Christian Hoskins
@aquilanebula.bsky.social
Public transport specialist, reviewer for Gramophone, occasional traveller & photographer.
Christmas tree delivery to St Paul's Cathedral.
November 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Christmas tree delivery to St Paul's Cathedral.
St Paul's Cathedral earlier today.
November 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
St Paul's Cathedral earlier today.
Korngold was just 15 when he completed his Sinfonietta, an impressive four movement work that was premiered by Weingartner and the Vienna Philharmonic in 1913. Had a lot of pleasure reviewing this new recording by Sascha Goetzel for the November issue of Gramophone.
November 16, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Korngold was just 15 when he completed his Sinfonietta, an impressive four movement work that was premiered by Weingartner and the Vienna Philharmonic in 1913. Had a lot of pleasure reviewing this new recording by Sascha Goetzel for the November issue of Gramophone.
A fantastic Wotan too...
November 15, 2025 at 2:49 PM
A fantastic Wotan too...
Couldn't resist getting the new box of Christoph von Dohnányi's Vienna recordings. Buying direct from Decca Classics proved to be much cheaper than the usual retailers.
November 15, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Couldn't resist getting the new box of Christoph von Dohnányi's Vienna recordings. Buying direct from Decca Classics proved to be much cheaper than the usual retailers.
And who can forget Wagner's Immolation Scene?
November 15, 2025 at 8:17 AM
And who can forget Wagner's Immolation Scene?
Inside is mainly fashion stores and restaurants, but the restoration of the building is hugely impressive given the poor state of repair it was in previously.
November 14, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Inside is mainly fashion stores and restaurants, but the restoration of the building is hugely impressive given the poor state of repair it was in previously.
Belated first visit to the refurbished Battersea Power Station.
November 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Belated first visit to the refurbished Battersea Power Station.
Not bad, not bad at all.
November 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Not bad, not bad at all.
Now listening to Copland's Tender Land Suite conducted by the composer with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Probably my favourite of his many works. Aaron Copland born in New York City on this day in 1900.
November 14, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Now listening to Copland's Tender Land Suite conducted by the composer with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Probably my favourite of his many works. Aaron Copland born in New York City on this day in 1900.
Another CD I reviewed for the November issue of Gramophone features trumpet works performed by Tine Thing Helseth, including the fine concerto Penderecki wrote in 2015, one of his last works.
November 13, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Another CD I reviewed for the November issue of Gramophone features trumpet works performed by Tine Thing Helseth, including the fine concerto Penderecki wrote in 2015, one of his last works.
This afternoon's listening: Borodin's Symphony 2 conducted by Nikolai Golovanov. Lots of irresistible things in this symphony, not least the horn melody that opens the Andante. Alexander Borodin born in St Petersburg on this day in 1833.
November 12, 2025 at 3:11 PM
This afternoon's listening: Borodin's Symphony 2 conducted by Nikolai Golovanov. Lots of irresistible things in this symphony, not least the horn melody that opens the Andante. Alexander Borodin born in St Petersburg on this day in 1833.
Arnold Schoenberg I should think.
November 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Arnold Schoenberg I should think.
Herbert von Karajan doing a splendid Mike Mercury impression there.
November 9, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Herbert von Karajan doing a splendid Mike Mercury impression there.
Reviewed Gerd Schaller's recording of Bruckner 8 for the November issue of Gramophone. Releases of the composer have reduced significantly since the bicentenary last year. This is one of the swiftest versions of the symphony on record, but a very impressive interpretation magnificently played.
November 9, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reviewed Gerd Schaller's recording of Bruckner 8 for the November issue of Gramophone. Releases of the composer have reduced significantly since the bicentenary last year. This is one of the swiftest versions of the symphony on record, but a very impressive interpretation magnificently played.
Pumpkin leaves with dewdrops.
November 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Pumpkin leaves with dewdrops.
Autumn colours in Osterley Park.
November 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Autumn colours in Osterley Park.
Visited Osterley House yesterday, a National Trust property in west London. This is the Long Gallery. Not too busy on this November afternoon.
November 9, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Visited Osterley House yesterday, a National Trust property in west London. This is the Long Gallery. Not too busy on this November afternoon.
Today my wife of five years passed the Life in the UK test, featuring lots of questions about British life that I as a native-born citizen would've struggled to answer. Next, a fourth and final application to the Home Office to be made to continue our life together costing £3,029.
November 8, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Today my wife of five years passed the Life in the UK test, featuring lots of questions about British life that I as a native-born citizen would've struggled to answer. Next, a fourth and final application to the Home Office to be made to continue our life together costing £3,029.
Now listening to Alwyn's Symphony 5, his last major work. Recordings by David Lloyd-Jones and the composer on the player this afternoon. William Alwyn born in Northampton on this day in 1905.
November 7, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Now listening to Alwyn's Symphony 5, his last major work. Recordings by David Lloyd-Jones and the composer on the player this afternoon. William Alwyn born in Northampton on this day in 1905.
Just saw this in an estate agent's window while waiting for a bus in South Kensington:
November 6, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Just saw this in an estate agent's window while waiting for a bus in South Kensington:
Film composer, conductor, bandleader and trumpeter John Barry was born in York on this day in 1933. He was also a classical fan, choosing Mahler 9 in both of his appearances on Desert Island Discs in 1967 and 1999. You can see his choices and hear the interview here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
November 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Film composer, conductor, bandleader and trumpeter John Barry was born in York on this day in 1933. He was also a classical fan, choosing Mahler 9 in both of his appearances on Desert Island Discs in 1967 and 1999. You can see his choices and hear the interview here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
Now listening to Shostakovich's Violin Concerto 2 performed by Lydia Mordkovitch and Neeme Järvi. Music as gloomy as the sky on this November afternoon. An absolutely indespensible recording.
November 3, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Now listening to Shostakovich's Violin Concerto 2 performed by Lydia Mordkovitch and Neeme Järvi. Music as gloomy as the sky on this November afternoon. An absolutely indespensible recording.
New to the collection: Malcolm Sargent's recordings for Decca made between 1945 and 1965 on 16 CDs, including Bartók, Beethoven, Handel, Holst, Rawsthorne, Tchaikovsky, Schubert and Gilbert & Sullivan.
November 1, 2025 at 3:08 PM
New to the collection: Malcolm Sargent's recordings for Decca made between 1945 and 1965 on 16 CDs, including Bartók, Beethoven, Handel, Holst, Rawsthorne, Tchaikovsky, Schubert and Gilbert & Sullivan.
Howard Hanson was born in Nebraska on this day in 1896. Although the Violin Concerto is probably his best known work, the warm and stirring Third Symphony is perhaps his finest piece (one of seven symphonies written over a span of more than half a century).
October 28, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Howard Hanson was born in Nebraska on this day in 1896. Although the Violin Concerto is probably his best known work, the warm and stirring Third Symphony is perhaps his finest piece (one of seven symphonies written over a span of more than half a century).