Please enjoy this stirring-fox-7e1fab.netlify.app - much more fun than actually having to read the Telegraph.

Have recently discovered a BRILLIANT piece of 20th century orchestral music in the shape of Elsa Barraine's Symphony No. 2. Amazingly, it's been recorded twice recently. @deeplyclassical.bsky.social @fredreibell.bsky.social @loveinner.bsky.social @aquilanebula.bsky.social #elsabarraine

This local Wolfdog joined an Olympic ski event and triggered the finish-line camera. This is Nazgul. He snuck into a cross-country skiing sprint this morning and raced the homestretch with some competitors before being escorted home. 14/10 someone get him a medal

The problem with taking a pile of books and clothes to a charity shop is that you return with more stuff. I’m in vinyl heaven here - they’re all in immaculate condition. #classicalvinyl #thomasbeecham #ottoklemperer

This arrived from Tokyo this morning, the CD version of the Beach Boys set ‘We Gotta Groove’. Blimey Charlie- there’s some weird stuff in here. Much of it brilliantly bonkers but plenty of ‘what were they thinking?’ moments too. #wegottagroove #thebeachboys #brianwilson

First visit to Bradford city centre in more than a decade. It was cold and wet, but the City Hall is still a handsome building. @bradfordmuseums.bsky.social #bradford #westyorkshire

It feels like this is the first sunshine we’ve had in six weeks. This one has jumped on the dining table and is lapping it up.

BIG BOX SETS this week, www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... including an excellent Sibelius package conducted by this man: @bernardhughes.bsky.social @jeansibelius.bsky.social @torontosymphony.bsky.social @delphianrecords.com #charlesmackerras #carlnielsen #leifsegerstam #herbertblomstedt

My 71st blood donation. An easy and painless way to save a life. #blooddonation

'Glorious, in other words, Lynch's 'straightest' film is undoubtedly one of his best' ★★★★ THE STRAIGHT STORY - Superb performance, restrained direction elevate #DavidLynch's detour to mainstream, says @grahamrickson.bsky.social - on @studiocanal.co.uk Blu-ray www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...

Late music from a 20th century giant, a neglected symphony and an epic work for solo guitar: dirge canons, dances and a donkey feature in this week's classical CD round up chosen by @grahamrickson.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

This week's Classical CD selection contains both a DONKEY and some STRAVINSKY. It's all good. Read more here: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @pentatonemusic.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social #classicalmusic #stravinsky #moeran #donkeys #moeran #strauss

I’m lucky enough to be performing this tomorrow. The 1945 version sounds extraordinary when you’re sat in the middle of it, the colours brighter and the quirky details easier to hear. Genius. #stravinsky #firebird

Just picked this up in Lidl. Have never tried it before and am slightly apprehensive. Should I be? #leāomatte #yerbamate #tea

'The film’s sexual frankness is startling' ★★★★★ OIL LAMPS - #JurajHerz’s harrowing, multi-layered period drama, brilliantly cast and directed - review @grahamrickson.bsky.social - now on @secondrun.bsky.social Blu-ray www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...

BS Johnson’s The Unfortunates and Julio Cortázar’s Hopscotch are famous examples of books with chapters to be read in any order. Here’s Edward Gorey’s The Helpless Doorknob, a story printed on 20 cards which are shuffled before reading. It’s gorgeous. #edwardgorey #fiction #bsjohnson

Beautifully written article by @stephenkelman.bsky.social in today's @theguardian.com, especially moving if you've lost a parent to Alzheimer's or know someone who has. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

2026's first CD selection, and it's a good one: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #julieroset #fernandolopez-graca #alberga #mahler #schubert #nicolabenedetti

This is Bertie, an RSPCA rescue who we adopted as a kitten. Today is his 15th birthday, and he's in excellent shape.

I have spent two and a half years of my life in Hull and I have good memories of it. It has a bad reputation in the UK which I think it doesn't deserve. It has its problems, that's undeniable, but also has positives.

Spoiled for choice, so packed with details: my classical music colleagues and I choose the best of 2025 on @theartsdesk.bsky.social theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

Pick of the year from the Classical CDs team at @theartsdesk.bsky.social - lots of great stuff to discover

Our subjective pick of the year's BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM RELEASES, each one a zinger: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #arvopart #kapustin #antaldorati #shostakovich #terryriley #seandoherty #exaudi

Finding this ruined summerhouse in Leeds’ Roundhay Park is so much easier in the winter. Lovely spot. #leeds #secretplaces

Being able to upgrade to 1st Class on @seatfrog.bsky.social is a godsend on a long train journey for the legroom alone. Alas, the new SeatFrog app needs a new iOS which my old phone cannot install, so I'm stuffed. Why does everything have to be on a bloody app? #traintravel #badseats @lner.co.uk

