Happy birthday, Erich!

It's Korngold's birthday! He'd have been 113. To celebrate, here he is...conducting Johann Strauss. Enjoy! http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3109

Fun and Games with Opera and Footy

Ooh! Pro-and-contra-opera arguments in full force at The Guardian today. Here's my take on it... http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3107

Saving Faust

A link to my column in Standpoint's June edition, which is a cut back version of the talk on musical Fausts I gave last month. Plus a little more about other cutbacks... http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3104

Two good reasons to hear 'Visions de l'Amen'

A brief post, as am still mildly anaesthetised. RIP Yvonne Loriod; culture sec Jeremy Hunt says some apparently good things; and we hear Loriod & Messiaen play part of 'Visions de l'Amen' in the hope that he (JH) actually meant them. http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3037

Lara's Gift

BBC Young Musician of 2010 is the adorable Lara Omeroglu. http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3033

Foraging around Faure

I've just been in Paris for two days recording some programmes on Faure for R3's Composer of the Week series...more here, with pics, and a song from Veronique Gens. http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3026

How Schumann's madness changed history...

Includes link to my Standpoint May edition printed article on this little topic, plus Youtube of Menuhin playing the Violin Concerto slow movement. http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3014

In case you're wondering

I've turned JDCMB purple because it is traditionally the colour associated with suffrage suffering, so to speak. Following the "election" there's a movement to show the strong groundswell here in favour of electoral reform, notably the end of the first-past-the-post election system in favour of proportional representation, and this afternoon there's a demo to this effect in Trafalgar Square for which people are being encouraged to wear purple. I can't go, but I'm wearing purple anyway and so is this blog! (Unfortunately I can't change anything myself in my Standpoint blog design, but I would if I could...)

Music While U Wait

While we wait for the election result, here are two great musicians to meet and hug: my interviews with Juan Diego Florez for the Indy & Gil Shaham for the JC http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3011

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I TRIED TO VOTE

THIS IS NOT A JOKE. http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3010

Never Forget...

...Mrs Pankhurst. Get out there tomorrow and damn-well vote. http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3005

'Out of a Grave'

How the director of Haiti's music school survived the earthquake, and how you can help: http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3003

I'm Talking About Faust...

...tonight at the RFH, for the LPO. Do join us. http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3001