Events January 1 – The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra gives its annual New Year Concert at the Musikverein; Daniel Barenboim conducts a programme that includes Josef Strauss's "Friedenspalmen", in recognition of the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.Vienna Philharmonic website: The New Year's Concert. Accessed January 12, 2014 January 14 – The musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra ratify a new contract, ending a 15-month lockout.Doug Grow, "Long lockout of Minnesota Orchestra musicians officially over". MinnPost, 14 January 2014 January 23 – English National Opera announces simultaneously that Edward Gardner is conclude his tenure as music director in 2015, and that Mark Wigglesworth is to succeed Gardner as ENO Music Director. January 26 – At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards,Jon Weisman, Grammy Awards Set for Jan. 26, Los Angeles Times, May 13, 2013 Maria Schneider's Winter Morning Walks wins two awards.56th Annual Grammy Awards Winners & Nominees, January 27, 2014 February 18 – Violinist Vanessa-Mae competes for Thailand at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. March 26 – The Orchestra Haydn announces the appointment of Arvo Volmer as its next chief conductor, effective September 1, 2014, with an initial contract of 3 years. April 1 – A 90th birthday concert for Sir Neville Marriner is held by the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields at the Royal Festival Hall, with soloists Joshua Bell and Murray Perahia.Academy of St Martin in the Fields – Sir Neville Marriner's Birthday Celebration Concert. Accessed September 10, 2014 April 22 – The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra announces that Mariss Jansons is to conclude his chief conductorship of the orchestra after the 2014–2015 season."Mariss Jansons bids farewell", Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra announcement April 24 Operatic tenor Ben Heppner announces his retirement from opera and concert performance, but continues as a broadcaster."Canadian Tenor Ben Heppner Announces Retirement From Singing", Opera News, 24 April 2014. Accessed November 7, 2014 The Minnesota Orchestra announces the re-appointment of Osmo Vänskä as its music director, with a 2-year contract. April 28 – Julian Lloyd Webber announces his retirement from playing cello and performance owing to a herniated disc in his neck which has reduced the power of his bowing arm. May 6 – The Munich Radio Orchestra announces that Ulf Schirmer is to conclude this tenure as its chief conductor at the end of the 2016–2017 season. May 13 – Anonymous 4 announces that the 2015–2016 season is to be their final season before disbanding the ensemble. May 28 – The Royal Northern Sinfonia announces the appointment of Lars Vogt as its next music director, effective September 2015. June 6 – The Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra announces the appointment of Gustavo Gimeno as its next music director, effective with the 2015–2016 season.'Gustavo Gimeno new MD of the OPL', KD Schmid press release, 6 June 2014 June 21 – Zubin Mehta receives a lifetime achievement award at the 42nd Istanbul Music Festival."42nd Festival Honours Gülsin Onay and Zubin Mehta" . Accessed November 7, 2014 July 17 – Roger Wright concludes his tenure as Controller of BBC Radio 3 and Controller of The Proms, with Edward Blakeman becoming interim Controller of The Proms. July 22 – Judith Weir formally takes up the post of Master of the Queen's Music, the first woman ever to hold the title. August 31 – The Danish National Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Fabio Luisi as its next principal conductor, effective in 2017, with an initial contract through 2020. September 1 – The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra announces the appointment of Susanna Mälkki as its next chief conductor, effective in the autumn 2016, with an initial contract of 3 years. September 5 The I,CULTURE Orchestra announces the appointment of Kirill Karabits as its new artistic director. Franz