1 January – The Vienna Philharmonic performs its annual Neujahrskonzert, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, with a live audience for the first time since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic,[1] and with Eva Teimel as the presenter for the ORF radio transmission of the concert, the first female radio presenter for ORF in the history of the concert.[2]
4 January – The Komische Oper Berlin announces the appointment of James Gaffigan as its next music director, effective with the 2023-2024 season, with an initial contract of 4 years.[3]
At the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, 'Kapsalon Theater' ('Hair Salon Theatre'), a piece of performance art, takes place with hairdressers serving patrons in the presence of performing musicians from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, in protest at the Dutch government's then-most recent restrictions on concerts with live audiences in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]
English Touring Opera announces that James Conway is to stand down as its artistic director at the close of 2022, and to serve in a part-time capacity in the post for the remainder of the calendar year.[9]
The Colorado Springs Philharmonic announces that Josep Caballé Domenech is to conclude his tenure as its music director at the close of the 2022-2023 season.[10]
24 January – The Opéra Royal de Wallonie announces the appointment of Giampaolo Bisanti as its next music director, effective with the 2022-2023 season.[11]
25 January – The Landestheater Detmold announces the appointment of Per-Otto Johansson as its next Generalmusikdirektor, effective with the 2022-2023 season, with an initial contract of 4 years.[12]
The Royal Danish Orchestra announces the appointment of Marie Jacquot as its next music director, the first female conductor ever named to the post, effective with the 2024-2025 season, with an initial contract of 5 years.[13]
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis announces the appointment of Daniela Candillari as its principal conductor, the first female conductor ever named to the post, with an initial contract of 3 years.[15]
9 February – The Barbican Centre announces the appointment of Claire Spencer as its first-ever chief executive officer, effective May 2022.[18]
12 February – The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century announces the appointment of Kate Rockett as its next general director, effective 1 September 2022. In parallel, Sieuwert Verster is to stand down as the orchestras general director.[19]
13 February – Never produced during the creators' lifetimes, the first performance of the opera Grete Minde, with music by Eugen Engel and libretto by Hans Bodenstedt, takes place at the Theater Magdeburg, 79 years after the March 1943 death of the composer in Sobibor, following preparation of a complete performing score from the surviving papers.[20]
The Edinburgh International Festival announces the appointment of Nicola Benedetti as its next festival director, the first woman and the first Scot to hold the post, effective 1 October 2022.[26]
Munich mayor Dieter Reiter announces the dismissal of Valery Gergiev as principal conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, with immediate effect, after his request to Gergiev to denounce the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine received no response.[27]
The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra announces the termination of its artistic relationship with Valery Gergiev, rescinding his title of eredirigent (honorary conductor) and discontinuing its Gergiev Festival.[28]
The New World Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas jointly announce that Thomas is to stand down as the organisations artistic director, effective 1 June 2022, in the wake of Thomas public disclosure of his cancer condition.[30]
7 March – Thomas Sanderling resigns as principal conductor of the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra, with immediate effect, in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[31]
10 March – The Teatro Carlo Felice announces the appointment of Riccardo Minasi as its next music director, for the period from 2022 to 2025.[32]
14 March – Trinity Wall Street dismisses Julian Wachner as its director of music, with immediate effect, following its suspension of Wachner on 12 March 2022 after allegations against him of sexual misconduct.[33]
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Mark C. Hanson as its next president and chief executive officer, effective 21 April 2022.[38]
11 April – The Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias announces the appointment of Nuno Coehlo as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2022-2023 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.[40]
The Staatskapelle Halle announces the appointment of Fabrice Bollon as its next Generalmusikdirektor (GMD), effective with the 2022-2023 season, with an initial contract of 5 years.[50]
The Landestheater Schleswig-Holstein announces the resignation of Kimbo Ishii as its GMD, with immediate effect.[51]
The Berlin State Opera announces the appointment of Elisabeth Sobotka as its new Indentantin, effective September 2024.[56]
17 May – The Birgit Nilsson Foundation announces Yo-Yo Ma as the recipient of the 2022 Birgit Nilsson Prize, the first instrumentalist ever to receive this award.[57]
20 May – The Teatro Colón announces the appointment of Jan Lathan-Koenig as its next music director, effective in 2023.[60]
