These are some of the friendly folk at Singapore Airlines in Hong Kong, who refused to board the LGT Young Soloists with their instruments. Happily, after a four-hour airport standoff, Lufthansa took pity and flew the orchestra home. If you’re a travelling musician, beware the Singapore treatment. And whatever happens, don’t expect a Singapology.

Fiona Maddocks casts a fresh dimension on last week’s concert disaster, when the Korean violinist was heard to rebuke a coughing child and/or its parents.

Fiona wonders whether Kyung Wha overreacted because she wasn’t used to the hall’s acoustic, which has changed measurably in the dozen years since she last played. She has a point. The acoustic is more variable, less secure.

That doesn’t excuse the soloist’s conduct, but other artists should be aware that, on the RFH stage, what you think you hear is not necessarily what resonates. It’s a tricky recital venue.

Read Fiona here. 

First, William Christie and Les Arts Florissants were stripped of 333,900 Euros by the city of Caen in September.

Now, Mark Minkowski and the Musiciens de Louvre are losing 438,000 from Grenoble.

Is France falling out of love with period instruments?

Watch here, from 1600 London time, 1700 Paris, 1100 New York.

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