Stefan Bown, the general manager, has sent a note around the business saying he has left.

Stefan was in charge of classical releases and backlist, working to chief exec John Kelleher.

The label is nowhere near finding a role and an identity in a shrinking market.

The Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library at the University of Melbourne is claimed to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere.

Not for much longer, if university administrators get their way. They want to downgrade the library and merge it with other collections.

Sign this petition to stop the philistines… Here’s one of the library’s exceptional treasures, collected by a luminous benefactor.

Rule number three: don’t try to be somebody else….

… Sacramento.

Both the philharmonic and the opera have cancelled their fall seasons after mounting losses. No resumption is presently forecast.

Sacramento is the capital and sixth largest city of California. It has a popuation of 478,000, according to the 2011 census.

Culturally speaking, it has just gone mute. Or dumb.

Once you get over the pedantic introduction, it’s a gripping ceremony.

She’s playing with Daniel Barenboim’s peace orchestra in Buenos Aires, their shared birthplace, and the announcement followed a spectacular concert. The pair have known each other since childhood. See video at 6:30:

Local report here.

Chatting to Sarah Willis of the Berlin Philharmonic, the maestro talks of dealing with midges at the Hollywood Bowl and the Berlin Waldbühne.

Fast-forward here to 07:00.

There’s widespread mourning in the brass world for Bill Zehfuss, principal trombone of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Tributes are pouring into his Facebook page.

Reports suggest that he drowned in Lake Lanier while water-skiing. We have not been able to confirm this.

The orchestra has posted this notice:

It is with great sadness that we inform you all that Bill Zehfuss, long-time principal trombonist of the CSO, passed away last Thursday at his home on Lake Lanier, GA. This is a tremendous loss for the CSO. Those of us who knew and worked with Bill over these many years will sorely miss his dedication to his craft, his generosity, his gregariousness, and his willingness to help anyone at any time, no matter the situation or the need. Bill was a pillar of the CSO brass section for nearly three decades, leading his colleagues in many fine performances over the years. His presence, both on- and off-stage, will be terribly missed. The family will likely have a private memorial service at some point this fall. Condolences may be sent to his Mother via the CSO offices.

The maestro, 78, has given an ebullient press conference at the Saito Kinen festival, which is to be renamed after him:

“That somebody like me, who has suffered a major illness and underwent surgery, can speak casually about death is proof that I’ve really recovered,” he said. “Either that, or I’m really dumb – but please think of me as being recovered and active.”

Full report here.

Elijah Ho, in an interview with Ara Guzelimian, touched upon the recent controversy about the violinist Isaac Stern. Here’s what came back:

‘All I can say is that in my experience of him, Mr. Stern was the single most tireless advocate of music, in general, and young artists, specifically, that I’ve ever experienced. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for a young musician who asked his help or advice. I think you don’t have to look very far for an astonishing number of accomplished artists who he mentored and advocated for in his life.

‘I’ll tell you one little story that was not meant to have ever been witnessed. In a back hallway at Carnegie Hall, I chanced upon him in intense conversation with a young violinist at one of the chamber music workshops that he ran at Carnegie Hall. He was extremely frustrated that this young man was being held back in his potential by what he felt was a very poor instrument. Mr. Stern had brought one of his own violins to lend to the young man for the next six months, so that the young man could see what was possible with a much more responsive, higher-quality instrument.

‘The only reason I ever became aware of this incident was because I stumbled into it. It was completely out of sight. The young man was a good but not astoundingly great violinist, and he looked flabbergasted that Isaac Stern was handing him one of his own violins to live with for the next six months. Anybody in any profession who wields authority and power – and Mr. Stern certainly held both – can always be second-guessed. The measure of any of our lives is the good that we do. By any standard, the extraordinary good that Isaac Stern did is boundless.’

Read the full interview here.

She was the youngest-ever finalist in the Tchaikovsky competition and she’s known back home as the First Lady’ of the Dutch violin tradition.

But time stops for no-one and Emmy Verhey, 65, has announced she’s retiring next year.

She has played concertos with outstanding conductors and made 55 recordings.

Avi Avital (mandolin) with Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord) at the Bristol Proms.

Only music can do that.