The Russian state prize for ‘outstanding achievements in the field of humanitarian activities’ has been awarded by the Kremlin to the ‘People’s Artist of the Soviet Union, composer Rodion Shchedrin’.

The composer, 86, is a close personal friend of Valery Gergiev and Denis Matsuev, Putin’s twin musical henchmen.

A further state prize has been given to the pianist Nikolai Lugansky for his work at the Rachmaninov Museum in the village of Ivanovka.

The Metropolitan Opera says it has replaced next season’s revival of Robert LePage’s 2008 production of Berlioz’s Damnation de Faust.

‘Unanticipated technical demands,’they say.

LePage’s staging of Wagner’s Ring has been a long-running Met nightmare.

Looks like Gelb has decided that LePage is no longer the Messiah.

Faust will be replaced by concert performances of Berlioz’s légende dramatique, conducted by Edward Gardner, with Elīna Garanča, Ildar Abdrazakov, Bryan Hymel and Michael Spyres.

The pianist Kirill Gerstein has moved his worldwide management to Kathryn Enticott’s London boutique agency.

The resons? ‘Kirill, in consultation with his long-time US manager, Linda Marder, wanted to take the next step in his career by consolidating his worldwide representation in the hands of a single office.’

Message from Salzburg Festival president Helga Rabl-Stadler:

‘Two important decisions for the future of the Festival have just recently been taken. On 21 May, the Board of Trustees extended the contract of our highly successful artistic director, Markus Hinterhäuser. His first official act was to ask the wonderful Cecilia Bartoli to extend her own contract as artistic director until 2026, giving the Whitsun Festival her very special programmatic focus. And Cecilia joyfully said yes.’

Cecilia Bartoli has just completed her eighth themed Whitsun Festival.

Next year’s theme will be Pauline Viardot, 19th century singer, composer, literary muse, sex kitten.