The Symphonist
@deeplyclassical.bsky.social
Passionate symphony lover. Other music is good too.
Pinned
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). Peter Grimes, the Serenade and War Requiem are among my all time favourite works. This year I'm going to try to listen to every Britten piece, in the order he wrote them. Why not join me? #TheCompleteBritten
Reposted by The Symphonist
A tiny handful of actors create roles so indelibly that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else ever having got near being cast. Thelma Ritter did it time and again. She’s glorious as Doris Day’s hard-drinking housekeeper in Pillow Talk but at her best here.
Happy Birthday!
youtu.be/GZdJ-DOn2ss?...
Happy Birthday!
youtu.be/GZdJ-DOn2ss?...
Rear Window (1954) - “An Intelligent Way To Approach Marriage…” - Film Scene
YouTube video by Connor Nathan Hough
youtu.be
February 14, 2026 at 7:52 PM
A tiny handful of actors create roles so indelibly that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else ever having got near being cast. Thelma Ritter did it time and again. She’s glorious as Doris Day’s hard-drinking housekeeper in Pillow Talk but at her best here.
Happy Birthday!
youtu.be/GZdJ-DOn2ss?...
Happy Birthday!
youtu.be/GZdJ-DOn2ss?...
Reposted by The Symphonist
Tom Cheney
New Yorker
February 10, 2014
💘
New Yorker
February 10, 2014
💘
February 14, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Tom Cheney
New Yorker
February 10, 2014
💘
New Yorker
February 10, 2014
💘
#NowWatching some Valentine's Day romance.
February 14, 2026 at 7:07 PM
#NowWatching some Valentine's Day romance.
Reposted by The Symphonist
#TheCompleteBritten #42
String Quartet in D major (1931)
Composed a decade before his official Quartet No. 1 (also in D), we hear Britten absorbing 'English' influences from his teachers at the RCM, and from the madrigals he was singing and studying at the time.
String Quartet in D major (1931)
Composed a decade before his official Quartet No. 1 (also in D), we hear Britten absorbing 'English' influences from his teachers at the RCM, and from the madrigals he was singing and studying at the time.
Benjamin Britten: String Quartet in D major (FULL)
YouTube video by Collins Classics
youtu.be
February 14, 2026 at 8:17 AM
#TheCompleteBritten #42
String Quartet in D major (1931)
Composed a decade before his official Quartet No. 1 (also in D), we hear Britten absorbing 'English' influences from his teachers at the RCM, and from the madrigals he was singing and studying at the time.
String Quartet in D major (1931)
Composed a decade before his official Quartet No. 1 (also in D), we hear Britten absorbing 'English' influences from his teachers at the RCM, and from the madrigals he was singing and studying at the time.
Reposted by The Symphonist
And the Karajan 1970 Meistersinger, at last available again! And it sounds gorgeous. I think they remastered it again (they also did a great job with the 50s Karajan Rosenkavalier recently).
February 14, 2026 at 12:56 PM
And the Karajan 1970 Meistersinger, at last available again! And it sounds gorgeous. I think they remastered it again (they also did a great job with the 50s Karajan Rosenkavalier recently).
#TheCompleteBritten #42
String Quartet in D major (1931)
Composed a decade before his official Quartet No. 1 (also in D), we hear Britten absorbing 'English' influences from his teachers at the RCM, and from the madrigals he was singing and studying at the time.
String Quartet in D major (1931)
Composed a decade before his official Quartet No. 1 (also in D), we hear Britten absorbing 'English' influences from his teachers at the RCM, and from the madrigals he was singing and studying at the time.
Benjamin Britten: String Quartet in D major (FULL)
YouTube video by Collins Classics
youtu.be
February 14, 2026 at 8:17 AM
#TheCompleteBritten #42
String Quartet in D major (1931)
Composed a decade before his official Quartet No. 1 (also in D), we hear Britten absorbing 'English' influences from his teachers at the RCM, and from the madrigals he was singing and studying at the time.
String Quartet in D major (1931)
Composed a decade before his official Quartet No. 1 (also in D), we hear Britten absorbing 'English' influences from his teachers at the RCM, and from the madrigals he was singing and studying at the time.
