🖼️🤔👓 Treated to a restorative wallow in Dowland’s melancholy at Milton Court last week courtesy of Fretwork, featuring Ian Bostridge & Elizabeth Kenny. More enthusiasm in my write-up for ArtMuseLondon here…
artmuselondon.com/2026/03/10/t...
The Sixteen, following a lovely evening of Bach & Byrd @wigmore-hall.org.uk last night.
🖼️🤔👓 Weill away a few minutes with my write-up for ArtMuseLondon of the recent knockout ‘Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny’ at ENO…
artmuselondon.com/2026/03/04/q...
“Well, really, R2. Out drinking again?”
As expected, a beautiful concert. Fretwork, Ian Bostridge & Elizabeth Kenny take their bows at Milton Court.
Pair of Specs at Milton Court for an evening of (mostly) Dowland - looking forward!
Brilliant time at the Who event yesterday. ‘My’ Doctor & Tardis crew! Great to see an unsung story get its day out of the sun. Thanks for taking me @davedfb.bsky.social!
Electric - in all senses - set from Olivia Chaney & her ‘News from Nowhere’ band @kingsplacelondon.bsky.social tonight. Notes of Offa Rex but really a brand new, supple, sinuous, driven thing all its own. More, please!
#ENOMahagonny: powerful, relentless stuff. Two things in particular I loved: the absolute barrage of visual ideas &, especially, the way the Chorus (including the ‘Jenny Girls’) became an ever-present onstage ‘multiple’ character. A masterclass example of what that team can do.
Collected a new (& rather fine) venue this evening, for the mighty @liverpoolphil.bsky.social. Especially exciting to hear @carolynsampson.bsky.social perform Canteloube with such wit & grace, & a pleasure to make acquaintance with the Ravel & Dukas. (Listen on @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social, 10 March.)
The extraordinary Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool.
Pair of Specs, Euston, for my pre-birthday jaunt. On the agenda:
✅ Lightning visit to Liverpool to hear @carolynsampson.bsky.social sing with @liverpoolphil.bsky.social
✅ Back to London for ENO‘s ‘Mahagonny’ tomorrow night.
Looking forward!
A real treat of a recital @wigmore-hall.org.uk from James Ehnes & Andrew Armstrong: Mozart, Elgar (*amazing*) & Ravel, followed by a joyous extended encore full of fun & fireworks. Guest thumb: Mrs Specs.
Mrs Specs using tonight’s Wigmore programme for its ‘intended purpose’. (Heating appears to be on ‘surface of sun’ setting! 🥵)
Excellent decision to spend Valentine’s evening with the superb @barbjungr.bsky.social (& Mrs Specs, of course!) at Crazy Coqs. Too many highlights to list but wonderful to hear a beautiful ‘Carey’ & an unstoppable ‘Born in Time’. Jenny Carr fab on piano. 👏💐🙌
Willing my train to reach King’s X. So far, a child has activated an emergency window, causing us to halt near Doncaster while the driver turned the train off & on again, then waited at Stevenage while the police nicked a luggage thief. Suspect service is haunted at this point.
Pilgrimage to the magnificent Jumbo Records successfully accomplished!
So pleased I made the trip to see #ONGrimes: vivid, visceral, the sea in every second. A towering performance from John Findon in the title role, with the Chorus & Orchestra unleashing a terrifying power. Brilliant.
@operanorth.co.uk
“At least I can keep an eye on the time from this café— Oh.”
Slightly random jaunt to #ONGrimes - looking forward!
Wonderful matinée & evening gigs from the excellent @josienneclarke.com today at Green Note. Several beautiful new songs already nestling in among the favourites. Give her melancholy masterpieces a listen at josienneclarke.bandcamp.com/music
🖼️🤔👓 Late in the run, I managed to get to the magnificent Lee Miller exhibition at Tate Modern. More enthusiasm (& whistle-stop photo tour) here at ArtMuseLondon…
artmuselondon.com/2026/02/07/p...
Hmmm. This might take some planning / a bit of work / a miracle* (*delete as applicable).
Pair of Specs ‘Così’-ing up in the Coliseum. Fun evening, Lucy Crowe’s airborne aria an unforgettable highlight.
#BandcampFriday is here, when artists receive full proceeds from their sales!
So: please scan my 2025 round-up for some fantastic musicians on Bandcamp: artmuselondon.com/2026/01/18/r...
& check out the ace katearnolduk.bandcamp.com/music, danielbachman.bandcamp.com/music, dscm.bandcamp.com/music!
Oh that’s so kind! Thank you 🙏
Kate - I can’t believe I’ve not asked you this before, but do you still have the RF shirt in 3XL. If so, will order one tomorrow. Signed, one of your larger fans!
The immaculate Leon McCawley after performing this wonderful programme @wigmore-hall.org.uk this evening. Glorious throughout: the Prokofiev brought the house down! Thrilling stuff.
Tonight’s entertainment. Expecting laugh-o-meter needle to hit the red.
Afternoon out at Pinafore.
