Charles T. Downey
@ionarts.bsky.social
Associate Editor and Lead Critic, Washington Classical Review; Founder of Ionarts; Ph.D. in Historical Musicology; Classical Music Fiend; Opera Addict; Baroqueux agréable and Public Musicologist (all views expressed are my own, not those of my employers)
Pinned
As a follow-up to the latest bad news, a reminder from Oreo to nap for 16 hours of every day
Pray I don't alter the deal any further
November 10, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Pray I don't alter the deal any further
Please help her find her son if you can - worst nightmare for every parent (of an autistic child, but really anyone)
Mother pleads for help finding missing 12-year-old-son in Southeast DC
Mother pleads for help finding missing 12-year-old-son in Southeast DC
A Southeast D.C. mother is asking for the public’s help in finding her 12-year-old son, who went missing Sunday morning after leaving home to walk the family dog.
wtop.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Please help her find her son if you can - worst nightmare for every parent (of an autistic child, but really anyone)
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
Mother pleads for help finding missing 12-year-old-son in Southeast DC
Mother pleads for help finding missing 12-year-old-son in Southeast DC
A Southeast D.C. mother is asking for the public’s help in finding her 12-year-old son, who went missing Sunday morning after leaving home to walk the family dog.
wtop.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Mother pleads for help finding missing 12-year-old-son in Southeast DC
(quotation voice) "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. 'Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone', he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had'."
They are probably going to have to read it pretty loud.
November 10, 2025 at 1:00 AM
(quotation voice) "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. 'Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone', he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had'."
Lovely to end the day with Stile Antico singing intensely devotional Renaissance polyphony, presented mostly in candlelight by Dumbarton Concerts at Dumbarton UMC in Georgetown
November 10, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Lovely to end the day with Stile Antico singing intensely devotional Renaissance polyphony, presented mostly in candlelight by Dumbarton Concerts at Dumbarton UMC in Georgetown
At St Patrick in the City today, for the feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran, we sang Bruckner's Locus Iste and Saint-Saëns' Quam dilecta, and the organist played Messiaen's Apparition de l'Eglise éternelle as a prelude
November 9, 2025 at 9:04 PM
At St Patrick in the City today, for the feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran, we sang Bruckner's Locus Iste and Saint-Saëns' Quam dilecta, and the organist played Messiaen's Apparition de l'Eglise éternelle as a prelude
Update on the Guardian article about Washington National Opera, featuring some shocking quotes from Francesca Zambello: as heard on NPR, the Kennedy Center has responded to the article to say that the idea that WNO is considering leaving the KC is false www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Washington National Opera may move out of Kennedy Center due to Trump ‘takeover’
Ticket sales at about 40% unsold compared with before president made himself chair of US performing arts center
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Update on the Guardian article about Washington National Opera, featuring some shocking quotes from Francesca Zambello: as heard on NPR, the Kennedy Center has responded to the article to say that the idea that WNO is considering leaving the KC is false www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Ric Grenell reportedly "conducted" the NSO last night in its now-mandatory performance of the National Anthem - and is offering donors the chance to pay to do the same www.facebook.com/watch/?v=815...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Ric Grenell reportedly "conducted" the NSO last night in its now-mandatory performance of the National Anthem - and is offering donors the chance to pay to do the same www.facebook.com/watch/?v=815...
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
oh noooo lolol
November 9, 2025 at 5:27 PM
oh noooo lolol
“I like to be chic,” he said. “I go to school like this.”
Loving today's news that the mysterious "fedora man" outside the Louvre heist was actually a 15-year-old museum visitor who dresses like a 1940s French detective all the time, just because. apnews.com/article/louv...
Fedora man unmasked: Meet the teen behind the Louvre mystery photo
Fifteen-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux has become an internet sensation after an Associated Press photo captured him outside the Louvre on the day of a crown jewels heist.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:27 PM
“I like to be chic,” he said. “I go to school like this.”
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
In another era, ICE raids would be described as persecution of Catholics.
November 9, 2025 at 2:04 AM
In another era, ICE raids would be described as persecution of Catholics.
GO GREEN
FINAL: No. 21 MSU 69, No. 15 Arkansas 66
November 9, 2025 at 2:32 AM
GO GREEN
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
Recent celebratory concerts dedicated to the two composers Arvo Pärt and Terry Riley have been sites “not of reverence but of restless rediscovery,” Alex Ross writes. “Both retain the power to make the familiar strange.” https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/8foDqy
At Ninety, Arvo Pärt and Terry Riley Still Sound Vital
Both composers remain intriguing outliers, notable for the stubbornness with which they have held to their youthful convictions.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Recent celebratory concerts dedicated to the two composers Arvo Pärt and Terry Riley have been sites “not of reverence but of restless rediscovery,” Alex Ross writes. “Both retain the power to make the familiar strange.” https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/8foDqy
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
A year ago I saw Le Samouraï (1967) for the first time, in 4K on the big screen — what a movie. Stunning visuals and sound, and of course, with Delon impossibly cool
(📷: classiq.me/style-in-fil...)
