2014 in classical music

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. January 14 – The musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra ratify a new contract, ending a 15-month lockout. 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, Maria Schneider's Winter Morning Walks wins two awards. 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. April 22 – The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra announces that Mariss Jansons is to conclude his chief conductorship of the orchestra after the 2014–2015 season. April 24 Operatic tenor Ben Heppner announces his retirement from opera and concert performance, but continues as a broadcaster. 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. June 21 – Zubin Mehta receives a lifetime achievement award at the 42nd Istanbul Music Festival. 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. 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. 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. 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.