21 May – The first night of the new Glyndebourne Festival Opera production of The Wreckers takes place, the first opera by a female composer to be staged at Glyndebourne, and the first professional staging of the opera with its original French libretto.[61]
3 June – The inaugural International Conducting Competition in Rotterdam awards its first prize to British conductor Bertie Baigent.[68]
5 June – Hayoung Choi is announced as the winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for cello, in Brussels.[69]
10 June – The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra announces the appointment of Klaus Mäkelä as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2027-2028 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. Mäkelä is scheduled to take the title of artistic partner for the period 2022-2027.[70][71]
16 June – The board of directors of the San Antonio Symphony announces its decision to file for bankruptcy and to dissolve the organisation.[72]
17 June – The New York Philharmonic simultaneously announces the scheduled departure of Deborah Borda as its president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective 30 June 2023, and the appointment of Gary Ginstling as its next president and CEO, effective 1 July 2023.[73]
20 June – McGill University announces the closure of the McGill Conservatory of Music at the end of the summer of 2022.[74]
11 July – The Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra announces the appointment of Mélisse Brunet as its next music director, the first female conductor ever named to the post, effective with the 2022-2023 season, with an initial contract of 5 years.[82]
12 July – The Kyoto Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Nodoka Okisawa as its next music director, the first female conductor ever named to the post, effective in March 2023 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.[83]
14 July – The Teatro Real announces the appointment of Gustavo Gimeno as its next music director, effective with the 2025-2026 season, with an initial contract of 5 years.[84]
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Jonathon Heyward as its next music director, the first conductor of colour ever named to the post, effective with the 2023-2024 season, with an initial contract of 5 seasons.[85]
Tania León is announced as one of the laureates of the 45th Kennedy Center Honors.[86]
The Minnesota Orchestra announces the appointment of Thomas Søndergård as its next music director, effective with the 2023-2024 season, with an initial contract of 5 seasons.[88]
9 August – The Royal Albert Hall announces that Craig Hassall is to stand down as its chief executive officer in early 2023.[91]
12 August – Pacific Opera Victoria announces that Timothy Vernon is to retire as its founding artistic director at the close of the 2022-2023 season.[92]
Former musicians of the San Antonio Symphony announce the formation of the San Antonio Philharmonic.[93]
The Carmel Bach Festival announces the appointment of Grete Pedersen as its next artistic director and principal conductor, the first woman to hold the posts.[94]
Opera North announces that Richard Mantle is to stand down as its general director at the end of 2023.[98]
Following the death of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, the BBC Proms cancels the remaining three Proms of the 2022 season, including The Last Night, the first cancellation of The Last Night since 1944, thus de facto ending the 2022 Proms.[99]
12 September – The BBC announces that Alan Davey is to stand down as controller of BBC Radio 3 in March 2023.[100]
The Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra announces the appointment of Matthew Halls as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2023-2024 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.[103]
The Ulster Orchestra announces Auveen Sands as its next chief executive, the first woman named to the post, effective at the end of October 2022.[104]
The Borodin Quartet announces the appointment of Nikolai Sachenko as its new first violinist.[105]
22 September – Boston Lyric Opera announces the appointment of Bradley Vernatter as its next general director and chief executive officer, with immediate effect.[108]
28 September – The city of Heidelberg announces that Elias Grandy is to conclude his tenure as the city's Generalmusikdirektor at the close of the 2022-2023 season.[111]
The SWR Symphonieorchester announces simultaneously the scheduled departure of Teodor Currentzis as its chief conductor at the close of the 2024-2025 season, and the appointment of François-Xavier Roth as its next chief conductor, with an initial contract of 5 years.[113]
4 October – Daniel Barenboim announces via Twitter his intention to withdraw from performance for an indefinite period, because of deteriorating health, including a neurological condition.[114]
20 October – The Aalborg Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Joshua Weilerstein as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2023-2024 season, with an initial contract of 3 seasons.[117]
25 October – Fort Worth Opera announces the resignation of Afton Battle as its general and artistic director, effective 23 November 2022.[118]
17 November – Fort Worth Opera announces the appointment of Angela Turner Wilson as its next general and artistic director, effective 12 December 2022.[123]
