The British pianist David Shenton was asked to accompany a singer in The Star-Spangled Banner at the inauguration of President Trump.

He asked if there was a fee and was told it’s an honour to be invited. He asked about his fare from New York to Washington DC and was told it would not be paid.

Needless to say, he politely declined.

We hear that Steinway were asked to donate a new piano which will be painted with the stars and stripes.

 

In a good week to bury bad news, the New York Philharmonic has been shedding key staff.

Ed Yim, v-p of artists planning, quit yesterday for a better job.

Today, the orchestra’s head fundraiser, Lisa Mantone, found her way to the exit. Lisa was Vice President for Advancement and Communications. She had only been in the post for a year.

To cover its bare patches the Philharmonic has promoted Vince Ford, Director of Digital Media, together with the head of PR, to vice-presidential status.

‘You can see where the priorities lie,’ says a disgruntled insider. ‘Two senior staff members (fundraising and artistic) are leaving and two v-ps are created – communications and digital media.’

 

The Opéra de Paris has confirmed that the German tenor will end his enforced five-month absence, singing Lohengrin tonight.

There is, however, one cast change.

Wolfgang Koch has pulled out as Teleramund. He is replaced by Tomasz Konieczny.

The baritone Christopher Purves has a throat infection and cannot sing in tonight’s Written on Skin.

Good trouper that he is, he will act the part while James Cleverton sings from the wings.

El Mundo  reports that a man was arrested yesterday after throwing his mobile phone at musicians of the Community of Madrid Orchestra during a concert in the National Auditorium.

The disrupter, 64, has been charged with public order offences. He was said to be drunk.

The concert of the Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid was conducted by Emilio Aragón and Victor Pablo Pérez, with pianist Javier Perianes.

No-one was hurt.

Wiebaden Opera has published details of the death of the international bass-baritone, Gerd Grochowski.

On Sunday January 15, Gerd sang Wotan in the first performance of a new production of Wagner’s Die Walküre. He received great public acclaim and several ovations.

On Monday he rang the emergency doctor, complaining of chest pains. He received prompt treatment but died at 3:o9 pm.

The company pays tribute to his kindness and truthfulness, the sincerity of his honest struggle for life-affirming art.

 

Professor Angelo Persichilli, principal flute of Rome’s Santa Cecilia for 40 years from 1958, has died at 77.

Among his notable recordings was a Bruno Maderna album for Hyperion.