August 26, 2007

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

Cuban-born Pianist Horacio Gutierrez has cancelled all his engagements through January 2008 because of a diagnosis of primary gastric lymphoma.  According to his manager, Seldy Cramer, the condition is 90% curable with Chemotherapy, which the pianist is undergoing now.  The Pianist plans to return to the stage early next year.

Tenor Luciano Pavarotti has decided to stay in the hospital a few more days despite doctors saying he could leave.  The 71-year-old singer was admitted to a hospital in his home town of Modena last week with a fever. Speaking to reporters, his wife Nicoletta Mantovani said Pavarotti has chosen to remain in the hospital because he feels more tranquil there than at home.   

Politicians, TV stars and singers will all take the stage at the Metropolitan opera in New York City to honor the late Beverly Sills.  Sopranos Natalie Dessay and Anna Netrebko and Baritone Nathan Gunn will sing at the event, and speakers include Carol Burnette, Julius Rudel, Placido Domingo, Mayor Harold Bloomberg, Henry Kissinger and Barbara Walters.  The event will be held September 15^th at the Met, and will be broadcast live on the Met opera channel on Sirius satellite radio.

The Conductor of the Saskatoon Symphony is suing some of the musicians in the orchestra, musician’s union officials, and an arts board member for defamation.  Douglas Sanford is seeking $200,000 in damages for a union report on him that accused him of abuse, incompetence and alcohol abuse. 

For more information on these and other items and events, 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 Phoenix, a service of Rio Salado College and Arizona State University.