An exhibition on one of the most beautiful singers ever to grace the 0pera stage will open tomorrow in Vienna. Lisa Della Casa, who died last year, is being remembered at the scene of some of her greatest triumphs.

The plight of the Milwaukee Symphony is even graver than we thought. A joint appeal from the management and the musicians, supported by the Journal- Sentinel, reveals that the organisation does not have enough cash left to finish the season. Several regular donors have balked at being asked for yet another bailout gift and there is some question at to whether the community at large recognises the continued value of having an orchestra.

There will be much impassioned advocacy done in the coming weeks. Perhaps the persuaders should start by distributing the latest evidence on how much the arts contribute each year to the US economy. Read it right here.

Piotr Beczala, booed on the opening night of Traviata, posted on his Fb page:

My last production in La Scala… I think. They should engage only Italian singers … Why I spend my time for this” schmarrn” … Arrivederci …

 He later clarified:  I am a professional Opera Singer, have a contract with Teatro alla Scala and will finish it.

I shown my professionalism also yesterday in Traviata, was not actually agree with the vision of my character by stage director , but I played it as good I could… the result of my work was …my first ever buuuuh…the another result is now :I come to italy only for vacations.Thanks all for support , I am very proud of my friends and fans ,all Your reactions and words are important to me and give me strength and motivation for the future!

UPDATE: Two days later, the Guardian followed up our story.

This is Rachmaninov’s D-minor piano concerto as seen from the trombonist’s perspective. The trombonist in question is Denis Nesterov of the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. We think he may qualify as the inventor of the classical video selfie.