Got a few new followers so I'll just remind everyone that I'm a loud-mouthed and politically-progressive composer-pianist.

Will be interested in your unbiased views about the recent events in Macclesfield.

17 weeks...

18:32 31/12/25 Should I put on the electric blanket?

Winter has cast its spell on South London. There's frost upon the pile of fly-tipped sofas this eve.

Taking kids back to London today with NO playlist; because the wife's coming! 🙄😞

Au revoir Brigitte x

Paying a bit more in return for knowing that Bezos is getting none of my money is worth every fucking penny

@deeplyclassical.bsky.social when you're ready #StevesChoice2025 is down to 10. And look at some of what I've left out!

Welcome to the club!

About to start another Christmas Eve tradition: finding six sets of matching cutlery. Somebody could be using a cake fork and fish knife on their roast tomorrow...

If you’re going Christmas shopping tomorrow wear a helmet, it’s wild out there.

In these challenging times someone might need one of them: Childline: 0800 1111 Samaritans: 116 123 Domestic Violence Hotline: 0808 2000 247 Mind: 0300 123 3393 Age UK: 0800 169 6565 Alcoholics Anonymous : 0800 9177 650 Cruse Bereavement Care: 0808 808 1677 MH text support: 85258

Spooner's career as a continuity announcer was short-lived

Every December, Gramophone writers nominate a recording for the Critics' Choice feature (usually one they reviewed themselves, although not always). This year I've picked this excellent album of Bloch's music for cello and orchestra performed by Parry Karp and Kenneth Woods.

Merry gentlefolk, it is time. Today is the day. Today is comma-mas. Today is the day where we contemplate the correct placing of the comma in 'God rest you merry, gentlemen'. And if we are lucky, we can have a row about it. >

Happy Beethoven's baptismal day to all those who don't celebrate his birthday because we're not certain when it is.

Jane Austen used 'however' at the beginning of a sentence, and so can you.

Happy birthday Beethoven youtu.be/t9ApIbDlk9Y?...

Happy Beethoven's birthday to all who celebrate.

Fun fact: my actual birthdate is unknown. Reasonable guesses are today and tomorrow. So I like to celebrate all three! Except in 1808...I had more important things to do on those days.

Form a ring around the Tunnock's Caramel Wafer. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Managed to avoid Bruckner live this year up to now, but I do find the Adagio of the Ninth disturbingly original, and Anja Bihlmaier is an excellent conductor. Plus Boris Giltburg playing Mozart and Schumann was unmissable. www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

Dads: Turn that bloody light off! It’s like Blackpool Illuminations in here. Do you think I’m made of money? Dads at Christmas: I don’t think 96 strings of lights on the outside of the house is enough, love. Just popping to B&Q for another 47 and a 12ft illuminated reindeer.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: FIVE GOLD RINGS, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. Someone check my litter tray, I think I ate some rings by mistake...

Look at that coverboy!

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me: two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. Ate them.

We're ALBUM OF THE WEEK on Essential Classics. Tune in to Radio 3 every morning this week around 10.30am GMT for a track from the album. Today it was the "Comet Prelude' - literally composed in mid-air during AC-T's flight to South Africa. @leahbroad.bsky.social

“Every exit is an entry somewhere else.” — Tom Stoppard

#NowListening #NewRelease Totally new to me. And I'm enjoying it

You: I’m combining breakfast and lunch. Brunch. Me: I’m combining wine and dinner. Winner.

IT’S HERE IT’S HERE IT’S HERE!!!! The very first album ever dedicated to Avril Coleridge-Taylor. This has been such a labour of love - please do listen to it, her music deserves to be heard @jkaconductor.bsky.social @tomedney.bsky.social open.spotify.com/album/6EroQD...

Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.

England cricket fans at 6am England cricket fans at 9.45am

#NowSpinning Although not the first recording, this is the first time I’ve heard Gregson’s Tuba Concerto since playing clarinet parts in the wind orchestra version back in the 90s! What a joy to come back to it! Great fun. Loads of wonderful moments, gloriously done here.

Debussy's Images are an underrated gem in the piano repertoire. His preludes, orchestral music and famous salon pieces all get deserved praise, but these are up there with his very best, at his 1900s peak. Modernism and symbolism, composure and beauty. Try 'em.

This is the most abysmal, pathetic thing. The BBC head resigning because the corporation is not supine *enough* to the far-right.

Going to put it here now. Petroc Trelawny should be the new voice as commentator for national events. The right amount of gravitas and respect in all he does.

For Remembrance Day. youtu.be/faF8gaBao0o

The most challenging part of being married is feigning plausible interest when your partner tells you about their day at the office.

Mahler 9 and Strauss's Four Last Songs with the @englishsymphony.bsky.social in @Cheltenham Town Hall on the 2nd of December. This should be unforgettable. Make your plans today! TICKETS cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/event/englis... youtu.be/h7czscP_gOM

Teachers should wear body cams. That way you get to see how much of a prick your kid really is.

We have curated a list of links to help those interested explore the life and works of Ralph Vaughan Williams in more detail. 💻 Find them here 👇

60% of voters now support electoral reform, according this year’s British Attitudes Survey, the highest level of support since records began. Just 36% of people believe we should keep the current system. #ProportionalRepresentation #getPRdone www.fairelections.uk/record-publi...

Fans of big football clubs don't have a clue what it is to be a real football supporter. Going along to a 60,000 seat stadium is easy. Watching your team every week in the lower leagues is true dedication.

I've said it before: anyone who runs down the job that teachers do, even for such nakedly political reasons rather than from any real place of conviction, (a) should try surviving even a fucking WEEK of it themselves and (b) should then go to the bottom of a well.

That is one of the most heart-warming things I have read for quite some time. Hats off to you.

I have a sore throat. Hoping this might help soothe it.