2020 in European music explained

This article covers events in 2020 in continental European music, arranged in geographical order.

Events

• • • 8 January The Teatro San Cassiano in Venice, Italy, names the Academy of Ancient Music as its first associate ensemble.^[1]
  • The Zurich Festival announces that its festival will be discontinued after 2020, because of the lack of long-term financial support.^[2]
  • Dutch composer Martijn Padding receives the Andreaspenning award at the Concertgebouw, in recognition of his services to the musical life of Amsterdam.^[3]
• 13 January – The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra announces that it is to award its Karl Amadeus Hartmann Medal posthumously to Mariss Jansons.^[4]
• 26 February
  • José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, the Spanish minister of culture, withdraws the invitation to operatic tenor Plácido Domingo to perform at the Teatro de la Zarzuela, following the release of an American Guild of Musical Artists report on allegations of sexual misconduct against Domingo.^[5]
  • The Landestheater Coburg announces the appointment of Daniel Carter as its new Generalmusikdirektor, with effect from 1 February 2021.^[6]
• 18 March – The Eurovision Song Contest 2020, scheduled to take place in Rotterdam is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe – the first cancellation in the contest's 64-year history.^[7]

Scandinavia

See main article: 2020 in Scandinavian music.

Top hits

• Danish number-one hits of 2020
• Finnish number-one singles of 2020, Finnish number-one albums of 2020
• Norwegian number-one songs in 2020
• Swedish number-one singles and albums in 2020

Netherlands

• Dutch number-one singles of 2020

Ireland

See main article: 2019 in Irish music.

UK

See main article: 2020 in British music.

Germany

• German number-one hits of 2020

Switzerland and Austria

• Swiss number-one hits of 2020

France

• French number-one hits of 2020

Italy

• Italian number-one hits of 2020

Eastern Europe/ Balkans

• List of Polish number-one singles of 2020
• Czech number-one songs of the 2020s
• Hungarian number-one singles of the 2020s

Musical films

• If It Were Love (Si c'était de l'amour)^[8] (France)

Deaths

• 1 January – Damir Mihanović, 58, Croatian comedian, actor and musician (lung cancer)^[9]
• 3 January – Bo Winberg, 80, Swedish guitarist (The Spotnicks)^[10]
• 10 January – Marc Morgan, 57, Belgian singer-songwriter^[11]
• 14 January – Guy Deplus, 95, French clarinetist^[12]
• 19 January – Guy Thomas, 85, Belgian-born French songwriter.^[13]
• 21 January
  • Herbert Baumann, 94, German composer and conductor^[14]
  • Meritxell Negre, 48, Spanish singer (cancer)^[15]
• 4 February – Volker David Kirchner, 77, German violist and composer^[16]
• 26 February
  • Eduardo Bort, 72, Spanish guitarist^[17]
  • Hans Deinzer, 86, German clarinetist^[18]
  • Sergei Dorensky, 88, Russian pianist^[19]
• 1 March – Peter Wieland, 89, German singer and entertainer^[20]
• 8 March – Martin Davorin-Jagodić, 84, Croatian composer^[21]
• 9 March – Alain Marcel, 68, Algerian-born French actor, composer and musical theatre producer^[22]
• 10 March – Beba Selimović, 80, Bosnian sevdalinka singer^[23]
• 14 March – Eva Pilarová, 80, Czech singer^[24]
• 16 March
  • Sergio Bassi, 69, Italian folk singer-songwriter (COVID-19)^[25]
  • , 55, Russian musician and visual artist^[26]
• 18 March – Jean Leber, 80–81, French violinist (COVID-19)^[27]
• 20 March
  • Enrique del Portal, 87, Spanish operatic tenor^[28]
  • Gino Volpe, 77, Italian singer-songwriter, heart attack.^[29]
• 21 March – Hellmut Stern, 91, German violinist^[30]
• 24 March – Gerard Schurmann, 96, Dutch-British composer and conductor (The Bedford Incident, Attack on the Iron Coast, Claretta).^[31]
• 31 March – Zoltán Peskó, 83, Hungarian conductor and composer.^[32]
• 1 April – Dieter Reith, 82, German pianist and organist^[33]
• 4 April – Patrick Gibson, 64, French drummer and singer (Gibson Brothers), COVID-19.^[34]
• 7 April – André Stordeur, 79, Belgian electronic musician.^[35]
• 9 April – Bert van de Kamp, 73, Dutch music journalist^[36]
• 14 April – Kerstin Meyer, 92, Swedish mezzo-soprano.^[37]
  • • 16 April Christophe, 74, French singer-songwriter (COPD)^[38]
  • Dušan Vančura, 82, Czech singer, double-bassist and lyricist (Spirituál kvintet)^[39]
• 9 June – Pau Donés, 43, Spanish singer songwriter and guitarist^[40]
• 5 October – Béatrice Arnac, 89, French actress and singer^[41]
• 7 October – Jean Martin, 92, French pianist^[42]
• 11 October – Boro Drljača, 79, Serbian folk singer^[43]
• 18 October – Alfredo Cerruti, 78, Italian television author, music producer, and singer^[44]
• 19 October
  • , 83, Lithuanian opera singer^[45]
  • Gianni Dei, 79, Italian actor and singer^[46]
    • 25 October Dolores Abril, 85, Spanish singer and actress^[47]
  • Jan Boerman, 97, Dutch electronic music composer^[48]
  • György Fischer, 85, Hungarian pianist and conductor^[49]
    • 1 November Esteban Santos, 69, Spanish pop singer^[50]
  • , 88, Czech opera singer^[51]
• 5 November – Reynaert, 65, Belgian singer (COVID-19)^[52]
• 7 November – Brian Coll, 79, Irish musician^[53]
• 13 November – Kićo Slabinac76, Croatian pop singer^[54]

