It’s Germany’s turn in 2025 (we should all live so long) and four cities have thrown their hats in the ring.

They are Leipzig, Dresden, Stuttgart and Magdeburg.

Stuttgart is part of a conspiracy to abolish an SWR orchestra. It deserves to be disqualified.

Magdeburg has temporarily exempted itself from regional arts cuts.

It looks like a straight fight between those old Saxon brawlers, Dresden and Leipzig. Thielemann vs Chailly. Interesting…

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The winners of the International Violin Makers Competition have been announced in Moscow.

Top in the modern category is Sunghee Hong (pictured), who works at the Stradivari college in Cremona.

Best in the imitation instrument category is Milena Noventa, from Parma.

Maria Strelnikova (Moscow) and Andreas Preuss (Tokyo) took the viola prize; best cello maker is Eduard Schwen (Hamburg). Top bow maker is Luboš Odlas from the Czech Republic.