Xmas presents...

If you fancy giving a signed copy of one of my novels as an Xmas present, I can do 'em. Paperbacks of all four available, plus the Hungarian Dances CD and hardbacks of 'Rites of Spring'. Email me for details or tweet to @jessicaduchen ...

Opera & Ballet: The Odd Couple

My piece in today's Indy about the rapprochement of these two arts...
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/features/ballet-and-opera--the-odd-couple-1823711.html

ROH Tristan: the reckoning

I was bowled over and out by the ROH's new Tristan und Isolde the other day. Read about it here: http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/2288

Magnum opera

Mad props to The Independent which has included my blog in its 25 best music websites roundup today (but without a link!). And a couple of interesting things I spotted at the Royal Opera House last night. More about the performance of Tristan a bit later, when I have managed to get back down from the ceiling. http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/2287

Beethoven didn't write Fur Elise!

Well, not entirely... http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/2283

In this month's Standpoint Magazine...

...my column is about what has become of the 'Russian school' since the fall of communism. Link via my blogpost here: http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/2260/.

Ebene Forever!

Ebene Quartet scoops Record of the Year at Classic FM Gramophone Awards. Nice one! http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/2255

Speaking of Talks...

I'm giving a talk/reading re Songs of Triumphant Love at East Sheen Library on Thursday evening. Do come along if you can. 7pm for 7.30pm, 1 min from Mortlake Station (SW Trains from Waterloo). East Sheen Library, Sheen Lane Centre, Sheen Lane, London SW14. Love and hugs to all attendees.

The joy of Joyce

My interview with Joyce DiDonato is in today's Independent: http://bit.ly/wUjkW.

JDCMB wins a badge!

We're in another list of the 100 best blogs, this time courtesy of The Daily Reviewer. They kindly sent me a badge - see left! :-)

Divas drop out of NY, but...

...they should just see their replacements, and so should the audiences... http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/2025

Piano Competitions: Return to the Dark Side

Priceless and explosive material in the New York Times today...