Just been listening to this. I think it's stunning, the best Prokofiev 6 since Neeme Jarvi's SNO version, and it's brilliantly played and recorded. #prokofiev #silvestrov #aarhus

Steam rollers, egg smugglers, morse code, escaped circus lions, magic marbles and escaped convicts all feature in this brilliant DVD package: www.theartsdesk.com/film/dvd-chi... @vicpratt.bsky.social #bfi #childrensfilmfoundation

'Short, sweet, high on kid-based comedy hi-jinks and straightforward adventure; low on boring grown-ups' ★★★★★ CHILDREN'S FILM FOUNDATION Volume 6 - Life-enhancing vintage entertainment, for children of all ages, now on #BFI DVD - review @grahamrickson.bsky.social www.theartsdesk.com/film/dvd-chi...

We stumbled across a Victorian pet cemetery in Knaresborough. Bring back proper dog names, like Max Woofie, Buncle and Dick! Plus, you can buy a knitted glove puppet to go with your tea and cake. #dogs #knaresborough #knitting

Beautiful Knaresborough - it's in North Yorkshire but always feels as if it's much further south. On a sunny day it's a gorgeous spot. Taken with Ilford XP2 on an Olympus Pen EE3. @ilfordphoto.com #halfframefriday #35mm #knaresborough #yorkshire

Just found this in a charity shops. Proper Joyce Hatto as opposed to the fake stuff. I think that Saga was the record label set up by her dodgy husband. #joycehatto #rachmaninov #classicalmusic

The worst Scrabble hand I’ve had in a while…

The worst Scrabble hand I’ve had in years…

Viols, vibes and variations: @bernardhughes.bsky.social + Sebastian Scotney enjoy the endless appeal of the Goldberg Variations in 2 new reimaginings, @grahamrickson.bsky.social finds Barbirolli's complete Halle Sibelius for connoisseurs only + Stravinsky, Dowland www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

It's the vibe of the thing... this Sibelius cycle has moments of imprecision and a few eccentric speeds, but it works. PlusBach, Stravinsky and Dowland: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #stravinsky #dennisdenuto #radekbaborak #bach #johndowland

This schlocky late 60s Italian comic-strip adaptation looks great, with plenty of style and some good set pieces. Daft but fun: www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray... #eurekacinema #mariobava #diabolik #fumettineri

★★★★ DANGER: DIABOLIK - Influential and colourful Italian comic book adaptation returns in a gleaming new print - 'a lurid triumph of style over substance', says @grahamrickson.bsky.social, and he likes it! - now on #Eureka Blu-ray www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...

This is the best film I've seen this year, a 1965 Czech drama set during the last months of WW2 with an astonishing performance from a 14-year old lead actor. It's witty, sweet, terrifying and heart-breaking by turns. @secondrun.bsky.social #czechnewwave www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...

★★★★★ LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC! - #KarelKachyňa's magnificent Czech coming-of-age epic, set in the dying days of World War II - @grahamrickson.bsky.social is caught up by this visually beautiful, emotionally rich epic - now on @secondrun.bsky.social Blu-ray www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...

This is a great watch. If you've taught in schools or live in communities like the ones shown here you'll understand what's being said already. If you haven't, PLEASE WATCH: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K68r... #education #grimsby #whiteworkingclass @channel4news.bsky.social

‘The influence of Raymond Chandler is clear from the rhythm of the sentences, the careful choice of adjectives – elsewhere, Deighton isn’t afraid of using a word like ‘horrisonous’ – and the deadpan sangfroid of the punchline.’ @moonjets.bsky.social on Len Deighton. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Sackbuts, seascapes and session photos: French baroque music, British orchestral fireworks and an award-winning Dutch pianist feature in the latest classical CD round up from @grahamrickson.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social and Sebastian Scotney www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

HUGE PILE of carefully considered classical reviewage here, with something for all tastes: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @londonsymphony.bsky.social @pentatonemusic.bsky.social #britten #mahler #holst #schubert

United Kingdom. Don’t make the same fucking mistake you did in 2016. The U.S. repeated their 2016 monstrosity. And look at the clusterfuck that’s turned out to be!

When you ask a group of 7-8 year olds to sort out the xylophone: #primaryteaching #percussion #xylophone

'The beauty of the film’s sumptuous, high-contrast black and white cinematography is almost hallucinatory' ★★★★★ RED BEARD - Top-tier #Kurosawa melds visual beauty with moral clarity - now on #BFI Blu-ray - review @realjohncarvill.bsky.social www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...

