But at least it has now become as much a point of honour in Salzburg to show that one is not a stick-in-the-mud, as it used to be a mark of prestige to get hold of a first-night ticket at all.

ECONOMIST: What to wear for Salzburg

He has also said that he must have been sort of a stick-in-the-mud when my mother wanted more excitement in her life.

NEWYORKER: Gravel