Welser-Möst resigns as Generalmusikdirektor of the Vienna State Opera, with immediate effect. September 8 – Han-na Chang resigns as music director of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra with immediate effect, the day after the orchestra's debut at The Proms.Review of Prom 67, 2014 Proms (The Guardian) September 13 – The Last Night of the Proms is held at the Royal Albert Hall, with Sakari Oramo conducting his first Last Night and Roderick Williams as the soloist for "Rule Britannia". September 17 – Sinfonia ViVA announces the appointment of Duncan Ward as its next principal conductor, effective in January 2015, for an initial contract of 2 years. September 26 – The BBC announces the appointment of Alan Davey as the next Controller of Radio 3, effective January 2015. October 3 – The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra announces the appointment of Daniele Gatti as its 7th chief conductor, effective with the 2016–2017 season."Daniele Gatti Appointed Chief Conductor of RCO", Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra announcement October 8 – The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra announces that Jacques Lacombe is to conclude his music directorship of the orchestra after the 2015–2016 season. October 20 – The first Metropolitan Opera performance of The Death of Klinghoffer, following protests in the months prior to its production.Alex Ross, "Long Wake". The New Yorker, 3 November 2014 October 22 The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra announces that Donald Runnicles is to conclude his tenure as chief conductor after the 2015–2016 season. The Prague Philharmonia announces the appointment of Emmanuel Villaume as its new chief conductor, effective with the 2015–2016 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. October 30 – Conductor and composer Michael Gielen announces his retirement from the concert platform on health grounds."Michael Gielen beendet Dirigierkarriere". Klassik.com. Accessed January 11, 2015 November 3 – The Basque National Orchestra (Euskadiko Orkestra) announces the appointment of Jun Märkl as chief conductor with immediate effect, through the 2015–2016 season. November 5 – The Berlin Radio Choir announces the appointment of Gijs Leenaars as its next principal conductor, effective August 2015. November 8 – Ratification of a new contract by the musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, ending a 2-month lockout.Howard Pousner, "Atlanta Symphony musicians, management agree to four-year deal; concerts to start Nov. 13". Atlanta Journal-Constitution "ArtsCulture" blog, 8 November 2014 December 7 – Violence breaks out on the opening night of the La Scala opera season, traditionally used by political demonstrators to draw attention to their causes. The audience at the performance of Fidelio, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, includes Giorgio Armani, Italy's president Giorgio Napolitano, and prime minister Matteo Renzi."Police and protesters clash in Milan as La Scala opera season opens", The Guardian, 8 December 2014. Accessed December 10, 2014 December 20 – The Hilliard Ensemble give their final concert at Wigmore Hall before disbanding.The Guardian review of 20 December 2014 concert by the Hilliard Ensemble at Wigmore Hall
New works
The following composers' works were composed, premiered, or published this year, as noted in the citation.
A Matthew Aucoin Three Études for solo piano The Orphic Moment, dramatic cantata for countertenor, solo violin, and chamber ensemble Celan Fragments, violin and piano Piano Trio
B Vykintas Baltakas – Redditio 2John Allison, "Park Lane Group Young Artists, Purcell Room, review". Telegraph, 11 January 2014 Christian Billian – Unwuchten Annesley Black – A Piece That Is a Size That Is Recognised as Not a Size but a Piece
C Friedrich Cerha Tagebuch für Orchesterhr-Sinfonieorchester programme listing 6 February 2014 Drei Orchesterstücke Unsuk Chin – Clarinet ConcertoGöteborgs Symfoniker programme, 10 May 2014
D Jonathan Dove – Gaia Theory
