From a March 1945 Chopin and Liszt recital.

In a year when we have lost Jennifer Bate, Jane Parker-Smith and Catherine Ennis, all before their time, it is a considerable relief to know that Dame Gillian Weir celebrated her 80th birthday last week.

And that Decca have issued a commemorative box.

Long may she roar.

I’ve always loved these settings that Luciano Berio made for Cathy Berberian. Different times, different voice.

Love this, too.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has asked Missy Mazzoli to stay on for an extra years as Composer-in-Residence.

Good call.

The Metropolitan Opera announced a $130 million loss from operations in the year ending July 31, 2020, of which three months were cancelled du to Covid-19.

However, this was down from a $154 million loss during the previous fiscal year.

During the last four and a half months of 2019-20, the Met withheld the wages of its orchestra and chorus musicians.

General manager Peter Gelb said: ‘Our cash position was about $10 million worse than it had been when we started the fiscal year. We went from a $46 million line of credit to a $57 million line of credit, so that’s a concern to us. The good news is that we’ve managed to maintain the best relationship with donors and audiences through our nightly streams … for a period of almost a year now without performances.’

Is he happiest in an empty house?

The Sydney Symphony has just engaged the German violinist Daniel Röhn to join incoming Chief Conductor Simone Young in their season-opening concerts with the Tchaikovsky concerto. He replaces Ray Chen, who was unable to travel to Australia for all the usual reasons.

Röhn has lately relocated to Australia to ride out the rest of the pandemic together with his wife, the Australian flutist Ana de la Vega.

Smart thinking.

The latest tragedy from Brazil.

Nelly Biato Gnattali, wife of the late conductor Radames Gnattali, died yesterday of covid-19, at Leblon’s CER, Rio de Janeiro.

Her son, the singer Luiz Antônio Pereira dos Santos, passed away last Sunday in Buzios, aged 62.

No words.

Alex Buhr, who used to work for Decca, has just rolled out his new label at Sony.

Based in Berlin, Alex has signed the Icelandic pianist Eydis Evensen (no label is complete without an Icelander), the French-US composer Uele Lamore, the ‘genre-bending’ Iceland band Hugar (too much ice?), and the Berlin electro-acoustic duo Stimming x Lambert.

Alex says: ‘In a musical universe that has, for the most part, moved beyond the confinements of genre, it is expression and values which tie musicians together. With XXIM we are creating a place to bring together likeminded acts whose visions we share, to support them in their musical and visual adventures, and to help them connect with the biggest possible audience. Our ambition is to create a strong, worldwide platform for highly individual, creative artists.’

This is Dr Anastasia Vasilyeva, head of the independent Alliance of Doctors, and a sympathiser of the jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

When Putin’s thugs came calling yesterday, she carried on playing Beethoven for their enlightenment.

There are living heroes in Russia.

The filming is by a journalist from the Reuters news agency.

Gegam Grigorian, whose daughter Asmik is now Salzburg’s shining star, died five years ago after a rocky career that was complicated by Soviet interference. His gift was extraordinary and his charm infectious. He would have been 70 today.

An appreciation appears here on Basia Jaworski’s site.

Dennis Askew, director of the School of Music at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, has died suddenly of an unknown cause.

Peter Witte writes:
When we first met, decades ago, Dennis AsKew and I realized we were both Georgia brass players adjusting to the cold and grey in Michigan.
He was a friend to everyone he ever met. He was a glorious musician, one who drew from that tuba a liquid, dulcet, sound.
In a place known to take itself a bit too seriously, Dennis reminded us that striving to be good could, should, also be fun.
We went our separate ways as people do. 20 years and 30 pounds later, we both found ourselves guiding music programs, and laughing at ourselves for it.
Most recently, Dennis led UNCG’s storied and superb School of Music, seemingly with ease and joy.
We’d see each other every November, as our tribe does. Both of us a bit wider, greyer, grabbing a coffee, remembering the bowl games we’d endured over a few too many beers. Ah, our salad days…
…Remembering just how great it was to be in those bands together. Laughing. Talking about our kids and families. Beaming.
Dennis was *filled* with light. He saw the big picture. He honored the precise detail.
He loved helping people. He loved his family and communities. He was willing to speak up for those too often dismissed. He stood for education and the arts. He embraced change as exploration. He was warm. Humble. Fun.
He was who, and how, we hope to be…

There is a new production of Flying Dutchman with 7 performances, and six nights each of Meistersinger and Tannhäuser revivals.

Andris Nelsons will return for two concerts with the festival orchestra. A third concert will be given by Christian Thielemann.

All very low-key.

Priority ticket sales will be reserved for those who did not claim refunds on last year’s purchases. All other seats will be sold on the website from June 21.