# 2009 in classical music
## Events

* September 12 – Australian radio station ABC Classic FM reveals the results of its Classic 100 Symphony poll. The winner is Dvořák's Symphony no. 9 – From the New World.
* October – With the release of his new album Nightbook, Ludovico Einaudi takes a new direction, incorporating synthesized sounds alongside his solo piano playing.

## New works

The following composers' works were composed, premiered, or published this year, as noted in the citation.

### A

* John Adams – String Quartet No. 2
* Thomas Adès – Lieux Retrouvés, for cello and piano
* Kalevi Aho – Hommage á Schubert, string quintet

### B

* Richard Barrett – Mesopotamia for 17 instruments and electronics
* Harrison Birtwistle – The Corridor, scena for two singers and ensemble
* John Brunning – Sahara, for guitar

### C

* Elliott Carter
** Duettino, for violin and cello
** Figment V, for marimba
* Ludovico Einaudi – Nightbook
* Lorenzo Ferrero
** Op.111 – Bagatella su Beethoven, for piano solo
** Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2
** Fantasy Suite No. 2, for violin and orchestra
** Three Simple Songs, for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello and piano
** Tourists and Oracles, for eleven instruments and piano four-hands

### F

* Francesco Filidei – Ogni gesto d'amore, for violoncello and orchestra

### G

* Howard Goodall – Enchanted Voices
* Philip Glass
** Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, No. 2, "The American Four Seasons", premiere in December
** Sonata for Violin and Piano
** String Sextet
* Sofia Gubaidulina – Fachwerk, for bayan, percussion and string orchestra

### H

* Mehdi Hosseini
** Baluch, for alto flute, contrabassoon, horn, xylophone, violin and cello
** Peshtpa, for oboe, bass clarinet and violoncello

### L

* Magnus Lindberg – Graffiti, for chorus and orchestra

### M

* Frederik Magle – Symphonic suite Cantabile, premiere June 10 in Koncerthuset, Copenhagen

### R

* Christopher Rouse – Odna Zhizn

### S

* David Sawer – Rumpelstiltskin
* Steven Stucky – Dust Devil, for solo marimba

### T

* John Tavener
** Tu ne sais pas, for mezzo-soprano, timpani and stings
** The Peace that Passeth Understanding, for choir
* Mark-Anthony Turnage – Five Processionals, for clarinet, violin, cello and piano

### Z
## Opera premieres

Operas that premiered in 2009 include:
* Kepler by Philip Glass, September 20, Landesthater Linz, Austria
* Aquarius by Karel Goeyvaerts, June 9, Antwerp
* The Letter by Paul Moravec, July 25, Santa Fe Opera
* Sparkie: Cage and Beyond by Michael Nyman, with Carsten Nicolai
* Brief Encounter by André Previn, May 1, Houston Grand Opera
* The Lunch Box by Thanapoom Sirichang, March 26, Hobart, Tasmania
* Prima Donna by Rufus Wainwright, July, Palace Theatre, Manchester

## Albums

* Nicola Benedetti – Fantasie
* Bradley Joseph – Suites & Sweets
* Julian Lloyd Webber – Romantic Cello Concertos
* Hayley Westenra – Winter Magic

## Musical films

* La Danse
* Mao's Last Dancer
* Pianomania
* The Soloist

## Deaths

* January 13 – Mansour Rahbani, 83, Lebanese composer
* January 14 – Angela Morley, 84, English conductor and composer
* January 15 – Veronica Dudarova, 92, Russian symphony conductor
* January 23 – George Perle, 93, American composer and theorist
* January 31 – Erland von Koch, 98, Swedish composer
* February 1 – Lukas Foss, 86, American pianist, conductor and composer
* February 24
** Svatopluk Havelka, 83, Czech composer
** Pearl Lang, 87, American dancer and choreographer
* March 29 – Maurice Jarre, 84, French composer
* April 10 – Richard Arnell, 91, English composer
* June 22 – Betty Allen, 82, American mezzo-soprano
* July 16 – D. K. Pattammal, 90, Indian classical singer
* July 27– George Russell, 86, American composer
* August 18 – Hildegard Behrens, 72, German opera singer
* September 1 – Erich Kunzel, 74, American conductor
* September 17 – Leon Kirchner, 90, American composer
* September 25 – Alicia de Larrocha, 86, Spanish pianist and composer
* October 12 – Ian Wallace, 90, British singer

## Major awards
### Classical Brits

* Male of the Year — Gustavo Dudamel
* Female of the Year — Alison Balsom
* Composer of the Year — Howard Goodall
* Young British Classical Performer — Alina Ibragimova
* Album of the Year — Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Spirit of the Glen–Journey
* Soundtrack of the Year — The Dark Knight — Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard
* Critics' Award — Sir Charles Mackerras/Scottish Chamber Orchestra — Mozart Symphonies nos. 38–41
* Lifetime Achievement In Music — José Carreras

### Grammy Awards

* See 51st Grammy Awards