Christian Hoskins
@aquilanebula.bsky.social
Public transport specialist, reviewer for Gramophone, occasional traveller & photographer.
Moving home. Some of the CD box sets ready for the move.
February 1, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Moving home. Some of the CD box sets ready for the move.
Looking west over the Bedfordshire countryside from Whipsnade Zoo with some Patagonian maras munching grass in the foreground.
January 24, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Looking west over the Bedfordshire countryside from Whipsnade Zoo with some Patagonian maras munching grass in the foreground.
A 24 day old white rhino calf at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire.
January 24, 2026 at 6:05 PM
A 24 day old white rhino calf at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire.
Reposted by Christian Hoskins
Not for the first time, it looks like Channel 4 just handed the keys to their socials to an evil genius:
January 19, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Not for the first time, it looks like Channel 4 just handed the keys to their socials to an evil genius:
Watched "The Battle of Algiers" after not having seen it for many years. The first time I saw the film I found it stunning, partly through being unfamiliar with the terrible 1950s events it depicts. Even now, it remains enormously impressive and disturbing, a must-see film.
January 18, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Watched "The Battle of Algiers" after not having seen it for many years. The first time I saw the film I found it stunning, partly through being unfamiliar with the terrible 1950s events it depicts. Even now, it remains enormously impressive and disturbing, a must-see film.
Simon Rattle, the LSO and the cast of Janáček's Věc Makropulos at the Barbican this evening. A tremendous performance, intensely moving at the end.
January 15, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Simon Rattle, the LSO and the cast of Janáček's Věc Makropulos at the Barbican this evening. A tremendous performance, intensely moving at the end.
At the Barbican for a bit of Janáček conducted by Simon Rattle:
January 15, 2026 at 6:41 PM
At the Barbican for a bit of Janáček conducted by Simon Rattle:
Reposted by Christian Hoskins
Politicians: don't use AI to make your maps.
January 14, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Politicians: don't use AI to make your maps.
Had the pleasure of reviewing Kirill Petrenko's recording of Brahms 1 for the January issue of Gramophone. Not a performance that combusts in the manner of Abendroth or even Abbado, but one that's wonderfully played by the Berlin Phil.
January 14, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Had the pleasure of reviewing Kirill Petrenko's recording of Brahms 1 for the January issue of Gramophone. Not a performance that combusts in the manner of Abendroth or even Abbado, but one that's wonderfully played by the Berlin Phil.
Reposted by Christian Hoskins
Visiting the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford yesterday, which houses a collection of surpassing breadth and magnificence. Visitor numbers are only a fraction of those of the British Museum, which makes viewing the exhibits a lot more relaxed and pleasurable.
January 5, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Visiting the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford yesterday, which houses a collection of surpassing breadth and magnificence. Visitor numbers are only a fraction of those of the British Museum, which makes viewing the exhibits a lot more relaxed and pleasurable.
View of Oxford in the winter sunshine from the tower of the University Church (built in 1280).
January 4, 2026 at 7:44 PM
View of Oxford in the winter sunshine from the tower of the University Church (built in 1280).
Radcliffe Square in Oxford this afternoon, looking towards the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.
January 4, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Radcliffe Square in Oxford this afternoon, looking towards the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.
Now listening to Tippett's Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli conducted by the composer. It's been a long time since I last played this and I'd forgotten how beautiful and intensely moving it is. Michael Tippett born on this day in 1905.
January 2, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Now listening to Tippett's Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli conducted by the composer. It's been a long time since I last played this and I'd forgotten how beautiful and intensely moving it is. Michael Tippett born on this day in 1905.
Reposted by Christian Hoskins
#NowSpinning Karajan’s studio Mahler 9. This is the last in the 1970s section of his massive complete DG box. By the end of this I will be 182 discs into the box, which contains 356. So only just pat the half way point, with all of the Opera and 1980s recordings to go.
January 2, 2026 at 2:30 PM
#NowSpinning Karajan’s studio Mahler 9. This is the last in the 1970s section of his massive complete DG box. By the end of this I will be 182 discs into the box, which contains 356. So only just pat the half way point, with all of the Opera and 1980s recordings to go.
Now listening to Ullmann's remarkable chamber opera Der Kaiser von Atlantis, which he composed in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Viktor Ullmann born on this day in 1898.
January 1, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Now listening to Ullmann's remarkable chamber opera Der Kaiser von Atlantis, which he composed in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Viktor Ullmann born on this day in 1898.
New Year's Eve fireworks over the London Eye viewed from west London.
January 1, 2026 at 1:32 AM
New Year's Eve fireworks over the London Eye viewed from west London.
Waiting for 2025 to end.
December 31, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Waiting for 2025 to end.
Now listening to Moeran's In the Mountain Country conducted by JoAnn Falletta. Ernest John Moeran born in Heston, Middlesex (now part of London) on this day in 1894.
December 31, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Now listening to Moeran's In the Mountain Country conducted by JoAnn Falletta. Ernest John Moeran born in Heston, Middlesex (now part of London) on this day in 1894.
Reposted by Christian Hoskins
how all youtube ads sound to me
December 30, 2025 at 10:27 AM
how all youtube ads sound to me
Ein Heldenleben? Again?
December 30, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Ein Heldenleben? Again?
Recently discovered "The Expanse" on Amazon Prime, which first appeared a decade ago and which I was previously unaware of for some reason. Just finished season 4 and finding it compulsive viewing. What TV series are you all watching at the moment?
December 28, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Recently discovered "The Expanse" on Amazon Prime, which first appeared a decade ago and which I was previously unaware of for some reason. Just finished season 4 and finding it compulsive viewing. What TV series are you all watching at the moment?
Now listening to Praetorius's Lutheran Mass for Chrisrmas Morning, as it might have been celebrated around 1620. Recorded in Roskilde Cathedral in Denmark, this is a wonderful album.
December 25, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Now listening to Praetorius's Lutheran Mass for Chrisrmas Morning, as it might have been celebrated around 1620. Recorded in Roskilde Cathedral in Denmark, this is a wonderful album.
Now listening to Waxman's Suite from Sunset Boulevard, for which he won the first of his two Academy Awards. One of the many outstanding performances in this box of film music conducted by Charles Gerhardt. Franz Waxman born in Upper Silesia on this day in 1906.
December 24, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Now listening to Waxman's Suite from Sunset Boulevard, for which he won the first of his two Academy Awards. One of the many outstanding performances in this box of film music conducted by Charles Gerhardt. Franz Waxman born in Upper Silesia on this day in 1906.
Took my daughter Isolde to see the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker in Essex, used by the UK government between 1953 and 1992. A fascinating place, absolutely enormous, each room featuring a different musty aroma. We were the only ones there, more sensible people busy with Christmas shopping.
December 23, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Took my daughter Isolde to see the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker in Essex, used by the UK government between 1953 and 1992. A fascinating place, absolutely enormous, each room featuring a different musty aroma. We were the only ones there, more sensible people busy with Christmas shopping.