The Kennedy Center has announced plans to open a Russian Lounge with a $5 million gift from a nickel billionaire.

The guy’s called Vladimir Potanin – make sure you get all three syllables in the surname – and he heads the Interros Company.

Michael Kaiser has been told he can use the money for programming and general expenses. Here‘s the Russian version.

Next, they can rename the Kennedy Center the Nickel and Dima Store.

Credit Suisse, a bank, and the Lucerne Festival, a summer distraction, have awarded their annual prize to Vilde Frang, the Oslo violinist.

She wins 75,000 francs and a date next summer with Bernard Haitink. Details here.

It will be 75 years next spring since the death of Karol Szymanowski. His house in the mountain resort of Zakopane has fallen into disrepair and the museum authorities in Poland cannot afford the cost of restoration.

Along comes Brussels with a cheque for half a million Euros, two-thirds of the amount required.

I’m not sure that’s an appropriate use of public, community funds. Surely every nation should be responsible for its own heritage? I don’t see the custodians of the Elgar house in Worcester or the Ravel birthplace at Cibourre going abroad with a begging-bowl. This looks like Euro pork-barrel politics at its worst – a deal with Warsaw at a time when every cent ought to count.

 

This time, they waited until the piece was over before shouting ‘rubbish!’ (The Times) and ‘What a load of rubbish. Jesus!’ in the Guardian’s hearing.

The piece was Towards Osiris by Matthias Pintscher, one of a series commissioned by the Berlin Philharmonic to augment Holst’s The Planets. It is beautifully crafted and has a showpiece trumpet solo. One man in the audience didn’t like it.

What happened next is more disturbing. Hilary Finch writes in The Times: A man with a walkie-talkie and two big bouncers were immediately summoned to the offender’s seat. Now quite why this audience member’s response should be considered more disruptive than the braying bravos that frequently deafen the end of an only mediocre performance is beyond understanding.’

Clearly, the LPO is on the alert for disrupters after being involved in two major incidents this year. But it is perfectly legitimate to shout an opinion after the  music has finished. To suppress that would be a violation of the right to free speech.