The Lucerne Festival announces that Michael Haefliger is to stand down as its Intendant at the close of the 2024-2025 season.[124]
Detroit Opera announces the appointment of Roberto Kalb as its next music director, with immediate effect, with a contract through the close of the 2025-2026 season.[125]
28 November – The Virginia Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Andrea F. Warren as its new president and chief executive officer, the first African-American woman named to the post, effective 1 December 2022.[127]
30 November – The Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Julian Rachlin as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2023-2024 season.[129]
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Craig Whitehead as its chief executive officer (CEO), from his prior interim CEO status, with immediate effect.[130]
The Danish National Vocal Ensemble (DR Vokalensemblet) announces the appointment of Martina Batič as its next chief conductor, effective August 2023.[131]
7 December – The Utah Symphony announces the appointment of David Robertson as its first-ever creative partner, effective with the 2023-2024 season, with a contract of 3 years.[133]
The Orchestre symphonique de Québec announces the appointment of Clemens Schuldt as its next music director, effective with the 2023-2024 season, with an initial contract of 4 seasons.[139]
The Orion String Quartet announces its intention to retire and disband at the end of the 2023-2024 season.[140]
16 December – The Boston Symphony Orchestra announces simultaneously the resignation of Gail Samuel as its president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective 3 January 2023,[143] and the appointment of Jeffrey D. Dunn as its interim president and CEO, effective 4 January 2023.[144]
19 December – Opera Australia announces the appointment of Jo Davies as its new artistic director, the first woman to be named to the post, effective November 2023.[145]
Francis Poulenc – Les Animaux modèles, Sinfonietta, Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel – 'La Baigneuse de Tronville' & 'Discours du général', L'Éventail de Jeanne – 'Pastourelle' (BBC Concert Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey – Tovey's final recording) [265]
Best Classical Compendium: "Women Warriors – The Voices of Change" – Lolita Ritmanis, Miriam Cutler, Penka Kouneva, Starr Parodi, Sharon Farber, Nathalie Bonin, Anne-Kathrin Dern; Amy Andersson, conductor; Amy Andersson, Mark Mattson, and Lolita Ritmanis, producers
Best Classical Instrumental Solo: Alone Together (works by Wang Lu, Joungbum Lee, Morgan Guerin, Vijay Iyer, Sarah Gibson, Darian Donovan Thomas, Tonia Ko, Thomas Kotcheff, Nina C. Young, Adeliia Faizullina, Jen Shyu, Inti Figgis-Vizueta, Ellen Reid; Rajna Swaminathan, Anthony Cheung, Tomás Gueglio-Saccone, Anjna Swaminathan, Layale Chaker, David Serkin Ludwig, Elizabeth Younan, Rafiq Bhatia, Hanna Benn, Missy Mazzoli, Cassie Wieland, Katherine Balch, Andrew Norman, Angélica Negrón, Tania León, Caroline Davis, Nina Shekhar, Qasim Naqvi, Shayna Dunkelman, Du Yun, George Lewis, Lester St. Louis, Sugar Vendil, Patrick Castillo, Vincent Calianno, Kati Agócs); Jennifer Koh (Çedille Records)
Best Contemporary Classical Composition: Caroline Shaw: "Narrow Sea"; Dawn Upshaw, Gilbert Kalish, and So Percussion) (Nonesuch Records)
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album: Mythologies; Sangeeta Kaur, Hila Plitmann; Danaë Xanthe Vlasse
Best Opera Recording: Philip Glass – Akhnaten; J'Nai Bridges, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Zachary James, Dísella Lárusdóttir; The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and The Metropolitan Opera Chorus; Karen Kamensek, conductor; David Frost, producer (Metropolitan Opera)
Best Engineered Album, Classical: Chanticleer Sings Christmas; Leslie Ann Jones, engineer; Michael Romanowski, mastering engineer
Best Orchestral Performance: Florence Price – Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3; The Philadelphia Orchestra; Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor (Deutsche Grammophon)
Producer of the Year, Classical: Judith Sherman
Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2022
Chamber: ’Round Midnight; Quatuor Ebène; Antoine Tamestit; Nicolas Altstaedt (Erato)
Instrumental: Ysaÿe – Six Solo Violin Sonatas; James Ehnes (Onyx)
Opera: Korngold – Die tote Stadt; Jonas Kaufmann, Marlis Petersen, Andrzej Filończyk, Jennifer Johnston, Mirjam Mesak, Corinna Scheurle, Manuel Günther, Dean Power; Choruses of the Bavarian State Opera; Bavarian State Orchestra / Kirill Petrenko (Bavarian State Opera Recordings; DVD, first DVD ever to receive this award)
Orchestral: Mahler – Symphony No. 7; Bayerisches Staatsorchester / Kirill Petrenko (Bavarian State Opera Recordings)
Piano: Beethoven – Diabelli Variations; Dame Mitsuko Uchida (Decca Classics)
Recording of the Year: Korngold – Die tote Stadt; Jonas Kaufmann, Marlis Petersen, Andrzej Filończyk, Jennifer Johnston, Mirjam Mesak, Corinna Scheurle, Manuel Günther, Dean Power; Choruses of the Bavarian State Opera; Bavarian State Orchestra / Kirill Petrenko (Bavarian State Opera Recordings)
Artist of the Year: Barbara Hannigan
Concept Album: Enargeia – Emily D'Angelo; Das Freie Orchester Berlin / Jarkko Riihimäki (Deutsche Grammophon)
Label of the Year: Chandos
Lifetime Achievement: Daniel Barenboim
Orchestra of the Year: Budapest Festival Orchestra
Spatial Audio: Ravel – Orchestral Works; Sinfonia of London / John Wilson (Chandos)