David Nice
@davidnice.bsky.social
Writer, lecturer, broadcaster, happily bestriding London and Dublin. Classical music/Opera Editor of The Arts Desk, author of seven books including Prokofiev: From Russia to the West (Yale). Running two Zoom courses, one on opera, the other on concert rep.
Aldeburgh Beach, 10pm, Saturday.
November 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Aldeburgh Beach, 10pm, Saturday.
Loved Season 3 of The Diplomat - the way it ditched conventional thriller/spy elements and become, in at least two of the episodes, a conversation piece with fine actors delivering a sharp script: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, Alison Janney (hurrah!), Bradley Whitford and Rory Kinnear especially.
November 3, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Loved Season 3 of The Diplomat - the way it ditched conventional thriller/spy elements and become, in at least two of the episodes, a conversation piece with fine actors delivering a sharp script: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, Alison Janney (hurrah!), Bradley Whitford and Rory Kinnear especially.
What happened to the promises in Starmer's manifesto?
November 3, 2025 at 12:21 PM
What happened to the promises in Starmer's manifesto?
Long walk yesterday afternoon - partly along a busy road, partly the opposite - from Wexford to the Bird Reserve at the Slobs, polder land reclaimed along with a big sea wall in the mid-19th century. The observation tower has telescopes, so we could see the Greenland White-fronted geese, inter alia.
November 1, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Long walk yesterday afternoon - partly along a busy road, partly the opposite - from Wexford to the Bird Reserve at the Slobs, polder land reclaimed along with a big sea wall in the mid-19th century. The observation tower has telescopes, so we could see the Greenland White-fronted geese, inter alia.
2/ Arms, hands and a bit of body, but the heads are gone from a double portrait.
October 31, 2025 at 7:05 PM
2/ Arms, hands and a bit of body, but the heads are gone from a double portrait.
Unhappy Hallowe'en! Here's a nightmare, part of my study destroyed by fire recently, as photographed by @billknight.bsky.social. CDs Adams to Prokofiev look a bit like a Kiefer. Full account here: davidnice.blogspot.com/2025/09/fire...
October 31, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Unhappy Hallowe'en! Here's a nightmare, part of my study destroyed by fire recently, as photographed by @billknight.bsky.social. CDs Adams to Prokofiev look a bit like a Kiefer. Full account here: davidnice.blogspot.com/2025/09/fire...
First night at Wexford Opera Festival, and already a discovery in soprano Lydia Grindatto, who had no problem with the monstrous role of Leonore in 'Le Trouvère', though Verdi's French version spares her the Act Four cabaletta. Three other main roles well sung; Ferrando and production poor.
October 30, 2025 at 11:15 AM
First night at Wexford Opera Festival, and already a discovery in soprano Lydia Grindatto, who had no problem with the monstrous role of Leonore in 'Le Trouvère', though Verdi's French version spares her the Act Four cabaletta. Three other main roles well sung; Ferrando and production poor.
2/ On the way to the swim after heavy downpour, heron in the foreground and late afternoon sunlight on Howth lighthouse.
October 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM
2/ On the way to the swim after heavy downpour, heron in the foreground and late afternoon sunlight on Howth lighthouse.
Seapoint looking out to Howth at sunset, and after a very refreshing swim on Tuesday.
October 30, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Seapoint looking out to Howth at sunset, and after a very refreshing swim on Tuesday.
Just had another look at Starmer's pre-election pledges. Broken every promise plighted. It would be laughable if it weren't so damaging to the UK.
October 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Just had another look at Starmer's pre-election pledges. Broken every promise plighted. It would be laughable if it weren't so damaging to the UK.
Might as well cancel every manifesto pledge.
October 29, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Might as well cancel every manifesto pledge.
5/ Treescape. The woods are home to the sessile oak, national tree of Ireland, and of course beautiful beeches.
October 29, 2025 at 10:47 AM
5/ Treescape. The woods are home to the sessile oak, national tree of Ireland, and of course beautiful beeches.
4/ The Poulanass waterfall above the upper lake. Path blocked off halfway up, but we got a reasonable look at it.
October 28, 2025 at 7:28 PM
4/ The Poulanass waterfall above the upper lake. Path blocked off halfway up, but we got a reasonable look at it.
