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Title Fight: Armenian Violinist Nikolay Madoyan Performs All Six Paganini Concerti in One Night for Guinness Book of Records

An "Honored Artist of Armenia," Nikolay Madoyan wrote to the Guinness Book of World Records claiming to be the first such fiddler in modern history to perform all six Paganini concerti in one evening (the composer, himself, being exempt). The concert, where Madoyan played each Paganini by heart, was held at the Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater on February 20.
CONFIRMED: La Scala's Next Post-Barenboim Conductor Will Be…Riccardo Chailly

There will be cheers and champagne today, after confirmation that Chailly will, in fact, take over in Milan come 2015.
56th Annual Classical GRAMMY Nominations Announced (as Quixotic as Ever!)

The Grammy nominations are out, and as often happens, the list is rather rife with surprises, with what might have seemed more central fare often edged out (with telling exceptions such as Simon Rattle's 'Rite of Spring'). Relatively small labels like 2L and ArtistShare have...
UPDATE: La Scala's Post-Barenboim Conductor is…Fabio Luisi?

UPDATE: Now, Italy's La Reppublica is reporting that Genoese maestro Fabio Luisi--principal conductor of the Met since September 2011 (i.e. from whence James Levine withdrew)--may very well be the preferred candidate. Call it...
And La Scala's New, Post-Barenboim Conductor is…Riccardo Chailly!

If the mounties are known for always getting their man, the same is often decidedly untrue in the murky world of opera house politics. But at La Scala, Italy's premiere house, they have pulled one heck of a triumph out of the hat and...
Claudio Abbado, Citing Ill Health, Pulls Out of Japanese Tour

Claudio Abbado, generally considered as one of the world's most profoundly insightful conductors, has had his serious health problems in recent years. Which makes the news that the 80-year-old maestro has pulled out of the upcoming...