In Brief: Epiphanytide Edition

Here is your regular Sunday selection of links to good things in Blogville and Beyond.

• To the masterful actor Pete Postlethwaite (shown at right in Brassed Off), we say ave atque vale. [The Telegraph]


• What conductor does not dream of having the troubles of Young Turk maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin? The music director-designate of the Philadelphia Orchestra recently canceled his scheduled debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra later this month for "personal reasons." It turns out that his schedule is so full that he canceled the Chicago appearance in order "to create additional time in my schedule for rest and study." [The View from Here]


• Anyone with doubts about how much Nézet-Séguin really does need a break now and then should read his interview with our own Jens Laurson. Nézet-Séguin is a conductor with big ideas and a very busy schedule. [WETA]


• What was that again about the death of the symphony and classical music? Tell it to the regional orchestras. [Washington Post]


• Add to the incredible number of regional orchestras the building boom of cultural centers and other venues for classical music performances. Does a glut of supply play as much a part in the decline of classical music as the lack of demand? [Washington Post]


• The Opéra-Comique premiered a new opera by Oscar Strasnoy, a Franco-Argentinian composer born in 1970, on the tragedy of Cachafaz by Copi. The production, which opened last month, was directed by Benjamin Lazar. In her review, Marie-Aude Roux asks the question, "How could a project involving so many talented people not work and end up being tiresome?" [Le Monde]


• Peter Mark, ousted director of Virginia Opera, has announced that he is forming a new company, Lyric Opera of Virginia. Is this really the right time to try to start an opera company? [Classical Beat]


• Also, here are my picks for concerts to hear this week in Washington (and Baltimore). [DCist]