Farewell, magnificent Prue. Used to see her with Timothy West at a lot of concerts. The best people. Of course Sybil is immortal, but I treasure these LPs of The Wife of Bath's Tale (unforgettable the way she says 'I have the best quoniam that may be').
October 28, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Farewell, magnificent Prue. Used to see her with Timothy West at a lot of concerts. The best people. Of course Sybil is immortal, but I treasure these LPs of The Wife of Bath's Tale (unforgettable the way she says 'I have the best quoniam that may be').
3/ Thought the extensive graveyard deserved the black and white treatment. It was eminently pre-Hallowe'eny just before dark, the wind blasting more than ever and the rain coming on again. Still I found it all tremendously exhilarating.
October 28, 2025 at 11:23 AM
3/ Thought the extensive graveyard deserved the black and white treatment. It was eminently pre-Hallowe'eny just before dark, the wind blasting more than ever and the rain coming on again. Still I found it all tremendously exhilarating.
2/ The famous Round Tower at Glendalough seen from the way to the upper lake, windy Sunday near sunset (and blue skies did appear briefly).
October 28, 2025 at 11:15 AM
2/ The famous Round Tower at Glendalough seen from the way to the upper lake, windy Sunday near sunset (and blue skies did appear briefly).
Given the marathon in Dublin and the wild weather, we thought Sunday afternoon was a good day to take our visitor to ever-popular Glendalough. Walked to the upper lake and around, though some paths were blocked. Waves on the water give you an idea how exhilaratingly windy it was.
October 28, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Given the marathon in Dublin and the wild weather, we thought Sunday afternoon was a good day to take our visitor to ever-popular Glendalough. Walked to the upper lake and around, though some paths were blocked. Waves on the water give you an idea how exhilaratingly windy it was.
Typically singular cloud formations over Dublin this morning.
October 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Typically singular cloud formations over Dublin this morning.
3/ Howth and that amazing light when reflections of cumulus clouds make silver in the water.
October 27, 2025 at 12:06 PM
3/ Howth and that amazing light when reflections of cumulus clouds make silver in the water.
2/ By the Casement statue on the way to Sandycove. Didn't feel quite comfortable swimming there, and a man was drowned recently. In summer, of course, there are lifeguards.
October 27, 2025 at 10:24 AM
2/ By the Casement statue on the way to Sandycove. Didn't feel quite comfortable swimming there, and a man was drowned recently. In summer, of course, there are lifeguards.
Back to the happy place: walking to Sandycove for the next dip on Friday, Howth high and clear. Water temperature 14.4 so still OK, though it's time to revert to the sea socks and gloves, which make immersion so easy.
October 27, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Back to the happy place: walking to Sandycove for the next dip on Friday, Howth high and clear. Water temperature 14.4 so still OK, though it's time to revert to the sea socks and gloves, which make immersion so easy.
Dare I say you need a good fire, like I had. No, you really don't. Many of the CDs Adams to Prokofiev here won't be replaced. One of several photos taken by @billknight.bsky.social, who among other things snaps production pics for @theartsdesk.bsky.social.
October 17, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Dare I say you need a good fire, like I had. No, you really don't. Many of the CDs Adams to Prokofiev here won't be replaced. One of several photos taken by @billknight.bsky.social, who among other things snaps production pics for @theartsdesk.bsky.social.
Yes, the colours stand out in starker relief against the murk. Still quite a few roses in Greenwich Park's marvellously done formal garden by the Ranger's House, as I think you saw earlier. My companion snapped this striking flowering sage, not seen its kind before
October 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Yes, the colours stand out in starker relief against the murk. Still quite a few roses in Greenwich Park's marvellously done formal garden by the Ranger's House, as I think you saw earlier. My companion snapped this striking flowering sage, not seen its kind before
3/ Another rose. Not familiar with this singular shade.
October 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
3/ Another rose. Not familiar with this singular shade.
2/ Sounds like the Ranger's House is well worth a visit; the Wernher Collection looks like a real cabinet of curiosities.
October 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM
2/ Sounds like the Ranger's House is well worth a visit; the Wernher Collection looks like a real cabinet of curiosities.