Peter Rolufs, our longtime Japan-based correspondent, has uncovered figures for classical record sales in Japan, which I wondered about below. It would appear that the classical share of the Japanese market (combining numbers for new releases and catalogue) is around 15%, higher than in any other country for which data are immediately available. Keep in mind that 15% of global record sales occur in Japan.... Nico Muhly criticizes the "BBC-ass" music for the new Harry Potter movie and properly calls for a "post-Brideshead compositional agenda" in the scoring of motion pictures with English settings. Obviously it would be exciting if Pierre Boulez did Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.... Soho the Dog serves up Peaches Panufnik.... DVD tip: the movie Breach. Chris Cooper is hauntingly good as FBI turncoat Robert Hanssen, and gets to deliver one of the more piercing final lines in modern movies. The greatest last line in movie history is, of course, "What does it matter what you say about people? Adios."
