That’s what my kids thought they heard on this wonderfully obscure DG album by the catalogue-resistant Agnes Baltsa.

Whatever she’s singing, in whichever language, it’s irresistible.

 

From a rare 1969 Australian documentary, revealing in many details:

The narrator sounds remarakbly like the late Clive James.

Is it?

And who else is that in the pool?

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra has made known the death of its long-serving principal flute, Richard Chester.

A passionate supporter of music education, Richard performed in the Orchestra from the late 1960s until mid-1980s before becoming Chief Executive of The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland – NYOS. Through his tireless work and dedication as a performer, educator, administrator and patron, Richard’s influence reaches many generations of musicians. We send our sincere condolences to those nearest to him at this sad time.

Neeme Järvi, former principal conductor of the RNSO, writes: ‘All my good people are leaving me…’

Covid has killed off one of the biggest employers of live performers, with 3,500 jobs to go right away.

The company, based in Montreal, blamed ‘forced show closures as a result of Covid-19’.

More here.

We hear from Intelochen that, despite shutting the campus for Covid-19, they have a record international uptake this summer.

More than 1,400 students from 22 countries.

Not bad.

 

Paul Phillips and Lawrie Bloom, both of whom joined the Chicago Symphony in 1980, will step down next month.

From the press release:

Paul Phillips, Jr. was appointed in 1980 (to the first violins) by music director Sir Georg Solti. Prior to his CSO appointment, he was a member of the Indianapolis and Detroit symphony orchestras, also performing as a member of the Indianapolis String Quartet. In addition to performing in the CSO, Phillips has also been a member of the Music of the Baroque.

 

Appointed in 1980 to play clarinet and bass clarinet by music director Sir Georg Solti, J. Lawrie Bloom holds the distinction of being the first bass clarinetist to solo with a major American orchestra. He has appeared with the CSO as soloist three times: in January 1995 performing Ian Krouse’s Concerto for Bass Clarinet and Large Orchestra with conductor James DePreist, in October 2011 performing the U.S. premiere of Thea Musgrave’s Autumn Sonata with conductor Susanna Mälkki, and most recently in February 2020 for the world premiere of Nicolas Bacri’s Ophelia’s Tears commissioned by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Latest Government rules on weddings in England (you really couldn’t make this up):

 
– Ceremonies should be kept “as short as reasonably possible” and limited as much as possible to just the parts that are legally binding
– No more than 30 people should attend
– Everyone should follow the 2m rule if possible, or 1m with extra safety measures
– No food and drink should be consumed as part of the event
– Hands should be washed before and after the exchanging of rings, and the rings should be handled by as few people as possible
– Singing, shouting or playing music at a volume that means people have to raise their voice should all be avoided.
– Instead of singing, recordings are suggested
– Speaking during the ceremony – for example saying the responses to the vows – should not be in a raised voice
– Playing instruments that are blown into should be avoided
– When singing or chanting is required, only one person is allowed to and the couple or venue should consider installing a clear screen
– Venues frequently used for weddings should mark the floor with tape or paint to help people maintain social distance.

To no great surprise, the Broadway League confirmed today that no theatre will reopen before January 3, 2021 at the earliest.

League president Charlotte St. Martin said: ‘We are determined to bring back the people who rely on this industry for their livelihood, and to welcome back all those who love this vital part of New York City, as soon as it is safe to do so.’

The composer Jack Fortner died on Thursday in Brazil, reportedly of cancer. He was 85.

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he joined the composition faculty at California State University, Fresno, and taught there throughout his career. He guest conducted the Detroit Symphony and was artistic director of the chamber music ensemble Orpheus. He composed various modernities and was published by Presser.

 

The town of Baden-Baden has bought out the private owners of the Festspielhaus, for reasons unexplained.

The cost of the 25-year lease was 18.4 million Euros, 11.3 million of which was obtained by loan. The venue is an elite site on the European cultural spectrum.

Details here.

Every single word that follows is from the press release, just landed:

THE NAKED PIANIST BARES ALL FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC

AWARD-WINNING MUSICIAN EMMANUEL VASS SET FOR SUCCESS AFTER BGT, FIRST DATES HOTEL, AND CLASSICFM STARDOM

Mixed-race, openly gay, Stockport classical pianist Emmanuel (Manny) Vass, 31, continues to push boundaries and divide traditionalists with the release his third album, The Naked Pianist.
From stripping down to Union Jack boxers on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent; being spotted by the pool chatting to fellow daters in his orange speedos on Channel 4’s First Dates Hotel, to featuring as a ClassicFM Young Classical Star, Manny continues to take risks shaking up the classical world.
The half Pakistani half Filipino Stockport resident, who has performed for global royalty including the Prince of Monaco on the most prestigious stages across the UK, funded The Naked Pianist with an Arts Council England grant, following on from his previous album,
which hit #1 in the UK specialist classical charts in 2015 after a 165% funded crowdfunding campaign.
“I have faced adversity and difficulties all my life” says Manny, “but that is precisely why it is so important for people of colour such as myself to proudly exist within traditionally white spaces. Classical music and redbrick Universities can and should be celebrated as diverse, innovative, and inclusive places”.

A peaceful vigil for the violinist Elijah McClain who died in police custody in Colorado was broken up yesterday by police with batons and pepper spray. No charges have been broughts against the three police officers who were implicated in his death.

Here’s some live reporting: