David Osborne
@daosborne.bsky.social
Archaeologist, Midlands4Cities PhD researcher of Bronze Age stuff @ Unis of Nottingham & Leicester. UCU & Labour member.
Husband, dad to two amazing people, classical music obsessive, son of Tyneside.
https://daosborne.github.io/
Husband, dad to two amazing people, classical music obsessive, son of Tyneside.
https://daosborne.github.io/
In Birmingham for tonight’s concert of Schumann & Stravinsky by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & Simon Rattle and picked up this flyer about UoN’s dreadful Music Dept plans. Spread the word.
November 11, 2025 at 10:41 PM
In Birmingham for tonight’s concert of Schumann & Stravinsky by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & Simon Rattle and picked up this flyer about UoN’s dreadful Music Dept plans. Spread the word.
Bought this for my wife, who was a Champion fan as a child 😊
May 20, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Bought this for my wife, who was a Champion fan as a child 😊
An entertaining talk (he said it wasn't a lecture) last night from Mick Lynch, RMT secretary-general, delivering the inaugural Agnes Flues Memorial Lecture to our local UoN UCU branch. Memories of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Agnes in blizzards on picket lines in February 2018. #solidarity
April 25, 2025 at 6:28 PM
An entertaining talk (he said it wasn't a lecture) last night from Mick Lynch, RMT secretary-general, delivering the inaugural Agnes Flues Memorial Lecture to our local UoN UCU branch. Memories of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Agnes in blizzards on picket lines in February 2018. #solidarity
I only discovered Tebaldi recently but really like these Adriana Lecouvreur and Bohème discs; the early stereo recital is from a friend and yet to be played but I’m sure I’ll fall in love!
February 21, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I only discovered Tebaldi recently but really like these Adriana Lecouvreur and Bohème discs; the early stereo recital is from a friend and yet to be played but I’m sure I’ll fall in love!
You know you’ve had a book for a long time when the bookmark you used years ago is a computer punched card — one of my undergrad textbooks, 1976.
February 21, 2025 at 4:11 PM
You know you’ve had a book for a long time when the bookmark you used years ago is a computer punched card — one of my undergrad textbooks, 1976.
Philharmonia / Klemperer
January 25, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Philharmonia / Klemperer
I’m on a blissful high after a radiant and serene performance of Vaughan Williams’ Fifth Symphony (best I’ve heard) by the LSO and Simon Rattle, part of his 70th birthday celebrations at the Barbican. Tippett’s Ritual Dances & premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Sco guitar concerto in the first half.
January 12, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I’m on a blissful high after a radiant and serene performance of Vaughan Williams’ Fifth Symphony (best I’ve heard) by the LSO and Simon Rattle, part of his 70th birthday celebrations at the Barbican. Tippett’s Ritual Dances & premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Sco guitar concerto in the first half.
In London for the weekend and in the ‘Michaelangelo, Leonardo & Raphael’ exhibition at the Royal Academy, no connection at all with #A-Haydn-a-day, you would think…
but this is the ‘Esterházy Madonna’ by Raphael, on loan from Budapest, presumably once owned by the family of Haydn’s employers.
but this is the ‘Esterházy Madonna’ by Raphael, on loan from Budapest, presumably once owned by the family of Haydn’s employers.
January 12, 2025 at 9:03 AM
In London for the weekend and in the ‘Michaelangelo, Leonardo & Raphael’ exhibition at the Royal Academy, no connection at all with #A-Haydn-a-day, you would think…
but this is the ‘Esterházy Madonna’ by Raphael, on loan from Budapest, presumably once owned by the family of Haydn’s employers.
but this is the ‘Esterházy Madonna’ by Raphael, on loan from Budapest, presumably once owned by the family of Haydn’s employers.
If #A-Haydn-a-day isn’t enough… currently listening to his Piano Trio No. 21 on this recently acquired LP — music that just smiles with delight!
January 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
If #A-Haydn-a-day isn’t enough… currently listening to his Piano Trio No. 21 on this recently acquired LP — music that just smiles with delight!