Reposted by The Symphonist
Happy #NewReleaseFriday! This week's symphony & orchestral #NewReleases offer a kaleidoscope of spectacular variety and colour: exuberant Alfvén and actual birdsong from Neeme Järvi, miraculous Bartók, massive Mahler, Allan Pettersson's darkness, Unsuk Chin & more!
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
February 13, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Happy #NewReleaseFriday! This week's symphony & orchestral #NewReleases offer a kaleidoscope of spectacular variety and colour: exuberant Alfvén and actual birdsong from Neeme Järvi, miraculous Bartók, massive Mahler, Allan Pettersson's darkness, Unsuk Chin & more!
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
Happy #NewReleaseFriday! This week's symphony & orchestral #NewReleases offer a kaleidoscope of spectacular variety and colour: exuberant Alfvén and actual birdsong from Neeme Järvi, miraculous Bartók, massive Mahler, Allan Pettersson's darkness, Unsuk Chin & more!
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
February 13, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Happy #NewReleaseFriday! This week's symphony & orchestral #NewReleases offer a kaleidoscope of spectacular variety and colour: exuberant Alfvén and actual birdsong from Neeme Järvi, miraculous Bartók, massive Mahler, Allan Pettersson's darkness, Unsuk Chin & more!
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
Reposted by The Symphonist
One of the maddest elements of Brexit - and there are *many* - is the rewards that continue to be lavished on the blithering idiots who sold it & continue to be proved wrong about everything every day…
Ex Tory MP John Redwood has been made a peer, as Lord Redwood on 31 January, and was formally introduced in the Lords on Tuesday
February 11, 2026 at 8:34 AM
One of the maddest elements of Brexit - and there are *many* - is the rewards that continue to be lavished on the blithering idiots who sold it & continue to be proved wrong about everything every day…
Reposted by The Symphonist
Good morning.
this video is fun. music is neat www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXOg...
Odessa Bulgarish - Balkan Paradise Orchestra
YouTube video by Balkan Paradise Orchestra
www.youtube.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:52 AM
Good morning.
Reposted by The Symphonist
Finding so many treasures in the record collection of my wonderful father-in-law who died recently, aged 90.
Lovely to find that on this recording of Holst conducting The Planets, his daughter, Imogen Holst, wrote the sleeve notes. She was also a composer.
Lovely to find that on this recording of Holst conducting The Planets, his daughter, Imogen Holst, wrote the sleeve notes. She was also a composer.
February 9, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Finding so many treasures in the record collection of my wonderful father-in-law who died recently, aged 90.
Lovely to find that on this recording of Holst conducting The Planets, his daughter, Imogen Holst, wrote the sleeve notes. She was also a composer.
Lovely to find that on this recording of Holst conducting The Planets, his daughter, Imogen Holst, wrote the sleeve notes. She was also a composer.
Reposted by The Symphonist
#TheCompleteBritten #41
12 Variations on a Theme, for piano (1931)
Britten's first piano piece at the RCM tries on a host of stylistic hats in successive variations (John Bridcut hears Satie, Hindemith and Shostakovich) and cocks a few snooks at his composition teacher Ireland's strict rules.
12 Variations on a Theme, for piano (1931)
Britten's first piano piece at the RCM tries on a host of stylistic hats in successive variations (John Bridcut hears Satie, Hindemith and Shostakovich) and cocks a few snooks at his composition teacher Ireland's strict rules.
Benjamin Britten - Twelve Variations on a Theme for Piano (1931) [Score-Video]
YouTube video by George N. Gianopoulos, composer
youtu.be
February 8, 2026 at 7:43 AM
#TheCompleteBritten #41
12 Variations on a Theme, for piano (1931)
Britten's first piano piece at the RCM tries on a host of stylistic hats in successive variations (John Bridcut hears Satie, Hindemith and Shostakovich) and cocks a few snooks at his composition teacher Ireland's strict rules.
12 Variations on a Theme, for piano (1931)
Britten's first piano piece at the RCM tries on a host of stylistic hats in successive variations (John Bridcut hears Satie, Hindemith and Shostakovich) and cocks a few snooks at his composition teacher Ireland's strict rules.
Reposted by The Symphonist
For the classical music world, the original is still the best when it comes to a Bad Bunny performing a halftime* show on Super Bowl Sunday. 🦉🏈🎵
#ClassicalMusic #BadBunny #Superbowl
youtube.com/watch?v=WqGE...
