No, let me read that again.

Reports of a free Lohengrin in Bayreuth brought to  mind happy images of joyous liberators dunking that infernal white beast.

But a second reading of the German report turns out to be just another open-air family outing this afternoon of the old smoocher.

The performance, conducted by Andris Nelsons, drew a crowd of 40,000 on a sunny afternoon to watch the transmission on a 180 square metre screen. Broadcast relays, however, were marred by breakups. Siemens provided the sponsorship and hi-tech. Here’s a Hamburger Abendblatt report and picture.

Anyone who had the privilege of knowing Klaus Tennstedt will be aware that without the cajoling and constant care of his wife, Inge, he would never have set foot on a concert stage. Klaus was a victim of self-reflection, verging on paralytic self-doubt.

Hours before his US debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Klaus phoned home to say he couldn’t do it. ‘Go in there and conduct! So, bitte!‘ she instructed, and put down the phone.  The event was healined next morning as Bruckner – Tennstedt – BSO – Once in a Lifetime.

A hard-working mezzo when they met, Inge gave up her career and her country, East Germany, to follow Klaus into the unknown. She put up with a lot of misery and never reaped her share of his fame, but her complaints were few and her devotion unwavering. She loved a good joke and often lamented her inability to share Swabian subtleties in other languages. She once cooked me a cod in mustard sauce: I still savour the taste.

So deep was she in the background that I have no pictures of her (please get in touch if you have one to share).

She died this weekend in an old-age home, 13 years after her glorious Klaus.

Requiescat in pace.

The Norwegian prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, who did so much to bring the nation together in mutual self-respect after the appalling massacre last month, took time out on Friday to open the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, directed by violinist Arve Tellefsen.

Here’s my correspondent’s report from an overwhelming, emotional encounter:

The main speaker at the opening concert was our prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg. He spoke warmly of how music helps and consoles us in hard times, and gives us moments of rest. When he entered the podium of the University Aula, newly refurbished, everyone just got to their feet as if planned. The ovations went on and on. The participating artists were all given one rose, and the six young women who ended the concert with Brahms’ Sextet, suddenly decided to throw their roses at Mr. Stoltenberg who sat in the front row.

That was a grand moment – the audience went wild, Stoltenberg’s eyes were filled with tears. It was such a Norwegian moment! He had only one (visible) security person with him. Afterwards everyone was milling outside in the university place, prime minister and his wife, hand in hand among us, going from group to group hugging everyone (I got two hugs!), talking at some length with everyone who wanted to. Then we all walked across the square, past the National Theatre across to Hotel Continental to the reception there. The PM met applause everywhere, foreigners were gaping at this show of openness. Then the PM had his first glass of wine and his first hour of relaxation since July 22.

All in the name of music and art – the Aula has marvelous murals of Edvard Munch.

The open Salzburg rehearsal of two unstaged operas has exceeded all expectations in the amounts it raised – 158,000 Euros at the door, topped up to 200,000 by the city council. The money will help build a concert hall in the disaster zone. Press release follows. More from FAZ.

Press Release Salzburg Festival 2011

Today’s benefit dress rehearsal of the concert performance of Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta and Stravinsky’s Le Rossignol netted 158,065 Euros for the reconstruction of Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall in Japan. The City of Salzburg will increase the amount to a round 200.000 Euros.

Enormous Artistic and Social Success

13th August 2011 (SF) The Salzburg Festival is delighted that today’s benefit dress rehearsal of Iolanta / Le Rossignol could take place before a completely sold-out Großes Festspielhaus. The concert performances with the outstanding team of singers – headed by Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala – as well as the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg under Ivor Bolton netted a total of 158,065 Euros. The entire net ticket revenue will be donated to the reconstruction of Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall in Japan. – Kawasaki has been a partner city of Salzburg since 1992.

“It was an enormous artistic and social success,” the President rejoiced – and thanked the artists and the audience. Mayor Schaden, who attended a concert of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg at Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall himself, was able to promise to increase the sum to 200,000 Euros, on behalf of the City Government. “A city partnership demonstrates its value when we help each other in times of need,” Mayor Heinz Schaden emphasized. Kawasaki has been Salzburg’s partner city since 1992.

The concert hall – Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall – was destroyed almost entirely during the earthquake on March 11, 2011. The world’s best orchestras and conductors, for example the Vienna Philharmonic under Riccardo Muti, have performed at this concert hall, which is famed for its outstanding acoustics and architecture. Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall was opened on July 1, 2004 by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra under the baton of its Chief Conductor Hubert Soudant, who was previously also Chief Conductor of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and subsequently First Guest Conductor of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg until 2004.

Social Engagement at the 2011 Salzburg Festival:

Throughout the summer, donations are being collected for the hunger catastrophe in Eastern Africa.

– July 25: benefit dress rehearsal of Jedermann for a project for street children in Alexandria (Caritas)

– July 29: benefit dress rehearsal of Prometeo for the renovation of Kollegienkirche

– August 13: benefit dress rehearsal of Iolanta / Le Rossignol, through which the Salzburg Festival supports the reconstruction of Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall in Japan.