was diagnosed with lung cancer weeks ago, although she was never a smoker.  Her appearances ranged from the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan opera and stages around the globe to Johnny Carson’s tonight show and the Muppet show.  She retired from singing in 1980 but continued to host live TV broadcasts and backstage interviews for the Met HD movie theater broadcasts.  She will be missed.

The American Symphony Orchestra League will change its name in the fall to the “League of American Orchestras”.  The organization hired a branding consultant to help come up with the new name. the 65-year-old league will use its name change to launch it’s new strategic plan, website and graphics in the fall.  Said League CEO Henry Fogel, “We discovered a universal desire for change, and a belief that the new strategic plan provides the perfect opportunity… to make this change and propel us forward.”  League membership includes not only professional orchestras but also community ensembles and youth and chamber orchestras as well.   

Tenor Luciano Pavarotti, currently battling pancreatic cancer and retired from the opera stage, is apparently still recording; he’s working on a recording of sacred songs.  His London-based manager Terri Robson said last week in an interview that the recording should be finished by late this summer, and could be released in early 2008.  The tenor continues to teach a group of students daily.

for more information on these and other items and events, go to the KBAQ website at KBAQ-dot-org.… be listening every week at this time for another update, and join me at noon every weekday for the Mozart Buffet, an hour of music by Mozart and his contemporaries, … I’m Randy Kinkel, for KBAQ’s  “This week in Classical Music”…  on 89-five KBAQ, K-B-A-Q Phoenix, a service of Rio Salado College and Arizona State University