The biggest philanthropist in modern opera has walked free after ending a 10-year sentence for investor fraud, the last six months of which have been spent in a halfway house.

Alberto Vilar, who is 78 today, told Slipped Disc: ‘The first thing I did when I got out was to order a ticket for the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Samson et Delilah.‘

Vilar this week (c) Slipped Disc

A pioneering technology investor, Vilar insists that the victims of his fraud have been repaid. Vilar and his Amerindo partner Gary Tanaka are now fighting for control of the defunct company’s accounts and pension fund.

Vilar donated millions to the Met, Salzburg, Vienna and Covent Garden, all of which took his name down when he was sent to jail. All of his musician friends – with the notable exception of Valery Gergiev – cut him dead.

If you are enjoying the seatback surtitles at the opera, that’s thanks to Vilar.

Raise a glass to his birthday tonight at the bar.

Obituaries are appearing for Helen Clare, a forces favourite in wartime who has died at the great age of 101.

In 1946 she married Frederick Riddle, widely regarded as the finest viola player after Lionel Tertis and William Walton’s favourite performer of his viola concerto.

Riddle was eventually lured by Sir Thomas Beecham to become principal viola of his all-star RPO.

Helen continued performing until 1960. Riddle died in 1995.

Ari Þór Vilhjálmsson, leader of the second violins in Helsinki Philharmonic, has won the audition for the same position at the Israel Philharmonic, on a one-year contract.

He starts in March.

What’s mazal tov in Icelandic?