Classical music news: This week’s memorable milestones show that Madison knows how to pick great young talent. Cellist Alisa Weilerstein is a certified “genius.” Conductor Kurt Sandlering dies at 98. Early music pioneer Christopher Hogwood turns 70. BBC Proms set another record.

By Jacob Stockinger

The week brings some major milestones, especially for conductors and especially some good news for those who book classical music performers for Madison organizations.

ITEM: Madison sure knows how to pick up-and-coming talent. Cellist Alisa Weilerstein (below), who has performed with the Madison Symphony Orchestra. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and a recital at the Wisconsin Union Theater, is among this year’s 22 new MacArthur “genius grant” recipients:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/alisa-weilerstein-named-a-macarthur-foundation-fellow

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/09/20/140627759/cellist-alisa-weilerstein-among-macarthur-grant-winners

ITEM: Famed conductor Kurt Sanderling (below) – who has three conductor sons – has died at 98:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/the-conductor-kurt-sanderling-has-died

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/09/19/140605808/conductor-kurt-sanderling-dies-at-98

ITEM: Early music maestro and keyboard-scholar Christopher Hogwood (below, in a photo by Rosa Frank) has turned 70:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/happy-birthday-christopher-hogwood

ITEM: First, it was Nobel prize candidate Daniel Barenboim making peace with Israelis and Palestinians through the West-East Divan Orchestra. Can a joint symphony orchestra under conductor Myung-Whun Chung (below) bring North Korea and South Korea closer?

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2011/09/178_94911.html

ITEM: The  BBC Proms (below) concerts set another record for audiences. What is their secret to their success and can other presenters and groups replicate it or learn from it?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14859471

ITEM: Good news, bad news: Italian opera conductor Fabio Luisi (below) is chosen to replace the Metropolitan Opera’s ailing James Levine – but gets sued by Rome Opera.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/sep/12/fight-opera-conductor-quits-italy

ITEM: Seattle Symphony (below) comes up with a great – and obvious — way to fill seats and build audiences among young people:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artspage/2016196726_take_your_kids_to_seattle_symphony_for_free.html?prmid=head_main

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Posted in Classical music