Marske beach, North Yorkshire. Happy dog and owner. #dogs #yorkshire #marskebythesea

Lots of deliciously dismaying details in this but nothing sums up the billionaire mindset like “attend one orchestra rehearsal as an audience member and believe as a result that you are being groomed to become its next music director”

This pen is quite something. Six colours! A gift from a Reception child in a school I visit once a week, so that I 'can write more songs'. It's made my day. #primaryteaching #musicteaching #receptionclass

Loads of British music in this week's big slab of review juiciness: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... #adrianboult #arcadivolodos #vaughanwilliams #elgar #antoinepreat #classicalcds #reviews #bbcphilharmonic #rumongamba @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social

I've been going down a Monkees rabbit hole recently. Their final album, 2016's 'Good Times!' is mostly a delight, a really good-natured send off. This song, written by XTC's Andy Partridge, is so, so sweet, and the video is ace: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbf6... #themonkees #1960smusic #XTC

'The Devil's Hand' is excellent - a pacy Faustian horror directed by Maurice Tourneur (father of Jacques), produced in occupied Paris by the German-controlled Continental Studios. www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray... #thedevilshand #paris #mauricetourneur #filmreview

★★★★ THE DEVIL'S HAND - Quirky and gripping French horror film, produced under Nazi occupation - now on #MastersofCinema Blu-ray - review @grahamrickson.bsky.social www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...

Just found this in my local Oxfam shop. Never heard of this book. Has anyone out there read it? #aaroncopland #classicalmusic #oxfam

One for @loudribs.bsky.social ? It's usually cheaper and less hassle for me to drive to the city centre than it is to get a bus. The most annoying thing about Leeds is its crappy, unreliable and expensive public transport. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... #leeds #publictransport #traffic

HUGE round up this week. Nine new classical albums. Read on: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #bach #handel #elgar #nielsen @heloisewerner.bsky.social @delphianrecords.com #ivanagavric

Newcastle (and Gateshead), scrubbing up well in these half-frame shots. I think it's the most photogenic of English cities. @ilfordphoto.com #believeinfilm #halfframe #newcastle #gateshead

The wonderful world of Yugoslavian album covers

Bach’s Goldberg Variations doesn’t have to be played on a keyboard. Years ago I reviewed a superb version played by bassoon octet, and this new one is for horn, bass clarinet, violin and marimba. Whoop whoop! #Bach #radekbaborak #goldbergvariations #classicalmusic

I like Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester, but Newcastle has to be the best looking regional English city. Plus, it has a metro system, a professional orchestra and a superb concert hall. #newcastle #gateshead #architecture #cities

Japan! Norway! France! They're all in this week's selection:https://www.theartsdesk.com/classical-music/classical-cds-glee-clubs-snow-crystals-and-small-trolls @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @delphianrecords.com #tabeazimmermann #poulenc #grieg #ayakofujiki #messiaen #messiaen

A y3 child in one of my classes showed me his Music Books today. I now know how to sing the Bluey theme. Aren’t they fantastic? #musiceducation #primaryschool #teaching

Vernon Sewell's 'Strongroom' is the best thriller you've never seen, a low-budget gem from 1962. Here's a review: www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray... #bfi #film #blu-ray #thriller

'Almost unbearable to watch in its final stages' ★★★★ STRONGROOM - Taut, engrossing low-budget 1962 thriller from underrated British director #VernonSewell - review @grahamrickson.bsky.social - now on #BFI Blu-ray www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...

Just been to have a look at the St Patrick’s Day shindig in Leeds city centre. I left before the parade and dancing started - 10.30am seemed a bit too early for Irish stew. #stpatricksday #leeds #ireland

Phantasies, parades and prayers: this week's classical CD round up featuring a great soprano live in concert, new sounds from Iceland and chamber music for strings @grahamrickson.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social and Sebastian Scotney share their top picks www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

Reviewing classical recordings teaches you stuff. Like the meaning of the word 'idiophone' and how to play a txalaparta. Read more: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #lisedavidsen #schubert #danielbjarnason #romanmints #classicalmusic

You can still find parts of inner London that have resisted gentrification. I took these on film in Clerkenwell a few days ago. @ilfordphoto.com #believeinfilm #agfaoptima335 #400asa #kingscross #clerkenwell

The foot tunnel under the Thames at Greenwich used to terrify me as a child, and I always thought that the condensation on the cold ceramic tiles was actually river water seeping in. Not been here in decades. The view from the north bank is wonderful. #london #tunnels #thames

As there's a new Harry Styles album out today and we haven't done one for a while... Harry Styles as Barnsley Museums objects. A THREAD 👇 Copy of Gainsborough's 'The Blue Boy' by Henry Bone

I loved watching and reviewing this disc. Pioneering investigative journalist Daniel Farson investigates witches, UFOs, cats, striptease, the Stock Exchange and a whole load more: www.theartsdesk.com/tv/blu-ray-d... @vicpratt.bsky.social #bfi #danielfarson #associatedrediffusion

'#DanielFarson, looking for people with unconventional opinions' ★★★★ DANIEL FARSON'S GUIDE TO BRITAIN Vol 1 - A pioneering TV journalist's guide to late 1950s London, and beyond - 'This set is a blast', says @grahamrickson.bsky.social - now on #BFI Blu-ray theartsdesk.com/tv/blu-ray-d...

This week's classical reviews, expertly assembled: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #elsabarraine #stravinsky #mauriceravel #britten

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