Probably not the first.

John Neumeier, director and chief choreographer of Hamburg Ballet since 1973, has been awarded the Kyoto Prize for 2015, along with Swiss astrophysicist Michel Mayor and Japanese chemist Toyoki Kunitake.

Neuemeier, 73, Wisconsin born and a protégé of John Cranko, has built many of his major works upon the music of Gustav Mahler.

We don’t know yet if it’s going to be coronation of a music director or abdication, but this message has just landed from the Berlin Phil:

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

die Berliner Philharmoniker laden Sie heute um 13.00 Uhr in das Foyer der Philharmonie zu einem Pressetermin mit dem Orchestervorstand und dem Intendanten ein. Für diejenigen unter Ihnen, die nicht persönlich anwesend sein können, wird der Termin live und kostenfrei in der Digital Concert Hall (www.digitalconcerthall.com ) übertragen.

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

the Berliner Philharmoniker invite you to a press conference today at 13.00 h in the foyer of the Philharmonie Berlin with our orchestra board and general manager. For all of you, who cannot be here in person, this press conference will also be streamed live and free in the Digital Concert Hall (www.digitalconcerthall.com).

Mit freundlichem Gruß,

With best regards,

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