The violinist joins an ever-lengthening line of stress and fracture victims.

Her issue? An inflamed muscle.

Her agents have told festivals it will keep her out for six weeks.

A state visit by the Chinese president is something that brings out the best in most countries.

Not Venezuela, apparently.

President Xi Jinping was greeted by a rendering of the Chinese national anthem that, by the look on his face, made him want to turn back ad fly home. Just watch. As millions are doing in China.

This might not normally make the news but on a national day of mourning in the Netherlands it is warming to report that Harriet Krijgh has been awarded the soloists prize at the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival.

Previous winners include Daniel Hope and Julia Fischer. Go, Harriet!

It’s being awarded to Graham Johnson, the most dedicated follower of singers in Lieder – and sometimes leader of singers in Wolf.

Graham., 62, came to London at 17 from the former Rhodesia, accompanied Peter Pears’s masterclasses at Aldeburgh and founded The Songmakers Almanac. He has recorded all the major Lieder cycles and is regarded as the linear heir to Gerald Moore.

The singer has just issued this statement:

I am deeply saddened by the death of Lorin Maazel, one of the most significant conductors of his generation. His brilliant mind, which allowed him to conduct a vast repertoire, was known to everyone in the world of classical music, and he was as much at home in the opera house as in the concert hall – not to mention the fact that he was an accomplished violinist and composer.

I had the opportunity to work with him on many occasions that were important to me in my career – first in the recording studio, especially in several Puccini operas, and then in the theater, beginning with a memorable series of performances of Verdi’s Luisa Miller at Covent Garden in 1979. We did La Fanciulla Del West at the Teatro alla Scala. He also conducted the sound tracks for the film versions of Carmen, directed by Francesco Rosi, and La Traviata, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, in which I participated.

Lorin will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him, and I extend my deepest condolences to Dietlinde, his wife, and to his children.

We are following with considerable sympathy the attempt by Warner Classics to replace EMI Classics – which it took over – at the heart of a diminished recording industry. That sympathy has been slightly dented by the arrival of the first batch of midsummer releases.

It contains a set of Bach cello suites, always cause for excitement.

Every cellist regards recording the set as a lifetime summit. Mstislav Rostropovich was so daunted by Bach he almost left it too late. Many brilliant young cellists are breathlessly awaiting their date with destiny.

So who’s Warner’s launch set played by?

Nina Kotova.

Ring a bell? She’s the Russian former model who is married to Barrett Wissman, co-owner of IMG Artists and a self-confessed fraudster.

Nina has previously appeared – once or twice – on Philips and Sony Classics.

The Warner recording was made at Purchase College, in upstate New York. No recording dates are given. The producer and recording engineer is Adam Abeshouse. His website proclaims that he ‘founded the Classical Recording Foundation to meet the growing need for artists not supported by major labels to record music about which they are passionate.’

We assume, for want of further information, that this is one of those projects. (UPDATE: It is not. We have been told by Mr Abeshouse:  ‘This was NOT a Classical Recording Foundation Recording.   I was hired to produce and engineer this recording on a freelance basis, without any affiliation.’ Apologies for the confusion.) f

We have listened to the first two suites. The playing is not bad. No more, no less. If I were a cellist represented by IMG, I’d be spitting tacks.

Will it do much good to Warner Classics? Depends on the deal.

Frankfurt is so pleased with its intendant Bernd Loebe it has extended his contract to summer 2023. He has been in the job since 2002.

Season subscriptions are up by 12,000 and the average ticket sales are running at 85 percent.

Funny, he never looks all that happy.

Picture released by Buckingham Palace, via the PA.

Caption: The Queen with composer and conductor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and composer Judith Weir at Buckingham Palace to mark Sir Peter handing over the post of Master of The Queen’s Musick to Ms Weir, 22 July 2014.

The trumpet virtuoso has sent us these reflections on the death of Rod Franks, former principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra.

I first met Rod Franks when I was a star-struck teenager in the NYO – where he simply dazzled us with his terrific playing, his intriguing tales of touring, concerts, mischief he got up to with his colleagues, and famous conductors, but also simply his encouraging and powerful, gentle and inspiring, boldly brilliant teaching and coaching. He helped me greatly with my own playing and career at many of the steps along the way.

Hearing him play countless fiendish solos in the LSO with such ease and panache was always awe-inspiring for me, and then to meet him in real life – with his incredible football skills, charming and funny personality – he seemed like a kind of glamorous superstar straight from the world of Hollywood, where indeed, even there, he made such a huge impression with his wonderful playing.

After learning of the dreadful news of his brain tumour, many of us hoped but didn’t dare believe Rod could continue to be the extraordinary player he once was – but that same sheer determination, strength of character and great talent for learning, that had already helped him achieve so much – proved us all wrong. An incredible, life-affirming comeback from a man of such enormous talent, surely inspired thousands of us musicians on through the harder times.

The tragedy that we learn of this week leaves the entire music world a lesser place – but also I’m sure every single person who knew him will feel a bright light has gone out. I know I will always remember a man really and truly larger than life in the very best way. All my thoughts go to his family at this deeply sad time.

We reported last night that the OAE had lost its chief exec.

Now the Academy of Ancient Music follows suit.

A statement from Terence Sinclair, AAM chairman:
Jonathan Manners, the AAM’s CEO, has resigned following a bout of ill health. Everyone at the AAM is very grateful to Jonathan for all he has done, especially during a very busy and successful 40th anniversary season. We  wish him well. Ed Hossack has joined as interim CEO. 

Jonathan Manners joined the AAM only in January, after five years as head of music administration at English National Opera. He is also the founder of Resonus Classics, a digital classical label. We wish him well.

The AAM, created by Christopher Hogwood, presently has Richard Egarr as its music director. July is a hot month for early music bands.

The Federal Aviation Administration has prohibited U.S. airlines from flying to Ben Gurion International Airport for 24 hours, after a rocket landed about a mile away. Delta Air Lines, United and US Airways have all cancelled flights.

More here. UPDATE: From Europe, Lufthansa, KLM, and Air France have also cancelled.

Hamas will claim victory.

We hear that the ultra-democratic Orchestra of the Age of Elightenment has parted company with its manager, Stephen Carpenter (pictured).

His letter of resignation was circulated among the players a few days ago. He’s telling friends he ‘has other projects in mind’.

We’re awaiting confirmation of a similar situation at another ensemble. UPDATE: Here it is.