NOTATIO

as the thread title says: has anyone heard from Octo recently?

No: I was wondering also.

I'm away from home at present, but may try to send him an e-mail early next week if nobody reports back here that they've heard from him. He had a violin concerto due for premiere in April 2022, but I can't find any references/reviews relating to its performance when I Google (possibly because my filters are wrong etc etc).

Checking his profile, he was last active here on 6 April and his last post was on 19 February. He may just be too busy for now to spend time on the forum. Someone more proficient with Google et al than am I may be able to find out more…

Dear friends,

Thank you for reaching out to me and for your sincere worries.
I am sorry for making uncertainties. Indeed I was away for so long time, due to a major collision of various things including corona3, two deadlines, two travels, new contracts, and finally I needed to ask for help and reset myself for several weeks before hitting the wall; I was totally out of my energy and stamina...

I remember once I got an email from a commissioner telling me "better a living composer and finished piece behind the deadline, then 'unfinished symphony' by a dead composer". So it was.

OCTO is back.

Thank you very much OCTO for responding. I'm greatly relieved to hear that you are back and sympathize with all your difficulties with Covid, deadlines et al, and hope all will be well with you.

Happy to hear you are well, and that you took the time you needed.

Welcome back, OCTO!

these have been somewhat demanding times, and add extra workload to that and it can be overwhelming.
glad to read that you didn't let it get too bad.