I interviewed opera director Damiano Michieletto about his new project: a film. www.thetimes.com/culture/film...

Don’t you love it when you’ve written painstaking programme notes and then...

Opera director Damiano Michieletto has made his first feature film and I rather enjoyed my sneak preview of it (though cat-lovers should probably aim to arrive five minutes late). Went to interview him about it. (NB I don't write the headlines...) www.thetimes.com/culture/film...

Sad to hear that Classical Music Magazine is being closed. It's been part of my life for a very long time and working there in the '90s taught me almost everything I wanted to know about the music business, besides quite a lot that I didn't. A few choice stories... open.substack.com/pub/jessicad...

Feel the fear and do it anyway: Lucas Debargue's recital the other night at Wigmore Hall. (Please feel free to subscribe to my substack, TWANGLE.) open.substack.com/pub/jessicad...

I needed to write something in tribute to my friend who died two days ago. (Link in next tweet.)

Looking forward to this and surprised it’s not sold out - is that because of Schoenberg & Webern?!?

In the meantime, I need cheering up. As if by magic, a sneak preview musical download has popped into my inbox bringing an unexpected and total joy: Jonas Kaufmann singing in Hungarian.

Far from convinced that my husband is not going to bring his violin to Tristan & Isolde this afternoon and play along in the cinema...

Twangling about Wagner’s heroines at some length… open.substack.com/pub/jessicad...

Absolutely adored Siegfried at the ROH last night. Andreas Schager simply flattened all before him and if you like heldentenors, you would be very happy. Here's my new-format review (clue re headline: no, he hasn't.) inews.co.uk/culture/arts...

So after all that, what does new opera really need? open.substack.com/pub/jessicad...

Still trying to work out how to share my TWANGLE posts properly…hey-ho, always love a learning experience. substack.com/@jessicaduch...

Helpful hint: if you're fond of Tchaikovsky and Sibelius, get yourself to the Royal Festival Hall tonight, prontissimo.

We have some big news... ✨ We’re thrilled to announce that Paavo Järvi will become the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Chief Conductor & Artistic Advisor from the 2028/29 season!

News: Paavo Järvi to become the next Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor at the London Philharmonic Orchestra @lporchestra.bsky.social bachtrack.com/news-paavo-j...

This extremely sad news doesn't seem to have made it to Bluesky yet. A devastating loss for the classical singing and choral world in the UK. I was honoured to be among his pupils over the last few years and like many I will miss his wisdom, knowledge, kindness and humour more than I can say.

Latest post on TWANGLE: Lost in the Star...ratings. open.substack.com/pub/jessicad...

A few thoughts on that row… liveapp.inews.co.uk/category/426...

Music lovers 🎹 @jessicaduchen.bsky.social will be with us in the #Cotswolds in May to discuss Myra Hess with @chazzasteinway.bsky.social 💙📚 #booksky Tickets online from £10 www.campdenmayfestivals.co.uk/literature/e...

Great evening chez @philharmonialondon.bsky.social yesterday. Impressive new Adams concerto, fabulous playing all round, and a Daphnis & Chloe to die for from Salonen. inews.co.uk/culture/arts...

This is one of the most heart-breaking & important articles I have ever read - from someone whose voices are so rarely heard, a teenaged girl. If you want to understand online misogyny in all its devastating impact, please read this shattering piece. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Designed to banish a bilious sensation that has lasted many a decade... open.substack.com/pub/jessicad...

Whyever did they make him a trade envoy in the first place? Always seemed weird for a royal to be in such a post.

I do try not to grumble, honest… but is anyone else really, really, really tired of being drenched, utterly drenched, every time we venture outside? 🥶☔️

Second Substack post, should really have been the first. A bit about how I got here. open.substack.com/pub/jessicad...

I cracked and started a Substack. Welcome to TWANGLE: MUSIC AND WORDS. The first post is about Kurt Weill. jessicaduchen.substack.com/p/weill-the-...

Beautiful writing here from a very talented young critic. Asher has really captured the nature of the supreme musicianship we heard that day.

Going to Guernsey on Saturday! Never been before. Very much looking forward to seeing it, and to talking about Bartók & Duke Bluebeard's Castle ahead of London Singers' Collective performance. www.visitguernsey.com/experiences/...

Tonight at 7pm I’m talking Clara Schumann for Lockdown University, free online to everyone everywhere. www.lockdownuniversity.org/lectures/295...

This is tomorrow! www.riverhousebarn.co.uk/events/13968...

Tues 27 Jan 7-9pm Riverhouse Barn Arts #Walton-on-Thames #Messiaen Quatuor pour la fin du temps with @ianpace.bsky.social @anthonyfriend.bsky.social & Joseph Spooner, preceded by the companion play by @jessicaduchen.bsky.social Tx www.riverhousebarn.co.uk/events/13968... #LondonChamberEnsemble

Congratulations 🎊 to @jessicaduchen.bsky.social - awarded the Presto Music Awards for her book, Myra Hess National Treasure. Jessica will be speaking at this year’s festival.

Street-smart and subversive: Ailish Tynan talks Così fan tutte @ailishtynan.bsky.social ✍️ @jessicaduchen.bsky.social bachtrack.com/interview-ai...

Michael Church, @jessicaduchen.bsky.social and I all chose our Top 10 classical events of 2025: inews.co.uk/culture/arts...

We finite ones with infinite souls are born only for sorrow and joy and it might almost be said that the best of us receive joy through sorrow.

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.

This is nice! Thank you a thousand times, @prestomusic.bsky.social 🙏❤️🎶🎹🥳

The arts will play a key role in the government’s agenda. But, it is crucial that artists remain free to 'irritate, shame and annoy,' and highlight where society continues not to be a level playing field. #FreelancersMakeTheatreWork #Freelancers #Freelancer #Culture #Arts #ArtsAndCulture

I wrote about it why Roxanna Panufnik and I are going head to head with Handel’s Messiah. Come and hear the result on Sunday at Symphony Hall Birmingham! inews.co.uk/culture/arts...

This is why we insist that arts and humanities matter. And it turns out they can cure cancer, too.

Erich Wolfgang Korngold died on 29 November 1957, aged 60. Heads-up to planners: he has two big round number anniversaries in '27. www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjCe...

Allan Schiller and John Humphreys grace the stage at Wigmore Hall this afternoon for their farewell recital after over 50 years of their duo partnership, offering a programme of Mozart's sonatas and enchanting works by Schubert 🎹⭐ 🕰️ 1.00pm 🎟️ https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202511291300

Magnificent Elgar from Beth Taylor, Edward Gardner and the @lporchestra.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/culture/clas...

New York City helped my mother become the artist she is today. The next generation deserves a City Hall that lifts up tomorrow's artists as well.

So excited to hear this at last! A very special composer who carried a complex, startling story.

Fabulous article by Dr Samantha Ege ahead of tomorrow’s release. @leahbroad.bsky.social

I wrote a short story. open.substack.com/pub/levparik...

Young people who take part in arts and cultural activities experience a significant improvement in life satisfaction, equivalent to that experienced by an unemployed adult who gets a job, according to researchers at the University of Manchester.