Interesting piece in Bild this morning, putting the failed election of a new conductor into historical perspective.

It quotes a certain Norman Lebrecht as saying that the Berlin Philharmonic has a pedigree of leadership comparable only to the British monarchy. Read here. (N. B. The British monarchy has survived greater upheavals than a bad election result.)

This was last night at the Musikverein, Vienna. Just one tie between three.

OK, gimme a better caption.

pic: Martin Felber

How wrong can the Guildhall get it?

Someone senior should be looking for a different job.

h/t: Ariane Todes

Royal Danish Opera is advertising for a Head of Administration and casting.

One of the job requirements is ‘a humorous soul’ (En humoristisk sjæl).

Hamlet need not apply.

Joel Krosnick has announced his retirement after 42 years. He will be replaced in mid-2016 by Astrid Schween, New York born, a Juilliard grad and longtime member of the Lark Quartet.

Then quartet’s other members are violinists Joseph Lin and Ronald Copes, and violist Roger Tapping.

Juilliard President Joseph W. Polisi said: ‘I wish to thank Joel Krosnick for his dedication and leadership as a longtime member of the Juilliard String Quartet. He will continue at Juilliard as cello department chair and an active teacher. The Juilliard community is delighted to welcome cellist Astrid Schween back to Juilliard as the newest member of the Juilliard String Quartet and an esteemed faculty member. She brings remarkable artistry to her new role. We look forward to the fall 2016 semester, when she will join the ensemble and begin teaching at the school.’

The violinist is under doctor’s orders not to travel. She has withdrawn from several weeks of engagements, and from judging the Reine Elisabeth competition in Brussels.

She had been due to play the Walton concerto – a personal favourite – in Detroit.

At short notice, the orch were unable to find a US-based soloist of comparable calibre with the Walton under their fingers. So they booked NY-based Paul Huang to play the Sibelius.

The Russian violinist Vladmir Spivakov will be awarded an honorary doctorate tomorrow at Tel Aviv University. He stands, with Denis Matsuev and Valery Gergiev, in the front rank of Putin apologists. His US appearances have attracted human rights and pro-Ukraine protests.

All sorts of names had been mentioned for the role, starting with Meryl Streep.

Main casting was announced today at Cannes.

Playing Maria Callas will be Noomi Rapace, a Swedish actress who played Lisbeth Salander in The Girl With…

Niki Caro’s movie is based on Alfonso Signorini’s biography Too Proud, Too Fragile.