A violin and a viola were stolen last week from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s HQ in Glasgow last week.

The good news is that both have been recovered.

The viola is a Fernando Solar belonging to Fiona West, who has played it in the RSNO for 47 years. Fiona has got it back just in time for her 70th birthday on Tuesday.

It’s the second time she has lost in in a matter of weeks. In November, she left the viola on a train. An honest person turned it in 12 hours later at Glasgow Central Station.

 

 

 

A survey of 50 UK arts administrators finds that all but four believe that any impingement on freedom of movement after Britain leaves the EU will devastate their sector.

Paul Roseby, head of the National Youth Theatre said: ‘Brexit is a clear act of self harm, and is scaring our future growth and creative planning.’

Read here.

 

We’ve received details of how Sabina Puértolas jumped in for Lucy Crowe as Gilda in Covent Garden’s Rigoletto.

Here’s how:

She flew from Madrid to London on Thursday at 08:30, arriving at 11:00 at the Royal Opera and rehearsing there until 15:00.

Then she rested at the hotel and was back in the theatre at 18:00 to start the performance at 19:30.

She earned a huge ovation.

 

Unless we retain EU freedom of movement and freedom to work, it would be impossible to clear the paperwork in time, let alone the aliens queue at Heathrow.

UPDATE: Arts leaders fear hard Brexit.

All over the country, local authorities will be promoting the cello throughout 2018.

Hundreds more kids will learn how to play.

As if it wasn’t tough enough out there already…

 

‘That’s what the people want: the noise that comes out of the box.’

Elisabeth Braw reports in the FT that cuts are planned for the best drilled musicians in the world:

The British Army has 22 ensembles: eight symphonic wind bands, one other wind bands, six multi-capacity wind bands, three brass bands, three pop bands and one string orchestra.

A country’s military music-making matters and reflects its military prowess. In countries such as France, Britain and the US, military music is not an afterthought but a bona fide career for accomplished musicians. Although they are trained soldiers, the musicians spend most of their time rehearsing and performing…

Read on here.