Alice Herz-Sommer, who died yesterday at the age of 110, was a reluctant ‘survivor’. Although journalists mostly wanted to talk about her experiences in Nazi concentration camps, Alice was full of joie de vivre – and rich memories – to the last.

Here’s an interview the formidable musician gave to Martin Anderson.

And a video she finished making only last year.

We have been notified of the death of the pianist Alice Herz-Sommer, survivor of the Terezin concentration camp  and a  powerful witness to torture and injustice who played Bach as a healing balm daily to the end of her days. She was 110 years old. A documentary about her life has been shortlisted for the Oscars.

More here.

Simon Fuller’s company, 19 Recordings, is suing Sony Entertainment for royalties that have been withheld from American Idol stars such as Carrie Underwood (below). Fuller owns the Idol franchise. Sony is keeping shtum.

Nikolay Madoyan, an international soloist, has written to the Guinness Book of Records claiming to be the first to perform all six Paganini concertos in one evening. Apart from the composer, perhaps.

Chicago psychotherapist Dr Gerald Stein learned important lessons on grieving and parting from the late principal guest conductor, Carlo-Maria Giulini, who would have been 100 years old this year. Some of the intimate material in his post has not been published before.

Click here.

Maria von Trapp, the last of the singing children, has died, aged 99.

She owes her immortality to Rodgers and Hammerstein.