Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
@grahamrickson.bsky.social
London-raised, Leeds-based primary music teacher, horn and ukulele player, film and classical CD critic, responsible dog and cat owner. Writing things for www.theartdesk.com (@theartsdesk.bsky.social)since 2009. Proud Irish citizen ☘️.
I’ve finally got a copy of this book. It’s a chunky tome. #leonardbernstein
November 6, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I’ve finally got a copy of this book. It’s a chunky tome. #leonardbernstein
Reposted by Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Sheffield Utd and Chelsea goalkeeper, William (“Fatty”) Foulke. At 24 stone, he was the heaviest footballer to play in a British league team. 📷 Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon
November 1, 2025 at 9:27 AM
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Sheffield Utd and Chelsea goalkeeper, William (“Fatty”) Foulke. At 24 stone, he was the heaviest footballer to play in a British league team. 📷 Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon
Reposted by Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
The latest CLASSICAL CDS from @grahamrickson.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social - Wolf-pelts, clowns and social realism in British ballet scores, 19th century cello works and contemporary piano etudes theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...
Classical CDs: Wolf-pelts, clowns and social realism
Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, Metamorphic Variations BBC Philharmonic/Michael Seal (Chandos)
theartsdesk.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:04 AM
The latest CLASSICAL CDS from @grahamrickson.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social - Wolf-pelts, clowns and social realism in British ballet scores, 19th century cello works and contemporary piano etudes theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...
This week's reviews,. A proper big heap this time: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @infinemusic.bsky.social #brahms #arthurbliss #williamwalton #philipglass #solgabetta #simoneporter #cello
November 1, 2025 at 6:57 AM
This week's reviews,. A proper big heap this time: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @infinemusic.bsky.social #brahms #arthurbliss #williamwalton #philipglass #solgabetta #simoneporter #cello
Did some brutalist sightseeing today and visited Trellick Tower, impressive in the rain. Even better was Denys Lasdun’s beautiful Royal College of Physicians, which is open to visitors and has a good museum inside.
October 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Did some brutalist sightseeing today and visited Trellick Tower, impressive in the rain. Even better was Denys Lasdun’s beautiful Royal College of Physicians, which is open to visitors and has a good museum inside.
'Wendy and Lucy' is a small masterpiece, beautifully acted. It also has an excellent dog in one of the lead roles. www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...
#kellyreichardt #michellewilliams #dogs @secondrun.bsky.social
#kellyreichardt #michellewilliams #dogs @secondrun.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM
'Wendy and Lucy' is a small masterpiece, beautifully acted. It also has an excellent dog in one of the lead roles. www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...
#kellyreichardt #michellewilliams #dogs @secondrun.bsky.social
#kellyreichardt #michellewilliams #dogs @secondrun.bsky.social
Reposted by Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
'A quiet marvel of a film' ★★★★★ WENDY AND LUCY - Down-and-out in rural #Oregon: #KellyReichardt's third feature packs a huge punch, says @grahamrickson.bsky.social - now on @secondrun.bsky.social Blu-ray theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...
October 27, 2025 at 10:03 PM
'A quiet marvel of a film' ★★★★★ WENDY AND LUCY - Down-and-out in rural #Oregon: #KellyReichardt's third feature packs a huge punch, says @grahamrickson.bsky.social - now on @secondrun.bsky.social Blu-ray theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...
Reposted by Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
National Geographic has chosen Hull as one of its 25 best places to visit in 2026. It is a place that I love, and in my time there I took plenty of photos. Here are some that I like.
October 22, 2025 at 7:18 PM
National Geographic has chosen Hull as one of its 25 best places to visit in 2026. It is a place that I love, and in my time there I took plenty of photos. Here are some that I like.
Do like these bollards outside my local post office. #royalmail #postoffice #leeds #bollards #chapelallerton
October 21, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Do like these bollards outside my local post office. #royalmail #postoffice #leeds #bollards #chapelallerton
This week's classical CD reviews - read more here: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #terryriley @heloisewerner.bsky.social #britten @georgevass.bsky.social #williamwalton #tippett
October 18, 2025 at 4:27 AM
This week's classical CD reviews - read more here: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #terryriley @heloisewerner.bsky.social #britten @georgevass.bsky.social #williamwalton #tippett
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'A beaten-up, dilapidated nation that’s a long way from the promised postwar utopia' ★★★★★ THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT - Ealing Studios' prescient black comedy, as sharp as ever - and Burnley looks like Berlin, says @grahamrickson.bsky.social - now on @studiocanal.co.uk blu-Ray
October 13, 2025 at 8:06 PM
'A beaten-up, dilapidated nation that’s a long way from the promised postwar utopia' ★★★★★ THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT - Ealing Studios' prescient black comedy, as sharp as ever - and Burnley looks like Berlin, says @grahamrickson.bsky.social - now on @studiocanal.co.uk blu-Ray
Scientific progress goes boink in Alexander Mackendrick's brilliant black comedy The Man in the White Suit. Read more here: www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray... @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social @studiocanal.com #ealingcomedy #alecguinness #burnley #joangreenwood
October 13, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Scientific progress goes boink in Alexander Mackendrick's brilliant black comedy The Man in the White Suit. Read more here: www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray... @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social @studiocanal.com #ealingcomedy #alecguinness #burnley #joangreenwood
Bought this second hand as I couldn’t resist the Supraphon sleeve art. Magnificent stuff. #supraphon #dvorak #karelancerl #czechphilharmonic
October 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Bought this second hand as I couldn’t resist the Supraphon sleeve art. Magnificent stuff. #supraphon #dvorak #karelancerl #czechphilharmonic
Reposted by Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
The latest #ClassicalCDs from @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @grahamrickson.bsky.social - Voice flutes, flugelhorns and froth in Baroque sonatas, English orchestral music and an emotionally-charged vocal recital www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...
