Patricia Kopatchinskaja (pictured) has been named as the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s new artistic partner. The violinist will begin her tenure in the 2014-15 season, joining current partners Roberto Abbado, Edo de Waart, Christian Zacharias and Thomas Zehetmair. The SPCO management said: ‘In this age of great young violinists, Patricia Kopatchinskaja really stands out as one of the most electrifying artists. Her music making has an intensity and power that just grabs you and doesn’t let you go. Her affinity for the core repertoire, combined with her voracious appetite for contemporary music in wildly varied forms, makes her a perfect artistic partner for the SPCO.’ Kopatchinskaja’s first major project with the SPCO will take place in November this year, and will focus on interweaving traditional folk music with classical works emanating Eastern European influences.
Marc Minkowski has extended his commitment as artistic director of Mozart Week for a further two years, and will devise the programmes of the annual event up until 2017.
The UK’s largest cultural strategy research agency, Morris Hargreaves and McIntyre (MHM) has made a series of new appointments. Tony Hill has been appointed as MHM’s first managing director, while Janet Leigh has been appointed to the newly created role of head of finance. Both Hill and Leigh previously held roles at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry. MHM, which has offices in Manchester, London, Auckland, Sydney, has also appointed two new consultants, Sian Knight and Anna Vaughan. The agency has enjoyed a sustained period of growth, which has enabled it to expand its staff by 30 per cent in 12 months. Its current clients include Southbank Centre, the Eden Project, and Tate.
Lawrence Edelson has been appointed general and artistic director of Opera Saratoga in New York state. Represented by Fletcher Artist Management, Edelson is a director and choreographer who has previously worked with Minnesota Opera, Wolf Trap Opera and New York City Opera.
Minnesota Orchestra has appointed Gordon Sprenger as board chair. The troubled orchestra is recovering from a strike which saw its musicians locked out for 15 months – the longest labour dispute in the history of American orchestras. Sprenger, who joined the orchestra board in 2006, is the former president and CEO of Allina Health System. He succeeds Jon Campbell, who agreed at the orchestra’s December 2013 annual meeting to continue as chair until a contract settlement with musicians was ratified – an agreement was reached by musicians and board on 14 January. Sprenger said: ‘I am privileged to have been asked to serve as chair during this important moment in the life of the Minnesota Orchestra. Our collective work is now to restore trusting, respectful relationships within the organization among musicians, board and administration and to build broad bridges of support to our greater community. By focusing on collaboration, and our shared passion for world-class performances of the classical music that gives our organisation its mission, I’m confident we will launch a positive new era for the Minnesota Orchestra and its audiences and supporters.’