This website reported six months ago that Sir Simon Rattle had been offered the music directorship of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and was thinking it over.

This weekend, two newspapers – Austrian and German – reported that the move was a done deal.

This morning, the Times of London, whose music critic acts as a mouthpiece for the London Symphony Orchestra where Rattle has been music director for the past three years, presents the move as a foregone conclusion.

It says the move ‘news will be a shock to the British orchestral world’ – which is nonsense since everyone has been expecting it – and tries to save some face for the LSO by pinning Rattle’s decision on London’s stalling on building a new hall – something that was never going to happen.

An announcement from Munich is expected this week, possibly today.

When it comes, we’ll consider the ramifications.

UPDATE: Breaking: Rattle extends with London while signing for Munich