Which conductor has got the gumption, the courage the sheer chutzpah to step into the shoes of ex-chief Roberto Minczuk’s mentor at the strife-torn OSB?

Money no object,of course. The board will pay the earth to cover its bare butt.

So who has been asked to step in? Here’s the statement that’s just landed:

Maestro Lorin Maazel will conduct ALL 7 (seven) of the Beethoven Festival concerts, replacing the conductors Kurt Masur and Roberto Minczuk. In the current season, the conductor Lorin Maazel also led, in Tokyo, the complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies.

My little dicky-bird tells me that there is an application with Maazel’s name on it at the Ministry of Labour, awaiting apoproval from the Board of Immigration. It is by no means certain that he will be granted a visa. Watch this space.