I shall make a flying visit on 23rd as I'm due back in Surrey 25th but then back again to Norwich 31st - madness!!!!

Sadly not 😕 there's a v short late night with Dowland and Purcell but that's all. We'll all have to get over to Norwich for their festival www.dowland400.co.uk

Britain as a global financial superpower: The UK’s 2027 G20 Presidency is a historic opportunity to fix the system UK’s 2027 G20 Presidency offers a rare chance to fix systemic imbalances at little cost.

Developing countries lose billions annually through debt payments and tax avoidance.

The UK has a unique influence over finance and could make the most of the 2027 G7 presidency to fix a broken system. @mariafinnerty.bsky.social for the @brettonwoodsproject.org. ⤵️

https://bit.ly/4srYRSf

Also tix are only £10 👍

Gianni Schicchi (or Where There’s a Will) at Mayflower Studios, Southampton Read our review of Gianni Schicchi (or Where There’s a Will) review at Mayflower Studios, Southampton: zesty modern rewrite of Puccini’s one-act comedy

So many companies promise to change how we do opera, to transform it for our time.
@operaupclose
are actually doing it - and brilliantly - with their "company of storytellers" philosophy and a fab new Gianni Schicchi: www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/gian...

Coming up this weekend! Steven Devine and I will be performing as part of the Plumstead Peculiars concert series, a recital of music by Saint-Saëns, Rossini, Weber and Franz Strauss.

More information here: https://www.plumstead-peculiars.com/concerts/20260222

This doesn't work well on a phone, couldn't even click to answer the 1st question.

There were enough reasons to never, ever use generative AI from day one—environmental damage and plagiarism-on-demand alone; stop treating it like it’s your assistant, your confidante, your plaything, seriously, STOP—but if you need a political reason to help you quit, a compelling one just dropped:

Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio) YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen

The Boss is singing about ICE on the Streets of Minneapolis.
You won't hear this played at the Kennedy Center or on Fox News.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWKS...

Oops! If your library might be interested, it's here
www.areditions.com/lusitano-com...

A photograph from 2020 tweeted by Alice H. Jones of a protest placard she made bearing the names of Black composers, the first of which is Vicente Lusitano (1520 - c.1561).

The cover of Vicente Lusitano, Complete Works, edited by Joseph McHardy and Arne Spohr, published by A-R Editions

From seeing a name on a placard to transcribing and co-editing the complete works! Proud and grateful to have played a part in bringing the works of the first composer racialised as Black to publish music in Europe to a modern scholarly edition.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? | Lady Gaga Original YouTube video by Rocket

Lady Gaga has put out a gorgeous anthem for Minneapolis.
youtu.be/e3o5FIXoK84?...

What is the best tempo marking

Short notice: I've room for an alto, tenor and bass on a choral weekend in Stroud Feb 20-22. Fab music by Victoria, Joanna Marsh, a 3-choir 17th cent Benevoli mass and a silliness by Vecchi. I Fagiolini Friends event but open to anyone at this stage.
www.hawkwoodcollege.co.uk/our-programm...

Amazingly our @siglodeorovocal.bsky.social fundraiser has made it past £10k. We're now at 82% of our target and would be very grateful for any support. All pledges are doubled by Creative Scotland until tomorrow morning.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hey-for-ch...

Have you read Mark Carneys speech?! Woahhhh, strong and inspiring 🍁 (wonder what Keir S will come up with?!)

Cannot imagine what will happen next... 🙄

It was a fun concert to hear live, so would be a fab CD to own and replay each year!!

New year, new music! 🎵💿

It's January, which means it’s time for an LSO Live CD sale!

Head to the LSO Live website to explore select titles with up to 20% off, available until Saturday 31 January: https://bit.ly/4p9djg9

Calendar from 1496

Here's an easy New Year's Resolution: mark your calendar for the 2026 Little Missenden Festival 2-11 October

Looking forward to a final burst of performance before settling down to church liturgy music 🎶😂

A parishioner from Reading prays during a pilgrimage. "Loving God, wash away our desires for worthless things. Help us to see what is truly important and to know that you are always with us. Amen."

This time of year can seem excessively commercialised, but today's readings remind us of what truly matters.

Reflect with us on supporting one another and making the world a better place. ⤵️

https://cafod.org.uk/pray/advent-calendar/20-december

Oo, @siglodeorovocal.bsky.social @patrickallies.bsky.social on the radio @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social 🎶🎉😍

Our partners from Caritas Odesa have shared their beautiful version of the popular Ukrainian hymn 'Бог ся рождає' or 'God is Born' in preparation for Christmas.

Learn more about our work in Ukraine. ⤵️

https://cafod.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/ukraine

News was flying around our parish office (Gfd) & spreading to congregation gathered at parishioner's Requiem this morning 😝 now wondering who'll be our next bishop 😇🙏

Yay, on the way to @londiniumchoir.bsky.social concert 🎉 train delayed of course, but I caught the earlier one which was also delayed (if you see what I mean 😝)

Absolutely gorgeous ❤️

In the first of four videos from Bellot Ensemble's ‘Cupid’s Ground Bass’, tenor Kieran White is joined by Daniel Murphy (theorbo) in performing Monteverdi's ‘Oblivion soave’.

Made possible by a Continuo grant ⭐
Watch now 📽️ go.continuoconnect.com/bellot-ensemble-montever...

Hear the rarely performed comic opera after Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, FALSTAFF! And don't forget there's homemade foccacia 😋

📅 29-30 November
📌 Heath Street Baptist Church, London NW3
ℹ️ https://go.continuoconnect.com/baroquestock
⭐ Supported by a grant from Continuo Foundation