Two Thomases and Tabakova: three new musical delights

Back in the 1990s, when I was film editor at Time Out, the magazine’s classical music critic suggested, at one of our weekly editorial meetings, that he interview an eminent British composer. I can no longer recall whether the proposal was to mark a new composition or a significant anniversary, but I vividly remember the … Continue reading Two Thomases and Tabakova: three new musical delights

Brighteners for ‘Blue Monday’: a dozen sources of pleasure

Last week a friend alerted me to the imminence of ‘Blue Monday’ – the third Monday of January, believed by some to be the most depressing day of the year. With the current state of uncertainty, that’s an even more dubious superstition than it has been in the past, but since I fully accept that … Continue reading Brighteners for ‘Blue Monday’: a dozen sources of pleasure

Viola, Viola (and the Wigmore): new music for troubled times

Last week was a pretty good week for me, musically – quite possibly the best I’ve had since the one that ran from Friday 28 February to Thursday 5 March, which was my last week of live concerts. (For the record, and partly to remind myself because it now feels so long ago, I squeezed … Continue reading Viola, Viola (and the Wigmore): new music for troubled times