An extraordinary story from Ashdod in Israel, where the Andalusian Orchestra has cancelled a soloist, Francoise Atlan (below), under pressure from Orthodox religious groups, who refuse to listen to the female voice.

According to rabbinic sources, the female singing voice is an erotic indulgence. Religious men are forbidden to listen.

The orchestra, which plays traditional sephardic music, will, in future, only offer a female singer as an alternate, non-subscription option.

Here’s the story in Haaretz.

Francoise Atlan - 05102011

Bert Jansch, the fast-fingered Scottish folk musician who lit up my college years, is no more. He was 67 and stricken with cancer.

Here’s the Guardian’s obit. And here’s video of Angie, his most celebrated track.

The Danish director, who made an offensive comment indicating Nazi sympathies at the Cannes Film Festival, issued the following statement today after being questioned by police:

Today at 2 pm I was questioned by the Police of North Zealand in connection with charges made by the prosecution of Grasse in France from August 2011 regarding a possible violation of prohibition in French law against justification of war crimes. The investigation covers comments made during the press conference in Cannes in May 2011. Due to these serious accusations I have realized that I do not possess the skills to express myself unequivocally and I have therefore decided from this day forth to refrain from all public statements and interviews.

Lars von Trier

Avedøre, 5. October 2011