December again. For some years, I've posted recommendations for recent BluRay/DVD releases, CDs and books that might be of use for anyone wondering what Christmas gifts to buy. (I find choosing presents very difficult, so am myself always open to ideas from friends.) So here we go once more. I hope some of the suggestions … Continue reading Movies, music and books for Christmas – and beyond…
I’ve generally been more admiring of Alan Bennett’s books and his writing for television (particularly the superb Talking Heads monologues) than of the films either adapted from his plays or based, in the case of A Private Function, on an original screenplay. Still, I’ve counted myself a Bennett fan since first encountering him in the … Continue reading Singing of Love and War: Alan Bennett’s The Choral
Many years ago – in the late 1980s or early 90s – my friend Tony Benn (no, not the politician, but a painter with good taste in music) marked my birthday by giving me a then recently released album entitled Arbos. It was my first encounter with the music of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, … Continue reading Winds from the East: five fine new musical delights
Around three months ago, I wrote about what to me seemed a fairly transformative experience of joining a local choir to sing some music by Brahms. I certainly don’t intend to post a blog after every concert I take part in – this will probably be the last – but in the hope of encouraging … Continue reading Singing Beethoven (or how to have fun)
With the perhaps partial exception of my best-of-the-year lists, my writing here has always been about what other people have done – filmmakers, musicians, artists, photographers, writers – rather than about myself. For once, however, I am going to deal with my own actions, simply because I’d like to encourage anyone out there who’s considering … Continue reading Singing Brahms (and how to survive)
There was, quite simply, no way I would willingly miss catching Festen, the new opera – based on Thomas Vinterberg’s 1998 Dogma film of the same name – by Mark-Anthony Turnage. Besides the movie connection, it offers an extraordinary cast, a dependably excellent conductor (Ed Gardner) and an acclaimed director (Richard Jones). And even though … Continue reading From screen to opera stage: the new Festen
I’ve been posting my ‘best of the year’ lists since I first started writing here in 2016, and on each occasion I felt a need to mention in passing the state of the UK and of the world. Well, we may have got rid of the wretched Tories, but what with Trump, Musk et al, … Continue reading My Best Movies, Music, Books, etc, in 2024
So it's December again. For quite a few years now I've posted recommendations for recent BluRay/DVD releases, CDs and books that might prove useful for anyone wondering what to buy as gifts for Christmas; they appear to have been popular, so here we go again. (I myself find choosing presents enormously difficult, so I’m always … Continue reading Movies, Music and Books for Christmas… and Beyond
For some years now I have been a regular attendee at concerts by the estimable Nash Ensemble, chamber ensemble in residence at London’s Wigmore Hall; their themed seasons of programmes are consistently intelligent, wide-ranging and illuminating, the level of musicianship dependably excellent. At one such concert, in November 2018, I was intrigued to see, sitting … Continue reading Viola, viola (II): the remarkable Timothy Ridout
As you may be aware, I’ve posted my personal ‘best of the year’ lists ever since I started writing here in 2016, and each time I’ve felt moved to mention the parlous state both of the UK and of the world in general. This last year saw no improvement on either front, which means that … Continue reading My best movies, music, books, etc, of 2023
notes and observations by Geoff Andrew 