(📷: classiq.me/style-in-fil...)
November 8, 2025 at 4:40 PM
A year ago I saw Le Samouraï (1967) for the first time, in 4K on the big screen — what a movie. Stunning visuals and sound, and of course, with Delon impossibly cool
(📷: classiq.me/style-in-fil...)
(📷: classiq.me/style-in-fil...)
After my Saturday morning walk to the Brookland Farmers Market, I can declare that l’été de la Saint-Martin has arrived in Washington, D.C.
It'll be warm this weekend! Mostly sunny today and mid-60s to near 70. Similar temperatures Sunday but some showers, too. Wintry to start the work week. Forecast details at: www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...
CWG Live updates: Warm this weekend, then a big chill early week
We go from an early autumn feel to more like winter over the next few days.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
After my Saturday morning walk to the Brookland Farmers Market, I can declare that l’été de la Saint-Martin has arrived in Washington, D.C.
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
oh so these people do pay attention to who politicians follow on social media, they just don’t care that the vice president follows a bunch of actual neo-nazis
Axios tried to bust James Talarico for following adult content creators on Instagram and I'm genuinely impressed by his campaign's response
November 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM
oh so these people do pay attention to who politicians follow on social media, they just don’t care that the vice president follows a bunch of actual neo-nazis
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
Did someone say brewery + playground in DC??? And it’s extremely bike friendly being off anacostia river trail east bank???
Atlas Brew Works new flagship location a 1/4 mile from the Anacostia Metro and across the Douglass Bridge from Navy Yard opens to the public tomorrow at 11a
Massive at 24K SF, with Andy’s Pizza’s 13th location (free slice w/ pint this wknd). Huge patio +playground!) opens spring
Massive at 24K SF, with Andy’s Pizza’s 13th location (free slice w/ pint this wknd). Huge patio +playground!) opens spring
November 8, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Did someone say brewery + playground in DC??? And it’s extremely bike friendly being off anacostia river trail east bank???
Saturday plans: Wagner's "Parsifal" from the Bayreuth Festival; Pablo Heras-Casado conducting cast led by Andreas Schager, Michael Volle, Georg Zeppenfeld and Ekaterina Gubanova (November 8, 1 p.m.) weta.org/fm/features/...
Parsifal
Inspired by medieval legend, Parsifal is a deeply symbolic and spiritual opera, based on the medieval legend of the Holy Grail and the Knight Parsifal, and the healing power of the Holy Spear. A recor...
weta.org
November 8, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Saturday plans: Wagner's "Parsifal" from the Bayreuth Festival; Pablo Heras-Casado conducting cast led by Andreas Schager, Michael Volle, Georg Zeppenfeld and Ekaterina Gubanova (November 8, 1 p.m.) weta.org/fm/features/...
Holy cow - there is so much in this article, most of it stated, on the record, by Francesca Zambello herself www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Washington National Opera may move out of Kennedy Center due to Trump ‘takeover’
Ticket sales at about 40% unsold compared with before president made himself chair of US performing arts center
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Holy cow - there is so much in this article, most of it stated, on the record, by Francesca Zambello herself www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
When you are a member of the wealthy and corrupt ruling class and also a dork
November 8, 2025 at 12:34 PM
When you are a member of the wealthy and corrupt ruling class and also a dork
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
If you believe either that Franklin discovered the double helix, and / or Watson and Crick stole her data, ask yourself how you know this. Then take a read of this article.
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:32 AM
If you believe either that Franklin discovered the double helix, and / or Watson and Crick stole her data, ask yourself how you know this. Then take a read of this article.
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
Une toile de 106 mètres abrite plus de 110 000 araignées
Une toile de 106 mètres abrite plus de 110 000 araignées
Une équipe de scientifiques a découvert dans une grotte entre la Grèce et l’Albanie, baptisée la « grotte de sulfure », une toile géante mesurant 106 mètres carrés.
www.lemonde.fr
November 8, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Une toile de 106 mètres abrite plus de 110 000 araignées
Nice summation (and good selection of photos) of the situation of the Kennedy Center, with some comments from people on the inside, from the New York Times coming in the weekend print edition www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
The Kennedy Center Crackup
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Nice summation (and good selection of photos) of the situation of the Kennedy Center, with some comments from people on the inside, from the New York Times coming in the weekend print edition www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
A man collapsed in the Oval Office yesterday. The internet got the story wrong.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
A man collapsed in the Oval Office. The internet got the story wrong.
A case study in how bad information can spread — and how hard it is to correct it.
dandiamond.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
A man collapsed in the Oval Office yesterday. The internet got the story wrong.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.