Two more defect from Rotterdam Phil

We have been informed that Pieter Nuytten, the Rotterdam Phil principal bassoon (pictured), has won an audition for the same post in the Berlin Radio symphony orchestra, and that Herman van Kogelenberg has become principal flute at the Munich Philharmonic, shortly ahead of the principal cellist.

To lose one principal is unfortunate. To lose three at once looks like a worrying trend.

UPDATE: More troubling, an excellent first clarinet player left the Rotterdam Phil to join the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra after one season. Over the past two years a principal 2nd violin, principal viola and a principal cellist retired from the orch, but these vacancies have not (we are told) been advertised for audition.