The Fantomas trilogy takes in exploding cigars, rubber face masks, rockets, a flying Citroen DS and the great Jean Marais. Think Mission: Impossible, but sillier and French: theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray... #eurekabluray #fantomas #jeanmarais #louisdefunes

Have just nipped into the beautiful Leeds Central Library to collect my Chapel Allerton history book, written by the very affable Steven Burt and edited by @leedstours.bsky.social . It's a hefty tome @leedscivictrust.bsky.social #chapelallerton #leeds #localhistory #publiclibraries

As a primary music teacher I've accumulated far too many books of songs over the years. This is one I'd never part with, containing a mass of material from different eras and cultures, along with melody lines and chord symbols. I hope it's still in print. #primaryteaching #songbooks #cerysmatthews

“This album makes a persuasive case in favour of the music… and the Piano Concerto in particular is a fine piece, and takes its place alongside other Resonus issues celebrating neglected 20th century female British composers.” #AvrilColeridgeTaylor #SmanthaEge @leahbroad.bsky.social

Just in time for some last minute Christmas shopping: @grahamrickson.bsky.social + @bernardhughes.bsky.social share their latest classical CD choices including a neglected 20th century composer, plus three box sets of weighty Russian repertoire www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

Our final regular Classical CD column of the year, starring Avril Coleridge-Taylor and a big stack of Shostakovich: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @jkaconductor.bsky.social @londonsymphony.bsky.social #avrilcoleridgetaylor #shostakovich #bbcphilharmonic #classicalcds

★★★★ ISHANOU - Love, loss and belief collide in rural India in #AribamSyamSharma’s 1990 feature, now released on @secondrun.bsky.social Blu-ray - review @grahamrickson.bsky.social www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...

Here's this years @theartsdesk.bsky.social Christmas classical round-up, including a bumper 7 discs from me. Lots to enjoy!

This year's Christmas selection, with music from Cambridge to Cuba: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social #sarahwillis @delphianrecords.com #asyafateyava #cuba #johnrutter

Wahey! Have long wanted to listen to Glenn Gould’s three radio documentaries and managed to find a secondhand copy. @cbcradiocanada.bsky.social @glenngouldofficial.bsky.social #glenngould #canada #radio

Soup, monkeys and McDonalds wrappers: @grahamrickson.bsky.social enjoys pianistic journeys to Java and the solar system, plus an impressive debut disc and contemporary song in his latest classical CD round up with @bernardhughes.bsky.social and Sebastian Scotney www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

Your bi-monthly classical CD digest, ready for perusal: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @trptk.bsky.social #tobiasborsboom #java #holst #elgar

The centre of Leeds a few weeks ago, looking like the sophisticated European city it aspires to be. Taken on a Pen EE3 with Ilford XP2. #halfframefriday #believeinfilm #leeds #yorkshire #35mmfilm

Needed music about cities to play to a class this morning. Having 30 six year olds singing 'Downtown' with Petula was the highlight of my day. #petulaclark #primaryteaching #musicteaching

Al fresco egg and chips at a beachside cafe followed by a bracing dog walk in bright winter sunshine - bliss. #northyorkshire #redcar #marske #eggandchips #bordercollie

There is indeed a cohort of Ades fans who are ABBA fans. For sure! 🙂‍↔️

Ancient cabins, powdered faces and joined-up dots: this week's classical CD round up offers rarely-heard repertoire for two pianos, plus baroque transcriptions and guitar duets @grahamrickson.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social and Sebastian Scotney review www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

Adés and ABBA? Both are name-checked in the most eclectic Saturday morning classical CD review column out there: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @thomasades.bsky.social @pentatonemusic.bsky.social #bach #poulenc #piano

I’ve finally got a copy of this book. It’s a chunky tome. #leonardbernstein

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Sheffield Utd and Chelsea goalkeeper, William (“Fatty”) Foulke. At 24 stone, he was the heaviest footballer to play in a British league team. 📷 Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon

The latest CLASSICAL CDS from @grahamrickson.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social - Wolf-pelts, clowns and social realism in British ballet scores, 19th century cello works and contemporary piano etudes theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

This week's reviews,. A proper big heap this time: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @infinemusic.bsky.social #brahms #arthurbliss #williamwalton #philipglass #solgabetta #simoneporter #cello

Did some brutalist sightseeing today and visited Trellick Tower, impressive in the rain. Even better was Denys Lasdun’s beautiful Royal College of Physicians, which is open to visitors and has a good museum inside.

'Wendy and Lucy' is a small masterpiece, beautifully acted. It also has an excellent dog in one of the lead roles. www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray... #kellyreichardt #michellewilliams #dogs @secondrun.bsky.social

'A quiet marvel of a film' ★★★★★ WENDY AND LUCY - Down-and-out in rural #Oregon: #KellyReichardt's third feature packs a huge punch, says @grahamrickson.bsky.social - now on @secondrun.bsky.social Blu-ray theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...