The Well-Tempered Ear

Classical music news: Renee Fleming takes Chicago post. How sick was Robert Schumann? Riccardo Chailly to record Beethoven and Brahms cycles. More critics pick their Best Cds of 2010. And what about Mozart, money and marriage?

By Jacob Stockinger

This week’s news clips are a mix of real breaking news and more trend-like feature stories.

I hope you enjoy them as a break from the holiday hecticness that surrounds us.

ITEM: Superstar Renee Fleming (below) takes a post as Creative Consultant to the Lyric Opera of Chicago:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-mov-1210-lyric-fleming-20101209,0,5163541.column

ITEM: Is the mental illness of Robert Schumann (below, in a photograph from 1850) over-diagnosed or wrongly diagnosed?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/arts/music/28schumann.html

ITEM: Riccardo Chailly (below) renews his Decca contract ands plans two big cycles:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/riccardo-chailly-renews-his-decca-contract

ITEM: Gramophone reviewers reveal their Critics’ Choices via podcast:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/download-the-latest-gramophone-podcast-0

ITEM: Money, marriage and Mozart (below): What does it all mean?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/arts/music/29mozart.html