Few, though, are blessed with an instinct like Montero's or an intellect like Irving's or Dolan's. Meanwhile, the music business expects more and more of its practitioners. Currently I have the impression that young UK musicians, with one or two notable exceptions, are not matching up particularly well. 

In Britain, classical music has traditionally remained a pastime for amateurs — in the best sense this is wonderful, since there is nothing nicer than to follow a pursuit simply for the love of it. But for young musicians who need to compete internationally to build a career, the general cultural attitude towards musical study in Britain is not ideal. This year, the competitors accepted for the renowned International Chopin Competition in Warsaw included not one pianist from the UK. Similarly, young British string players auditioning for orchestras often lose out to applicants from countries where musical training is much more rigorous from a much earlier age and who therefore play better. The immediate impression is that they need to work not less, but more — harder, younger and longer.

Would they give better performances if they took more time off? It's unlikely that many will risk finding out. Fun and professionalism: it's a balancing act and what's needed is the best of both worlds. Finding a creative way to strike that balance could, I hope, help the fittest to survive amid the forthcoming onslaught of cutbacks.