Next on my #A-Haydn-a-day catch-up list was Symphony 79, from 1784–85 and I can’t believe I forgot how good it is. Richard Wigmore writes “the most uncomplicated of a set designed […] for international consumption”. Ottavio Dantone and Nicholas McGegan and their bands are both superb in this.
January 10, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Next on my #A-Haydn-a-day catch-up list was Symphony 79, from 1784–85 and I can’t believe I forgot how good it is. Richard Wigmore writes “the most uncomplicated of a set designed […] for international consumption”. Ottavio Dantone and Nicholas McGegan and their bands are both superb in this.
Not me: I’ve sung it in the choir twice — so thrilling and life-affirming!
On record, it’s got to be Klemperer for the gravitas he brings 👍
On record, it’s got to be Klemperer for the gravitas he brings 👍
January 8, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Not me: I’ve sung it in the choir twice — so thrilling and life-affirming!
On record, it’s got to be Klemperer for the gravitas he brings 👍
On record, it’s got to be Klemperer for the gravitas he brings 👍
Next on the #A-Haydn-a-day list for me is Symphony 6, ‘Le matin’, first of the 1761 trilogy in which Haydn shows his employer, Prince Paul Esterházy, just how good his composer and orchestra are, with many solo passages for the players to shine. Shining playing from Hogwood’s & Müllejans’ players.
January 8, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Next on the #A-Haydn-a-day list for me is Symphony 6, ‘Le matin’, first of the 1761 trilogy in which Haydn shows his employer, Prince Paul Esterházy, just how good his composer and orchestra are, with many solo passages for the players to shine. Shining playing from Hogwood’s & Müllejans’ players.
Yet more catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day & Symphony 22, ‘The Philisopher’, perhaps named after the opening dialogue between pairs of horns and cors anglais, a sound so outlandish that a French edition dropped it and replaced the c.a.’s with flutes! Heroic fast horn playing in Hogwood’s recording 👏
January 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Yet more catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day & Symphony 22, ‘The Philisopher’, perhaps named after the opening dialogue between pairs of horns and cors anglais, a sound so outlandish that a French edition dropped it and replaced the c.a.’s with flutes! Heroic fast horn playing in Hogwood’s recording 👏
After a weekend of severe weather in the UK and heavy overnight rain, there’s a lot of water in fields around where we live
January 6, 2025 at 3:43 PM
After a weekend of severe weather in the UK and heavy overnight rain, there’s a lot of water in fields around where we live
If you’re interested in the music as much as the man, this old BBC Music Guide to the symphonies (I think they’re central to his output) will probably be inexpensive online (e.g., Biblio.co.uk, or Abebooks).
The Michael Kennedy book I posted earlier covers his life & all his music.
The Michael Kennedy book I posted earlier covers his life & all his music.
January 5, 2025 at 7:09 PM
If you’re interested in the music as much as the man, this old BBC Music Guide to the symphonies (I think they’re central to his output) will probably be inexpensive online (e.g., Biblio.co.uk, or Abebooks).
The Michael Kennedy book I posted earlier covers his life & all his music.
The Michael Kennedy book I posted earlier covers his life & all his music.
Still catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day & Symphony 38: so good I listened to three versions.
Another “festive “ C maj, again trumpets, drums & those fabulous high horns. Started with my trusty Dorati LPs as usual, then moved on to Pinnock. Finally, Hogwood: metallic glint of the horns shining through.
Another “festive “ C maj, again trumpets, drums & those fabulous high horns. Started with my trusty Dorati LPs as usual, then moved on to Pinnock. Finally, Hogwood: metallic glint of the horns shining through.
January 5, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Still catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day & Symphony 38: so good I listened to three versions.
Another “festive “ C maj, again trumpets, drums & those fabulous high horns. Started with my trusty Dorati LPs as usual, then moved on to Pinnock. Finally, Hogwood: metallic glint of the horns shining through.
Another “festive “ C maj, again trumpets, drums & those fabulous high horns. Started with my trusty Dorati LPs as usual, then moved on to Pinnock. Finally, Hogwood: metallic glint of the horns shining through.
