For years, British composer Harrison Birtwistle lived as a recluse on a remote French hillside. Now, at 66, he’s moved back to Britain, with some strong ideas about English culture. “I believe we have in this country the best musicians in the world, but we don’t have the best orchestras because we don’t give them the money to rehearse. It’s spread too thin. So second-rate becomes good enough, and we don’t know the difference any more.” – The Telegraph (UK)