Enjoyed some very classy - and appropriately terrifying - Bartok at the Proms last night. Also, great to see the double basses placed where they should be. In fact, I’m going to make it a condition of playing from now on. 🤣

In just over an hour, I get to hear Mahler 2 live for the first time. 😝 🎶

I’m disappointed but I think I know what you mean about legendary performances. Concert-going is relatively new to me but I have vivid memories of some of my early trips to the theatre and I don’t really mind that I can’t actually revisit the performances. They can still inspire.

Surely one for LSO Live? (He asks hopefully…)

What other bits?! 😉

Today:
9, 2, 3, 8, 4, 5, 6, 1, 7, DLvdE, 10

I love this film - and what a great photo! Thank you for sharing.

Thank you, Christian. During a crazy week (moving house on Wednesday - hopefully!) the latest edition and your feature article offered a welcome tonic! Whilst packing boxes, I’ve been enjoying the recommended recording on the Presto Music app. ☺️

I’ve been enjoying the Cleveland / Szell Brahms 4.

Final evening of the holiday: a takeaway and ‘The King’s Speech’. 😊

In a way, is it more difficult though when you are already very familiar with so many of the recordings? Difficult to be objective?

Out of interest, how much time does it take to prepare a feature like that? On Bruckner 6 too - it’s an epic project!

And did I see that it’s Bruckner 6 in ‘The Collection’ next month? Looking forward to reading that.

Very fond memories of the 3 peaks from my DofE days. Enjoy!

As a Muslim girl in Bradford, I saw my story in Jane Austen’s novels. Now I’ve directed a TV series about her | Ali Naushahi I soaked up her sharp insights into class, gender and power. Reading more about her life, the parallels between us became clear, says TV director Ali Naushahi

As a Muslim girl in Bradford, I saw my story in Jane Austen’s novels. Now I’ve directed a TV series about her | Ali Naushahi

Presto Music is proud to present ‪@ed-gardner.bsky.social‬'s stunning Britten collection as a pre-release exclusive from 30th May 2025, ahead of the album's general release on 20th June 2025, working in partnership with @LPOrchestra label.

🔎 Find out more here:
https://tinyurl.com/mvvh7c7w

Arrived this morning. Thank you, @prestomusic.bsky.social

Fair point, although I’m very glad to have heard the Brautigam in particular. I listened to the whole programme from 9.30 and it was a most enjoyable day. Lots of new discoveries for me.

I’m also a fan of 3. The only Mahler symphony I haven’t gone back to repeatedly is 7 and even that is finally growing on me. If you haven’t heard the Chailly 3, you should try it. Fabulous playing and a vivid recording. Let me know what you think.

Speaking of Mahler 3, I’m listening now to the Concertgebouw / Chailly. It’s a belter, isn’t it?

I’ve always found it impossible to settle on a ‘best’ when there’s so much to admire and enjoy, and when the works are so different. The 8th will always be special for me, but so will, for example, the 9th which occupies such a different sound world.

I remember enjoying his Mahler 8, but I don’t know anything else from the cycle. His Bruckner 5 is a favourite though. Have just put it to one side ready to play tomorrow. That’ll please the neighbours.

‘A reliable, old-school Italian’ — Jay Rayner reviews Da Mario, Kensington Where on earth can you go to eat before attending a show at the Royal Albert Hall?

Next week the 2025 Proms programme is announced. So it’s time to answer an age old question: where to eat before a show at the Royal Albert Hall? The answer in this week’s review for the FT: Da Mario, a brilliant and brilliantly old school Italian where everything is right.
on.ft.com/4jptX9d

Off to London for an AQA event. Excited to meet new people and visit the metropolis.

Enjoy! 🎶

Not at all in the event! I was very taken with what you played of the Jarvi, for example. Super episode. Thank you. ☺️

Looking forward to it! LPO/Haitink for me these days although I’m open to recommendations.

'Where ‘mastery’ approaches are adopted wholesale in history departments, the focus of curriculum design is narrowed to the learning of core knowledge. Definitions are copied down, facts are memorised, consolidation questions (or exam questions) are answered.'

Super blog mirroring English concerns

Fascinating parallels between English and History in concerns about the normalising of mastery as the only valid approach in education across all subject areas. Well worth a read, whatever your subject

Photograph of composer Gustav Mahler as a young man

Our Composer of the Week, 4pm each day @BBCRadio3 is #GustavMahler. Kate Molleson explores #Mahler's many struggles and triumphs, and follows him to the rural retreats where he sought to escape the drama of his everyday life. Producer Chris Taylor #classicalmusic www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...