External links

• European Music Council

Notes and References

1. The Academy of Ancient Music is our first Associate Ensemble . Teatro San Cassiano . 8 January 2020 . 2020-01-08.
2. News: Schluss mit lustig: Die Festspiele Zürich finden 2020 zum letzten Mal statt . Neue Zürcher Zeitung . Thomas Ribi . 2020-01-08 . 2020-01-12.
3. News: Andreaspenning for Martijn Padding . Donemus . 2020-01-09 . 2020-01-18.
4. News: BR-Symphonieorchester verleiht posthum Medaille an Mariss Jansons . NMZ . 2020-01-13 . 2020-01-18.
5. News: El ministro de Cultura opina sobre Plácido Domingo: "Suspender su concierto es un deber" . El Español . 2020-02-26 . 2020-02-29.
6. News: Daniel Carter wird Coburger Generalmusikdirektor . Neue Presse . Dieter Ungelenk . 2020-02-26 . 2020-02-29 . 2020-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200227224201/https://www.np-coburg.de/region/feuilleton/Daniel-Carter-wird-Coburger-Generalmusikdirektor;art83473,7151829 . dead .
7. Web site: Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation . 18 March 2020 . Eurovision.tv.
8. Fabien Lemercier, "Review: If It Were Love". Cineuropa, February 23, 2020.
9. https://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/novosti/hrvatska/clanak/id/641155/preminuo-je-damir-mihanovic--cubi Preminuo je Damir Mihanović - Ćubi
10. https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=104&artikel=7378098 Gitarrlegendaren Bo Winberg död
11. https://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20200110_01428923/marc-morgan-est-decede Marc Morgan est décédé
12. Web site: Décès du clarinettiste Guy Deplus. fr. Res Musica. 15 January 2020 . 30 January 2020.
13. Book: Thomas, Guy (1934-....). Catalogue général. fr.
14. https://www.sikorski.de/14437/de/index.html Der Komponist Herbert Baumann starb 94-jährig in München
15. https://www.lavanguardia.com/television/20200122/473058922304/meritxell-negre-muere-cancer-concursante-el-numero-uno-antena-3.html Muere Meritxell Negre, concursante de ‘El Número Uno’
16. https://www.swr.de/swr2/musik-klassik/Todesfall-Komponist-Volker-David-Kirchner-gestorben,kirchner-gestorben-100.html Mainzer Komponist Volker David Kirchner gestorben
17. https://elpais.com/ccaa/2020/02/27/valencia/1582806258_871396.html El último acorde de Eduardo Bort, pionero del rock progresivo español
18. https://www.deutsche-klarinetten-gesellschaft.de/service/nachruf/ Prof. Hans Deinzer verstorben
19. https://mpravda.com/umer-professor-moskovskoy-konservatorii-sergey-dorenskiy/ Умер профессор Московской консерватории Сергей Доренский
20. https://www.tagesspiegel.de/gesellschaft/medien/ddr-schlagerstar-und-schauspieler-peter-wieland-mit-89-jahren-gestorben/25601966.html DDR-Schlagerstar und Schauspieler: Peter Wieland mit 89 Jahren gestorben
21. Web site: In memoriam: Martin Davorin Jagodić . www.hds.hr . 12 March 2020.
22. Web site: Adieu Alain Marcel. 11 March 2016. Regard en Coulisse. fr.
23. https://www.blic.rs/sudbine/odlazak-kraljice-sevdaha-preminula-pevacica-beba-selimovic/868qevr Odlazak Kraljice Sevdaha Preminula pevačica Beba Selimović
24. https://www.novinky.cz/kultura/clanek/zemrela-eva-pilarova-40316669 Zemřela Eva Pilarová. Poslední rozloučení kvůli koronaviru nebude
25. https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/milano/laddio-bassi-menestrello-bassa-che-cantava-po-1842492.html L'addio a Bassi, il menestrello della Bassa che cantava il Po
26. https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5e6fb14b9a7947a5ed7532d3 Умер сооснователь «Гражданской обороны» Константин Рябинов
27. https://www.francemusique.fr/actualite-musicale/mort-du-violoniste-et-pedagogue-jean-leber-82476 Mort du violoniste et pédagogue Jean Leber
