He brought a slightly steely sound to his dramatic account of "Revelge" ("Reveille"), and in "Zu Strassburg auf der Schanz" and "Der Tambourgesell," he conveyed the sentiments of a young soldier about to be executed with understated, slightly macabre acceptance, supported by Mr. Ryan's firm, evocative, martial backdrop.
Against this backdrop, firms are likely to respond by delaying or cancelling their investment plans.
"In particular, current figures on industrial production and incoming orders suggest markedly reduced investment activities on the part of German firms against the backdrop of uncertain sales prospects.
But for mid- to later-stage firms, the macro backdrop has never been better to prudently utilize leverage.
Fassler told clients that this was a long-term call, as the firm does face a tough macro backdrop.
Mike McCusker, a partner in PwC's Law Firms Advisory Group, said: "Against a challenging backdrop, 2013 could be seen as a turning point for the legal sector as certain firms remain resilient and grow, while others continue to struggle, with the gap between best and worst performing widening further.
The survey of purchasing managers at more than 170 construction firms found they thought the economic backdrop was "generally supportive" but some "noted that greater uncertainty about the business outlook had resulted in more cautious spending patterns among clients".
Against an economic backdrop which means few firms are willing to risk raising prices, despite staff and supplier cost going up, British SMEs can at least take solace that rising bills can sometimes be a blessing in disguise.
Against this backdrop Sony is not the only firm to have enforced cutbacks.
By 2002 they had 100 members of staff, but then near disaster struck, as the firm ran into cash flow difficulties against the backdrop of the bursting of the dotcom bubble.
