The incoming US head of state tweeted today:

China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters — rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act

Why waste time at school learning how to spell?

Think of all the teachers he may sack.

Tonight’s concert by the Johann Strauss Orchestra in Nottingham has been called off after a musician suffered a severe heart attack this morning.

The players was rushed to hospital where is condition is said to be critical.

Andre Rieu Productions has issued the following statement: It is with great regret that André Rieu has to postpone tonight’s Nottingham concert due to a member of the Johann Strauss Orchestra having a heart attack this morning.

‘We are deeply saddened and thank you for your understanding in this difficult moment.

‘Our heartfelt feelings are with their colleague and his family.’

UPDATE: Andre Rieu calls off rest of UK tour.

UPDATE2: In praise of André Rieu.

 

 

Fans of the Italian crooner are expressing displeasure at his reported decision to sing at President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Tabloid rumours are spreading of a Boycott Bocelli movement.

The American soprano Aprile Millo has posted:

He has no idea what he is endorsing. Remember he’s from a country that put up with Berlusconi. One freak show to another. I don’t buy his music I appreciate that he’s a nice man but I will absolutely boycott any Bocelli. How about an American tenor? Outsourcing already because there seems to be no American that wants to sing for him. #BoycottBocelli.

Hundreds more are sharing the hashtag #BoycottBocelli.

Bocelli has yet to provide personal confirmation that that he will appear at the White House, though his team have leaked that it’s a done deal.

 

The Toronto Symphony has cleared out almost half its board, including the chairman Richard Philips and vice-chair Blake Goldring. In all eight board members have gone out of 19, and they include Sonia Baxendale, who acted as CEO after the abrupt departure of the high-spending Jeff Melanson. Philips was chair for six years.

The new chair is Catherine Beck, who joined the board just months ago. She is a successful industrialist and the daughter of H. Thomas Beck, who chaired the TSO in 1981-83.

The press release of the changes was issued at 1630 local on Friday in an attempt to bury the news.

Local media are struggling with the story. Our information is that it’s an overdue reckoning for the reckless choice of the discredited Melanson and the huge bills he ran up. Beck knows the TSO inside out and is considered a smart appointment, a chair who will support CEO Gary Hanson in his efforts to get the Symphony back onto an even keel.

 

The Chilean soprano Claudia Parada, a favourite at La Scala for two decades, died this week in Cagliari of bronchitis. She was 89.

After early Verdi ovations at 24, she explored a broad span of roles, from Monteverdi to Wozzeck’s Marie.

 

Soprano: Natalia Ushakova,
Mezzo: Vesselina Kasarova,
Tenor: Dmitry Korchak
Baritone: Sebastian Huppman

 

Pina Napolitano is touring a reduced version of Arnold Schoenberg’s piano concerto for 14 players.

It’s well within the tradition of Schoenberg shrinking other composers’ works for private performance.

No tattoos as far as we can see, but a bristling pair of biceps.

This is Dylan Naylor, Vorspieler of the First Violins of the Gürzenich Orchester of Cologne.

He doesn’t always look like this, but he loves to take his violin out clubbing.

So how’s your concertmaster looking these days?

See also: Not your regular orchestral player.