September 3, 2006
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The venerable Gaudeamus Foundation is launching its annual International Music Week today in Amsterdam, with performances of new works from young composers that will run through the 10th. It's a competition; twenty new works by  composers under thirty have been nominated, and the winner gets the Gaudeamus Prize -- a $5,000 commission for a new ensemble work, which will be performed at next year's festival.
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The graphic artist and ceramicist Judith Schils made a series of 18 enigmatic, explosive studies of a piano a couple of years ago; they're online now, and well worth having a look at.

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In DC this week:  In honor of Malta National Day (which actually seems to be on September 8, but never mind) the Embassy Series is putting on a "pre-season concert" with Maltese tenor Juan Gambina on Wednesday at the Meridien House International.  A little Mozart, a little Puccini, a little Gounod ... you get the idea.