E F G Peter Gahn – Nachtsicht II Philip Glass – String Quartet No. 7 Henryk Górecki – Symphony No. 4Southbank Centre website. Accessed January 12, 2014
H Georg Friedrich Haas Dark Dreams Concerto Grosso No 1Schott EAM, "Georg Friedrich Haas's Concerto Grosso No. 1 Debuts with Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra". 25 February 2014 Concerto Grosso No 2 Gavin Higgins – Velocity Simon Holt – Morpheus Wakes James Horner – Pas de Deux
I J K L M Benedict Mason – MeldReview of Prom 41, 2014 (The Guardian) James MacMillan – Viola ConcertoSouthbank Centre: LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 2013/14. Accessed January 12, 2014
N O Christoph Ogiermann – Inner Empire II
P Arvo Pärt – Swan Song"Arvo Pärt premieres his latest work at Salzburg's Mozartwoche". Estonian World, 29 January 2014 Brice Pauset – Arbeiten Matthias Pintscher – Idyll for orchestra Gabriel Prokofiev – Violin Concerto
Q R S Kaija Saariaho – Maan Varjot Aulis Sallinen – String Quartet No. 6, Op. 103 Martin Schüttler – MEUTEN Jay Schwartz – Delta – Music for Orchestra IV Hannes Seidl – Mehr als die Hälfte Adam Stern (conductor) – Spirits of the Dead (after Edgar Allan Poe) for narrator and orchestra Jagoda Szmytka – Empty Music
T John Tavener Gnosis Requiem Fragments Hans Thomalla – Wonderblock
U V Michel van der Aa – Violin Concerto
W Judith Weir – Day Break Shadows Flee Ryan Wigglesworth – Violin Concerto"Hallé/Wigglesworth – review" (The Guardian), 18 February 2014 Julia Wolfe – Anthracite Fields
X Y Z
Opera premieres
January 26 – Breaking Bad – Ozymandias by Sung Jin Hong (based on the television drama series Breaking Bad)Hughes, Hilary (January 27, 2014). "Everything You Wanted to Know About the Breaking Bad Opera". Esquire. Retrieved June 11, 2014 April 3 Under Milk Wood: An Opera by John MetcalfTaliesin Arts Centre (2014). Under Milk Wood: An Opera. Retrieved June 5, 2018. Through His Teeth by Luke Bedford and David Harrower May 3 – Thebans by Julian Anderson and Frank McGuinnessThebans review (The Guardian) June 13 – An American Soldier by Huang Ruo and David Henry HwangMidgette, Anne (June 15, 2014). "WNO's 'An American Soldier' by Huang Ruo performs its mission honorably". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2018. June 14 – 27 by Ricky Ian Gordon and Royce Vavrek27 review (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) July 19 – Zeisls Hiob by Erich Zeisl and Jan Duszyński at the Bayerische Staatsoper.Bayerische Staatsoper (2014). "Cast list: Zeisls Hiob" on Bayerische Staatsoper (Bavarian State Opera) website, accessed February 1, 2015. (In German).
Albums Pierre-Laurent Aimard – Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Nicola Benedetti – Homecoming Ludovico Einaudi – Islands Benjamin Grosvenor – Dances Craig Ogden – Summer Guitar Emmanuel Pahud & Christian Rivet – Around the World
Deaths January 6 – H. Owen Reed, American composer, conductor and educator, 103Brother H.O. Reed Passes at 103 January 10 – Aram Gharabekian, Armenian conductor, 58Conductor Aram Gharabekian Passes Away January 19 – Udo Kasemets, Estonian-born Canadian composer, 94 January 20 – Claudio Abbado, Italian conductor, 80 January 28 – Dwight Gustafson, American composer and conductor, 83Dwight Gustafson, former BJU fine arts dean, remembered as Renaissance man January 31 – Alexander Ivashkin, Russian cellist, 65 (cancer)Alexander Ivashkin obituary (The Guardian) February 1 – Elisabetta Barbato, Italian soprano, 92Musica, morta Elisabetta Barbato February 2 – Gerd Albrecht, German conductor, 78Zemřel Gerd Albrecht, dirigent, který rozděloval Českou filharmonii February 14 – Martha Goldstein, American harpsichordist, 94Seattle Times Obituary February 15 – Dénes Zsigmondy, Hungarian violinist and music educator, 91.Elhunyt Zsigmondy Dénes , Fidelio, February 16, 2014. February 24 – Nicolae Herlea, Romanian baritone, 86Nicolae Herlea obituary March 6 – Marion Stein (Thorpe), British pianist, 87Marion Thorpe obituary (The Guardian). April 1 – Anker Buch, Danish violinist, 74 April 2 – Harris Goldsmith, American pianist and critic, 77Remembering Harris Goldsmith