*And we’d call it ‘cut time.’
#ClassicalMusic #BadBunny #Superbowl
youtube.com/watch?v=WqGE...
*And we’d call it ‘cut time.’
Looney Tunes Classic | Rhapsody Rabbit | Boomerang Official
YouTube video by Cartoon Cartoons
youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:00 PM
For the classical music world, the original is still the best when it comes to a Bad Bunny performing a halftime* show on Super Bowl Sunday. 🦉🏈🎵
#ClassicalMusic #BadBunny #Superbowl
youtube.com/watch?v=WqGE...
*And we’d call it ‘cut time.’
#ClassicalMusic #BadBunny #Superbowl
youtube.com/watch?v=WqGE...
*And we’d call it ‘cut time.’
Reposted by The Symphonist
On 25 April, my choir will be singing the complete choral works of Thomas Tallis in one day - culminating in his stunning 40-part motet "Spem in Alium".
Do come and listen if you're in Oxford, or watch the livestream. And we'd be hugely grateful for any donations!
www.justgiving.com/campaign/tal...
Do come and listen if you're in Oxford, or watch the livestream. And we'd be hugely grateful for any donations!
www.justgiving.com/campaign/tal...
February 8, 2026 at 12:36 PM
On 25 April, my choir will be singing the complete choral works of Thomas Tallis in one day - culminating in his stunning 40-part motet "Spem in Alium".
Do come and listen if you're in Oxford, or watch the livestream. And we'd be hugely grateful for any donations!
www.justgiving.com/campaign/tal...
Do come and listen if you're in Oxford, or watch the livestream. And we'd be hugely grateful for any donations!
www.justgiving.com/campaign/tal...
Reposted by The Symphonist
John Williams, #BOTD in 1932, is a master at borrowing music phrases and themes from other composers and forging them into his own creations for his scores. One example of this alchemy is his score for E.T. (1982).
Williams turned to American composer Howard Hanson.
1/6
#filmsky #musicsky #moviesky
Williams turned to American composer Howard Hanson.
1/6
#filmsky #musicsky #moviesky
February 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by The Symphonist
My internet is down (thanks, Old Man Winter), so for John Williams' birthday (Feb 8), I'll be reposting some of my earlier threads about the great film composer.
#filmsky #moviesky #filmscores
#filmsky #moviesky #filmscores
February 8, 2026 at 5:18 AM
My internet is down (thanks, Old Man Winter), so for John Williams' birthday (Feb 8), I'll be reposting some of my earlier threads about the great film composer.
#filmsky #moviesky #filmscores
#filmsky #moviesky #filmscores
#TheCompleteBritten #41
12 Variations on a Theme, for piano (1931)
Britten's first piano piece at the RCM tries on a host of stylistic hats in successive variations (John Bridcut hears Satie, Hindemith and Shostakovich) and cocks a few snooks at his composition teacher Ireland's strict rules.
12 Variations on a Theme, for piano (1931)
Britten's first piano piece at the RCM tries on a host of stylistic hats in successive variations (John Bridcut hears Satie, Hindemith and Shostakovich) and cocks a few snooks at his composition teacher Ireland's strict rules.
Benjamin Britten - Twelve Variations on a Theme for Piano (1931) [Score-Video]
YouTube video by George N. Gianopoulos, composer
youtu.be
February 8, 2026 at 7:43 AM
#TheCompleteBritten #41
12 Variations on a Theme, for piano (1931)
Britten's first piano piece at the RCM tries on a host of stylistic hats in successive variations (John Bridcut hears Satie, Hindemith and Shostakovich) and cocks a few snooks at his composition teacher Ireland's strict rules.
12 Variations on a Theme, for piano (1931)
Britten's first piano piece at the RCM tries on a host of stylistic hats in successive variations (John Bridcut hears Satie, Hindemith and Shostakovich) and cocks a few snooks at his composition teacher Ireland's strict rules.
Reposted by The Symphonist
#TheCompleteBritten #40
Tit for Tat (1928-31, rev. 1968)
in his mid-50s, Britten gathered up and revised "very slightly" five childhood settings of Walter de la Mare. "Once or twice, when the fumblings were too obvious, the experienced middle-aged composer has come to the aid of the beginner."
