I came across this picture on a classical website and did a double-take.

Surely this cannot be a publicity photo of one of the fastest rising conductors on the circuit? And what’s the dedicated Marco Borggreve doing snapping footballers, quick as they might be with a score? He’s a classical portraitist.

Actually, it wasn’t this picture. It’s the one below.

Conductor François-Xavier Roth talks Saint-Saëns (photo: Marco Borggreve)

His name’s Fracois-Xavier-Roth, and he’s chief conductor in Liege and Baden-Baden (radio). But isn’t this how Wayne Rooney will look when he’s 40?

It should have been glamour night at the Lucerne Festival – the unassailable Claudio Abbado matched with the unattainable Helene Grimaud, one the thinking man’s maestro, the other much thought about by overheated men. And wolves, of course.

But it wasn’t to be.

A press release tells me that Claudio will not be working with the belle Helene. They regret the inconvenience.

I’ll let you know if I hear what really went down.

Press information: July 14th 2011

 

IMPORTANT CHANGE TO PROGRAMME

 

It is with deep regret that Claudio Abbado and Hélène Grimaud have announced that, due to artistic differences, they will not be able to collaborate as originally planned for their performances at LUCERNE FESTIVAL (August 10, 12 and 13) and at London’s Southbank Centre later this year. Both artists apologize for any inconvenience resulting from this decision.

 

The programme remains unchanged. Radu Lupu has graciously agreed to take over as soloist in the Piano Concerto in D minor of Johannes Brahms for the concerts in Lucerne with Claudio Abbado and the LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA on August 10, 12. and 13. The soloist for the London concert will be announced as soon as possible

Reports reach me of a predatory facebook friend who pretends to be a classical music agent and promises a career to young innocents.

This person scours the pages of well-known music people, looking for potential prey in their friends list. Any young artist who accepts this tainted friendship offer is granted a showcase on the ‘agent’s’ website – after agreeing to pay 300 Euros a month and a 25% fee on all future commissions.

Some of the pictures and cvs on the website are advertised there without authorisation, or connection to the proprietor. At least one legal action is pending – as a result of which I had better not name the alleged offender for the time being, although I have details on file.

All I can do is to warn young artists not to enter into any agent relationship online, least of all on Facebook.

And any so-called agent who asks you for a monthly fee ought to be avoided, in any case, like a blood-sucking leech.

 

Laugh? Cry? What do you do when a publisher says he/she wants to sign your next 75 books?

Sit down and write them, I guess. Pretend you’re Enid Blyton. Or jump off a cliff. Or ask why 75, it is a mystic number?

Anyway, her name, dear readers, is Laurann Dohner (no, me neither).

Tell me if you can tell one title of hers from the next. More here (thanks, Hephzi).  
Try not to despair.

The Society of Friends of the Festival submitted the annual gift yesterday. It’s three million Euros, up from 2.6 last year.

They plan to raise 20m over the next five years.

That may sound a lot to you and me, but it’s less than the ROH Covent Garden is given in a single year.