Ariane Todes
@arianetodes.bsky.social
Classical music writer and editor. Violin geek/bore and happy amateur. Radicalised McCartneyist. Sign up to my free Elbow Music Substack for random classical music nerdery
Superb Mendelssohn from Augustin Hadelich tonight at the Proms. And the arena really is the best place to listen. Apart from the sticky floor, which squeaks loudly whenever anyone tries to unstick a foot. Which is quite often. Don’t they ever clean it?
July 24, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Superb Mendelssohn from Augustin Hadelich tonight at the Proms. And the arena really is the best place to listen. Apart from the sticky floor, which squeaks loudly whenever anyone tries to unstick a foot. Which is quite often. Don’t they ever clean it?
Just booked my ticket to see Augustin Hadelich tonight at the Proms, so I'm gratuitously reposting my interview with him. I wonder if we’ll hear him singing ‘deedle deedle, deedle-deedle, deedle deedle’…
www.elbowmusic.org/post/intervi...
www.elbowmusic.org/post/intervi...
Interview with Augustin Hadelich
The world’s busiest violinist offers his thoughts on a life in music, including how to play naturally, getting on with conductors, dealing with nerves and social media, and avoiding caffeine and sugar...
www.elbowmusic.org
July 24, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Just booked my ticket to see Augustin Hadelich tonight at the Proms, so I'm gratuitously reposting my interview with him. I wonder if we’ll hear him singing ‘deedle deedle, deedle-deedle, deedle deedle’…
www.elbowmusic.org/post/intervi...
www.elbowmusic.org/post/intervi...
Walton 1 on the radio now – one of the few symphonies that’s actually better to listen to than play, especially as enough time has passed since I played it with CCO that I can appreciate it without PTSD!
July 22, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Walton 1 on the radio now – one of the few symphonies that’s actually better to listen to than play, especially as enough time has passed since I played it with CCO that I can appreciate it without PTSD!
Reposted by Ariane Todes
‘Until the day before yesterday, string players as well as singers made use of various kinds of vibrato – faster and slower, wider and narrower. Fast vibrato seems to have become extinct.’ The string wisdom of Alfred Brendel...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/the-string...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/the-string...
The string wisdom of Alfred Brendel
The legendary pianist, who died on Tuesday, was typically insightful and frank about fashions in string playing
elbowmusic.substack.com
June 19, 2025 at 11:06 AM
‘Until the day before yesterday, string players as well as singers made use of various kinds of vibrato – faster and slower, wider and narrower. Fast vibrato seems to have become extinct.’ The string wisdom of Alfred Brendel...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/the-string...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/the-string...
‘The violin is a microscopic image rather than a playable instrument’ – ie not a violin in any sense of the word… 🤓
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Scientists at Loughborough University create 'world's smallest violin'
The violin is smaller than a human hair and has
www.bbc.co.uk
June 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
‘The violin is a microscopic image rather than a playable instrument’ – ie not a violin in any sense of the word… 🤓
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Oh my. Just got home to find Bruce Springsteen and the E Streets in Hammersmith in 1975 on TV. 😍
May 31, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Oh my. Just got home to find Bruce Springsteen and the E Streets in Hammersmith in 1975 on TV. 😍
Guess who’s got an interview with her favouritest favourite living violinist tomorrow and guess who it is??? 🤩
Clue ⬇️
Clue ⬇️
May 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Guess who’s got an interview with her favouritest favourite living violinist tomorrow and guess who it is??? 🤩
Clue ⬇️
Clue ⬇️
So frustrating to think of the amateur music projects Rattle would have created with LSO, had he come to London. 😔
May 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
So frustrating to think of the amateur music projects Rattle would have created with LSO, had he come to London. 😔
With the bad news about the closure of the Newark Violin Making School, my 2023 article on why it matters...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/news-a-ver...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/news-a-ver...
May 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
With the bad news about the closure of the Newark Violin Making School, my 2023 article on why it matters...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/news-a-ver...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/news-a-ver...
My latest for BBC Music Magazine, in which I break a classical music taboo and admit that... *whispers* sometimes I get bored in concerts. But it's okay – Bertrand Russell says so...
www.classical-music.com/articles/bor...
www.classical-music.com/articles/bor...
May 7, 2025 at 12:28 PM
My latest for BBC Music Magazine, in which I break a classical music taboo and admit that... *whispers* sometimes I get bored in concerts. But it's okay – Bertrand Russell says so...
www.classical-music.com/articles/bor...
www.classical-music.com/articles/bor...
Fascinating episode of @ppfideas.bsky.social on Rite of Spring. Superb storytelling, including about Stravinsky trying to leave after 5 minutes and getting into fisticuffs with Nijinsky. Although I’ve never heard Stravinsky described as ‘a bit of a tart’ before! 😆
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: The Rite of Spring w/Dominic Dromgoole
Podcast Episode · Past Present Future · 17/04/2025 · 47m
podcasts.apple.com
May 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Fascinating episode of @ppfideas.bsky.social on Rite of Spring. Superb storytelling, including about Stravinsky trying to leave after 5 minutes and getting into fisticuffs with Nijinsky. Although I’ve never heard Stravinsky described as ‘a bit of a tart’ before! 😆
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
If you wondered whether I completed the #100daysofpractice challenge...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/a-hundred-...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/a-hundred-...
