How did Munich lose its dates with Santa Claus?

The Finnish conductor Leif Segerstam, a Disney shoo-in for Saint Nick, may look like the man from Lapland but he’s not the easiest of household guests. Elemental, organic and all that goes with it, if you get my drift.

Still, no-one’s saying a word why Father Christmas won’t be visiting Bavaria next year. He was down to conduct a run of Rosenkavaliers but he has been replaced by Constantin Trinks, who (I’m told) was said slightly undercooked at his last performance.

There are dark mutterings of ‘political differences’ that no-one will confirm. Leif has probably gone off to write another of his symphonies, number 252 by the latest reckoning. It’s what he does when things don’t go his way.