It goes on to say: "We look forward to welcoming Guy back in autumn 2009 and to seeing the Elias in our future programming and, of course, we wish them very best luck and fortune in their respective new endeavours".

So where does Ensemble 360 go next?

After October 3, Guy's role in the group will be filled for the next 12 months by guest flautists, although he will rejoin the ensemble for its Wigmore Hall return visit over next year's Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

As regards replacing the Elias, it might be a case of plurality, not singularity.

Deborah Chadbourn, MitR director of development and administration, says other ensemble members are compiling a 'top-secret' list which may contain separate names to make up a string quartet, as opposed to one already in existence.

The intention is to hold a selection process along the lines of the one that created Ensemble 360 three years ago with the new string players being announced at the end of MitR's spring season next year.

As Deborah says, the new opportunities and dynamic it could open up for the Ensemble are extremely exciting.