A hundred days on
On 1 January, I committed to the #100daysofpractice challenge – so what happened next?
elbowmusic.substack.com
April 16, 2025 at 9:42 PM
If you wondered whether I completed the #100daysofpractice challenge...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/a-hundred-...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/a-hundred-...
As Heifetz reportedly said when someone complimented him on the sound of the violin after a concert, holding the instrument up to his ear: ‘I don’t hear it!’ 🤣
April 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM
As Heifetz reportedly said when someone complimented him on the sound of the violin after a concert, holding the instrument up to his ear: ‘I don’t hear it!’ 🤣
Fascinating and thorough archive Omnibus on The Great Gatsby on now, with talking heads including Christopher Hitchens, Garrison Keillor and Hunter S Thompson. And of course the theme seems very a propos…
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Four - Omnibus, The Great Gatsby: Midnight in Manhattan
A profile of F Scott Fitzgerald, author of celebrated novel The Great Gatsby. From 2000.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 3, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Fascinating and thorough archive Omnibus on The Great Gatsby on now, with talking heads including Christopher Hitchens, Garrison Keillor and Hunter S Thompson. And of course the theme seems very a propos…
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
I shall definitely be returning to Søstrene Grene… #shazam #louiskaufman
April 3, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I shall definitely be returning to Søstrene Grene… #shazam #louiskaufman
This is the angriest performance of this piece I’ve ever heard. Still love his sound and the unfussiness of it, but it’s definitely a mood.
BBC Radio 3
Breakfast
Now Playing
Johann Sebastian Bach & Paul Tortelier
Cello Suite no.3 (Bourrées)
Breakfast
Now Playing
Johann Sebastian Bach & Paul Tortelier
Cello Suite no.3 (Bourrées)
March 21, 2025 at 9:09 AM
This is the angriest performance of this piece I’ve ever heard. Still love his sound and the unfussiness of it, but it’s definitely a mood.
A good @nytimes.com Spangram for classical music nerds today… 😉
March 19, 2025 at 6:03 PM
A good @nytimes.com Spangram for classical music nerds today… 😉
⚡️Charlie Chaplin’s film music on BBC Radio 3 and Modern Times performed at London Soundtrack Festival – a good excuse to re-up my article on how his music obsession morphed from playing violin to writing lush scores.
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/charlie-ch...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/charlie-ch...
March 16, 2025 at 8:50 AM
⚡️Charlie Chaplin’s film music on BBC Radio 3 and Modern Times performed at London Soundtrack Festival – a good excuse to re-up my article on how his music obsession morphed from playing violin to writing lush scores.
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/charlie-ch...
elbowmusic.substack.com/p/charlie-ch...
Cyndi Lauper picks Debussy Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune on her (brilliant) #desertislanddiscs! Come and hear Corinthian Chamber Orchestra play it tonight with Leonard Elschenbroich at @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social!
www.sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk/book-online/
www.sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk/book-online/
Book online - Sinfonia Smith Square
www.sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk
March 14, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Cyndi Lauper picks Debussy Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune on her (brilliant) #desertislanddiscs! Come and hear Corinthian Chamber Orchestra play it tonight with Leonard Elschenbroich at @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social!
www.sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk/book-online/
www.sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk/book-online/
Been rehearsing Dvořák New World today with Corinthian Chamber Orchestra for our concert on Friday with Leonard Elschenbroich and now I can’t get rid of this earworm… 😳
youtu.be/-jYk5u9vKfA
youtu.be/-jYk5u9vKfA
Lee Marvin Wandering Star 1969 HD
YouTube video by Pimp Your Bushcraft
youtu.be
March 9, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Been rehearsing Dvořák New World today with Corinthian Chamber Orchestra for our concert on Friday with Leonard Elschenbroich and now I can’t get rid of this earworm… 😳
youtu.be/-jYk5u9vKfA
youtu.be/-jYk5u9vKfA
Why did you confiscate some food I had in my bag at entrance bag search, @hackneyempire.bsky.social? If you think it’s going to make me buy stuff at your bar, that’s deeply cynical and unsuccessful, and leaves me with a really bad feeling about your organisation.
March 1, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Why did you confiscate some food I had in my bag at entrance bag search, @hackneyempire.bsky.social? If you think it’s going to make me buy stuff at your bar, that’s deeply cynical and unsuccessful, and leaves me with a really bad feeling about your organisation.
Just asked ChatGPT for examples of the voyage and return archetype in classical music and a) blimey it’s good and b) basically every piece ever written is voyage and return anyway! 🤣
February 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Just asked ChatGPT for examples of the voyage and return archetype in classical music and a) blimey it’s good and b) basically every piece ever written is voyage and return anyway! 🤣