The Mozarteum Salzburg has begin work on a two-year redesign of its Schwarzstrasse centre, which was built between 1912 and 1914.

Changes over the next two years will see ‘the bastion garden will be integrated into the concert operations’, in other words covered with concrete. Nobody seems to be protesting.

Moldova television has reported that the National Philharmonic hall in the centre of the capital Chisinau (Kishinev) has been totally destroyed by fire. The flames raged out of control for four hours.

The cause is being blamed on construction work.

Patricia Kopatchinskaja writes: The Moldovan Philharmonic in Chisinau burned down yesterday night. Including the orchestra’s library, manuscripts by Moldovan composers, all Instruments. The most likely cause is a short circuit. It’s like when a whole part of our national biography has been destroyed in flames and disappeared forever in smoke.

From the press release:

Live music will return to Level G throughout October and November 2020 with Live at Lunchtime, a series of free classical concerts given by outstanding musicians (current students and recent graduates) from Guildhall School of Music & Drama in front of a socially distanced live audience.

The series continues the Barbican’s aim to support artists – in this case budding young musicians – and its partners at a time when public performance opportunities are severely limited and to welcome back audiences where it is allowed and safe to do so.

Live at Lunchtime runs from Fri 2 Oct – Fri 27 Nov 2020, with performances planned twice-weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays at 1pm. Free tickets are bookable on a first-come-first-served basis via the Barbican website from 10am each Friday for concerts taking place the following week.