Latest stats from the BPI show that 12.9% of global record sales are held by British artists.

Remember this when Brexit wrecks it.

The Polish composer, 85 this year, has been talking about his life to Vesa Siren.

Among the revelations:
‘I grew up in a community that was predominantly Jewish. I also spoke Yiddish. Then Hitler came and destroyed 90% of the Jews in Poland.’ (His home town was Dębica.)

On the Soviet massacre at Katyn: ‘My uncle was killed there.’

Full interview here (in Finnish).

This has become a week of green shoots in the podium – two signed to AskonasHolt, one to Primo Artists and now…

Ryan Bancroft, 28, winner of April’s Malko Competition for Young Conductors in Copenhagen, has signed to Intermusica.

LA born, Ryan used to play trumpet in the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

If I were a conductor over 30 I might be worried.

 

Charlotte Lee, Itzhak Perlman’s agent, has just announced the signing for Primo Artists of Christian Reif, a German-American protege of Alan Gilbert and Michael Tilson Thomas.

Reif, 29, is presently resident conductor with the San Francisco Symphony. He recently took over a subscription week from the disgraced Charles Dutoit.

Primo will handle his general management while IMG London looks after him in Europe.

 

The management of Russia’s New Opera theatre has sent a questionnaire to orchestra section leaders, asking for time and motion details for each individual player. The criteria are reportedly set by the Russian Ministry of Culture.

Results for bassoon are:

– The weight of the instrument is approximately 5 kg, depending on model.

– The number of notes played per hour is 6,384 (really?).

– Number of breaths per hour: 570.

Read on here.

Remember Dr Stanley E. Romanstein?

He’s the underqualified academic who led a brutal Atlanta Symphony lockout and was fired by the board just under four years ago.

Well, he’s back.

Last night Romanstein was named dean of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, starting next month.

The board of trustees have still to ratify the appointment.

 

 

When we published the plight of Shaquille Southwell, of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, a young man left destitute by the theft of his instruments, some Slipped Disc commenters popped up helpfully to say it was all his own fault, he should never have the clarinets in his car, did they teach him nothing at Juilliard, and other samples of life’s wisdom.

Less publicly, a couple of dozen of our readers went onto Shaquille’s fund-me site and gave a quiet couple of grand in two days to help the young musician get back in his seat.

You know who you are. Thank you.

UPDATE: Make that $3k.

Would you believe it?

On Monday, in the culmination of a four-month long process, MTA MUSIC announced the newest members of the MTA Music Under New York program that gives official sanction to New York City subway musicians.

It may come as a surprise that some, but not all subway performers in NYC subway stations, have passed a rigorous audition process.

Read on here.

Deborah Borda has hired Gary A. Padmore  as Director of Education and Community Engagement.

Gary has been director of Education & Community at Orchestra of St. Luke’s, where ‘he created a free concert series that celebrates works by composers of color, doubled enrolment in the youth orchestra program, and increased school and community partnerships throughout the five boroughs.’

The yellow label has signed an exclusive contract with Long Yu and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, it was announced this morning.

Long Yu holds all the teacups in China. He is artistic director of the China Philharmonic Orchestra and the Beijing Music Festival, music director of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, co-director of MISA Shanghai Summer Festival and principal guest conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic. In this respect, he is regarded as the Chinese Karajan.

Politically, this is a very correct move.

 

The Portuguese conductor Nuno Coelho, 29, winner of last year’s Cadaques competition has been signed by AskonasHolt.

That’s the agency’s second young baton in as many days.

The Vienna Philharmonic principal cello who was fired from his teaching post at the University of Music six weeks ago for sexual misconduct has begun court proceedings against the university for unfair dismissal.

After a brief submission, the hearing was adjourned until October. At that time, the cellist will be required to present evidence of his earnings.

The musician concerned has been suspended from work at the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which are conducting a confidential joint investigation into whether the alleged misconduct also took place in their service.