Tit for Tat (1928-31, rev. 1968)
in his mid-50s, Britten gathered up and revised "very slightly" five childhood settings of Walter de la Mare. "Once or twice, when the fumblings were too obvious, the experienced middle-aged composer has come to the aid of the beginner."
John Shirley-Quirk: The complete "Tit for tat" (Britten)
YouTube video by GilPiotr
youtu.be
February 7, 2026 at 8:33 AM
#TheCompleteBritten #40
Tit for Tat (1928-31, rev. 1968)
in his mid-50s, Britten gathered up and revised "very slightly" five childhood settings of Walter de la Mare. "Once or twice, when the fumblings were too obvious, the experienced middle-aged composer has come to the aid of the beginner."
Tit for Tat (1928-31, rev. 1968)
in his mid-50s, Britten gathered up and revised "very slightly" five childhood settings of Walter de la Mare. "Once or twice, when the fumblings were too obvious, the experienced middle-aged composer has come to the aid of the beginner."
If that's not worth a boulevardier then I don't know what is.
February 7, 2026 at 7:55 PM
If that's not worth a boulevardier then I don't know what is.
#TheCompleteBritten #40
Tit for Tat (1928-31, rev. 1968)
in his mid-50s, Britten gathered up and revised "very slightly" five childhood settings of Walter de la Mare. "Once or twice, when the fumblings were too obvious, the experienced middle-aged composer has come to the aid of the beginner."
Tit for Tat (1928-31, rev. 1968)
in his mid-50s, Britten gathered up and revised "very slightly" five childhood settings of Walter de la Mare. "Once or twice, when the fumblings were too obvious, the experienced middle-aged composer has come to the aid of the beginner."
John Shirley-Quirk: The complete "Tit for tat" (Britten)
YouTube video by GilPiotr
youtu.be
February 7, 2026 at 8:33 AM
#TheCompleteBritten #40
Tit for Tat (1928-31, rev. 1968)
in his mid-50s, Britten gathered up and revised "very slightly" five childhood settings of Walter de la Mare. "Once or twice, when the fumblings were too obvious, the experienced middle-aged composer has come to the aid of the beginner."
Tit for Tat (1928-31, rev. 1968)
in his mid-50s, Britten gathered up and revised "very slightly" five childhood settings of Walter de la Mare. "Once or twice, when the fumblings were too obvious, the experienced middle-aged composer has come to the aid of the beginner."
Reposted by The Symphonist
Happy #NewReleaseFriday! This week we've got warhorses, rarer repertoire and complete unknowns, just the sort of list I like. If you like that too, then check out my playlist of the week's symphony and orchestral #NewReleases, updated every Friday.
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
February 6, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Happy #NewReleaseFriday! This week we've got warhorses, rarer repertoire and complete unknowns, just the sort of list I like. If you like that too, then check out my playlist of the week's symphony and orchestral #NewReleases, updated every Friday.
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
Happy #NewReleaseFriday! This week we've got warhorses, rarer repertoire and complete unknowns, just the sort of list I like. If you like that too, then check out my playlist of the week's symphony and orchestral #NewReleases, updated every Friday.
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
February 6, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Happy #NewReleaseFriday! This week we've got warhorses, rarer repertoire and complete unknowns, just the sort of list I like. If you like that too, then check out my playlist of the week's symphony and orchestral #NewReleases, updated every Friday.
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...
Reposted by The Symphonist
The Washington Post has only a single arts critic left - everyone else got fired today, along with all three arts editors. (There are still a couple of excellent arts reporters.) I was so upset I dusted off my blog to have my say: annemidgette.com/blog/f/a-req...
A requiem for arts coverage
I used to say I wished that newspapers would treat their arts sections the way they treated their sports sections. What I meant was that sports sections offered a balanced mix of news stories, feature...
annemidgette.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:13 PM
The Washington Post has only a single arts critic left - everyone else got fired today, along with all three arts editors. (There are still a couple of excellent arts reporters.) I was so upset I dusted off my blog to have my say: annemidgette.com/blog/f/a-req...
Just popping by to say Holy Cow! Britten's Double Concerto is fantastic and you should listen to it right now! kthxbai
February 4, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Just popping by to say Holy Cow! Britten's Double Concerto is fantastic and you should listen to it right now! kthxbai