Not heard of that, I’ll have to look out for it. My go-to is Michael Kennedy but if you ever find a copy of Roy Douglas’ book (OUP 1972), it’s really fascinating. He was occasional assistant to RVW (not amanuensis, unlike Fenby with Delius) from the 6th Symphony on.
January 5, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Not heard of that, I’ll have to look out for it. My go-to is Michael Kennedy but if you ever find a copy of Roy Douglas’ book (OUP 1972), it’s really fascinating. He was occasional assistant to RVW (not amanuensis, unlike Fenby with Delius) from the 6th Symphony on.
Moving briskly on with #A-Haydn-a-day and Symphony 69, another in “festive” C major with trumpets, drums & horns in C basso, much less exciting than the high horns in No.50.
Dedicated by Haydn to General Laudon, I was less inspired by this symphony, but it’s Haydn, so enjoyable all the same.
Dedicated by Haydn to General Laudon, I was less inspired by this symphony, but it’s Haydn, so enjoyable all the same.
January 5, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Moving briskly on with #A-Haydn-a-day and Symphony 69, another in “festive” C major with trumpets, drums & horns in C basso, much less exciting than the high horns in No.50.
Dedicated by Haydn to General Laudon, I was less inspired by this symphony, but it’s Haydn, so enjoyable all the same.
Dedicated by Haydn to General Laudon, I was less inspired by this symphony, but it’s Haydn, so enjoyable all the same.
More catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day and Symphony 50 in C, his “festival” key, with horns in C alto (taken by Haydn scholar Robbins Landon as his autobiography title), trumpets & drums. Likely for Empress Maria Theresa’s visit to Eszterháza in 1773. Slightly prefer Hogwood to Pinnock here.
January 5, 2025 at 5:49 PM
More catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day and Symphony 50 in C, his “festival” key, with horns in C alto (taken by Haydn scholar Robbins Landon as his autobiography title), trumpets & drums. Likely for Empress Maria Theresa’s visit to Eszterháza in 1773. Slightly prefer Hogwood to Pinnock here.
Still catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day and Symphony 60, ‘Il distratto’. After a performance in Pressburg (now Bratislava), a newspaper review said “The connoisseurs are on the one hand amazed, while on the other, the public is simply enchanted, for Hayden knows how to satisfy both parties” …me too!
January 3, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Still catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day and Symphony 60, ‘Il distratto’. After a performance in Pressburg (now Bratislava), a newspaper review said “The connoisseurs are on the one hand amazed, while on the other, the public is simply enchanted, for Hayden knows how to satisfy both parties” …me too!
It’s not twelfth night until Sunday 😉
Apropos of which, we loved Twelfth Night at the RSC in Stratford last weekend!
Apropos of which, we loved Twelfth Night at the RSC in Stratford last weekend!
January 3, 2025 at 7:38 PM
It’s not twelfth night until Sunday 😉
Apropos of which, we loved Twelfth Night at the RSC in Stratford last weekend!
Apropos of which, we loved Twelfth Night at the RSC in Stratford last weekend!
I’m no mug when it comes to spotting typos 😉
January 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I’m no mug when it comes to spotting typos 😉
More catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day and Symphony 83, ‘La Poule’, the chicken… sorry… the Hen, from the hen-like clucking figure in the first movement. I’m more familiar with Dorati’s recording but I enjoyed the historic approach taken by Kuijken and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
January 2, 2025 at 4:48 PM
More catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day and Symphony 83, ‘La Poule’, the chicken… sorry… the Hen, from the hen-like clucking figure in the first movement. I’m more familiar with Dorati’s recording but I enjoyed the historic approach taken by Kuijken and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
Still catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day and Symphony 23. Back to my favourite early Haydn featuring fabulous horn playing from The Academy of Ancient Music and Christopher Hogwood, the horns more audible than in Dorati’s recording
January 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Still catching up with #A-Haydn-a-day and Symphony 23. Back to my favourite early Haydn featuring fabulous horn playing from The Academy of Ancient Music and Christopher Hogwood, the horns more audible than in Dorati’s recording