28. https://www.abc.es/cultura/musica/abci-muere-tenor-enrique-portal-victima-otra-epidemia-segun-viuda-202003201441_noticia.html Muere el tenor Enrique del Portal, víctima de «la otra epidemia», según la viuda
29. https://www.basilicata24.it/2020/03/basilicata-e-morto-il-maestro-gino-volpe-75379/ Basilicata. E’ morto il maestro Gino Volpe
30. https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/zum-tod-des-geigers-hellmut-stern-der-musizierende-weltbuerger/25669952.html Zum Tod des Geigers Hellmut Stern Der musizierende Weltbürger
31. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/article/the-composer-gerard-schumann-has-died The composer Gerard Schurmann has died
32. https://fidelio.hu/klasszikus/elhunyt-pesko-zoltan-vilaghiru-magyar-karmester-154174.html Elhunyt Peskó Zoltán világhírű magyar karmester
33. http://www.dieter-reith.de/ Dieter Reith Musikproduktion
34. https://www.soultracks.com/story-patrick-gibson-dies R.I.P. Patrick Gibson of disco group The Gibson Brothers
35. https://www.gonzocircus.com/andr-stordeur/ In memoriam: André Stordeur (1941–2020)
36. https://oor.nl/news/oor-redacteur-bert-van-de-kamp-73-overleden/ Voormalig OOR-redacteur Bert van de Kamp (73) overleden
37. News: Operasångerskan Kerstin Meyer död . . 14 April 2020 . 14 April 2020.
38. Web site: Le chanteur Christophe est mort. 17 April 2020 . fr.
39. https://www.idnes.cz/kultura/hudba/dusan-vancura-umrti-spiritual-kvintet.A200416_152332_hudba_bur Spirituál kvintet přišel o hlas, Dušan Vančura zemřel kvůli zánětu zubu
40. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/pau-dones-lead-singer-jarabe-de-palo-dead-53 Pau Dones, lead singer of Spanish band Jarabe de Palo, dead at 53
41. News: Béatrice Arnac, la chanteuse des années 1960, est décédée. fr. Sud-Ouest. 7 October 2020. Clément Bouynet. 8 November 2020.
42. Web site: Décès de Jean Martin. France Musique. 9 October 2020 . 11 October 2020. fr.
43. News: Preminuo Boro Drljača . nova.rs . 11 October 2020 . 11 October 2020 . sr.
44. Web site: E' morto Alfredo Cerruti, fondò gli Squallor. it. Ultima Ora. 18 October 2020 . 8 November 2020.
45. https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/kultura/12/1256630/mire-vienas-zymiausiu-lietuvos-operos-solistu-vaclovas-daunoras Mirė vienas žymiausių Lietuvos operos solistų Vaclovas Daunoras
46. Web site: Morto Gianni Dei: addio al grande caratterista degli anni Sessanta. it. Che News. 19 October 2020 . 8 November 2020.
47. https://twnews.es/es-news/muere-dolores-abril-viuda-de-juanito-valderrama-a-los-81-anos Muere Dolores Abril, viuda de Juanito Valderrama, a los 81 años
48. https://www.msn.com/nl-nl/entertainment/nieuws/muziekpionier-jan-boerman-97-overleden/ar-BB1apOh3 Muziekpionier Jan Boerman (97) overleden
49. https://www.plateamagazine.com/entrevistas/10059-fallece-el-director-hungaro-gyoergy-fischer-a-los-85-anos-de-edad Fallece el director Húngaro György Fischer a los 85 años de edad
50. https://www.eurovision-spain.com/iphp/noticia.php?numero=02-11-20_fallece-esteban-santos-componente-del-grupo-bravo-espana-1984-a-los-69-anos Fallece Esteban Santos, componente del grupo Bravo (España 1984), a los 69 años
51. https://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/cs/aktuality/zemrela-emeritni-solistka-opery-nd-pani-eva-zikmundova Zemřela emeritní sólistka Opery ND, paní Eva Zikmundová
52. https://www.dhnet.be/regions/liege/joseph-reynearts-est-decede-5fa42e247b50a6525bee72fb Joseph Reynaerts, qui avait représenté la Belgique à l'Eurovision, est décédé du coronavirus
53. Web site: Death of Omagh country music legend . 2020-11-08 . 2020-11-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201107234446/https://ulsterherald.com/2020/11/07/death-of-omagh-country-music-legend/ . dead .
54. News: Rožman, Klara . Umro je Krunoslav Kićo Slabinac . . 13 November 2020 . 13 November 2020 . hr.