October 4, 2025 at 10:29 AM
The latest #ClassicalCDs from @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @grahamrickson.bsky.social - Voice flutes, flugelhorns and froth in Baroque sonatas, English orchestral music and an emotionally-charged vocal recital www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...
What links Francis Poulenc and Cliff Richard? Find out here: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @londonsymphony.bsky.social #MichaelaKoudelková #recorder #holst #poulenc #cliffrichard #vaughanwilliams #dobrinkatabakova #ecm
October 4, 2025 at 5:30 AM
What links Francis Poulenc and Cliff Richard? Find out here: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @londonsymphony.bsky.social #MichaelaKoudelková #recorder #holst #poulenc #cliffrichard #vaughanwilliams #dobrinkatabakova #ecm
Reposted by Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
Once on Twitter somebody was like “I have a music PhD but apparently I’m not qualified to teach elementary music??”
And like. Yeah no, you’re not qualified. The preps+teaching+admin+coordinating concerts would have you sobbing by 1pm on the first day
And like. Yeah no, you’re not qualified. The preps+teaching+admin+coordinating concerts would have you sobbing by 1pm on the first day
My brother is a first-year elementary school music teacher. Is that an incredibly hard job? Everything he tells me about it seems impossible. I had been led to believe that, as a middle school English teacher, I was dealing with one of the harder teaching jobs, but I don't know if that's true
September 25, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Once on Twitter somebody was like “I have a music PhD but apparently I’m not qualified to teach elementary music??”
And like. Yeah no, you’re not qualified. The preps+teaching+admin+coordinating concerts would have you sobbing by 1pm on the first day
And like. Yeah no, you’re not qualified. The preps+teaching+admin+coordinating concerts would have you sobbing by 1pm on the first day
Reposted by Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
The best of classical reviewing - new #ClassicalCDs from @grahamrickson.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social - Shrouds, silhouettes and superstition in cello concertos, choral collections and a stunning tribute to a contemporary giant www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...
Classical CDs: Shrouds, silhouettes and superstition
Kabalevsky: Cello Concerto No. 2, Schumann: Cello Concerto Theodor Lyngstad (cello), Copenhagen Phil/Eva Ollikainen (OUR Recordings)
www.theartsdesk.com
September 20, 2025 at 9:09 AM
The best of classical reviewing - new #ClassicalCDs from @grahamrickson.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social - Shrouds, silhouettes and superstition in cello concertos, choral collections and a stunning tribute to a contemporary giant www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...
It's Saturday! CD reviews ahoy: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #satie #tippett #AbelSelaocoe #arvopart
September 20, 2025 at 4:33 AM
It's Saturday! CD reviews ahoy: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #satie #tippett #AbelSelaocoe #arvopart
Reposted by Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
'You’d swear you were looking at an outtake from #JohnFord or #HowardHughes' ★★★★ THE SONS OF GREAT BEAR - #DEFA's first #RedWestern: a revisionist take on colonial expansion - the accustomed judicious appraisal @grahamrickson.bsky.social - now on #Eureka Blu-ray www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...
September 15, 2025 at 7:54 PM
'You’d swear you were looking at an outtake from #JohnFord or #HowardHughes' ★★★★ THE SONS OF GREAT BEAR - #DEFA's first #RedWestern: a revisionist take on colonial expansion - the accustomed judicious appraisal @grahamrickson.bsky.social - now on #Eureka Blu-ray www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...
Love this! The toccata from Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin, finally orchestrated (not by Ravel, but nicely done) #ravel www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN_-...
Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: VI. Toccata (Orchestration by David Molard Soriano)
YouTube video by Orchestre National de France (ORTF) - Topic
www.youtube.com
September 13, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Love this! The toccata from Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin, finally orchestrated (not by Ravel, but nicely done) #ravel www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN_-...
Reviewing this set was a blast. Witty scripts, grubby London locations and three very likeable protagonists www.theartsdesk.com/tv/blu-ray-s... #thesweeney #london
September 8, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Reviewing this set was a blast. Witty scripts, grubby London locations and three very likeable protagonists www.theartsdesk.com/tv/blu-ray-s... #thesweeney #london
Reposted by Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
'#TheSweeney was one of the great TV dramas. Get this set, its newly-remastered images & sound pin-sharp, and find out why' ★★★★★ THE SWEENEY Series One - Influential and entertaining 1970s police drama, handsomely restored - review @grahamrickson.bsky.social theartsdesk.com/tv/blu-ray-s...
September 8, 2025 at 6:58 PM
'#TheSweeney was one of the great TV dramas. Get this set, its newly-remastered images & sound pin-sharp, and find out why' ★★★★★ THE SWEENEY Series One - Influential and entertaining 1970s police drama, handsomely restored - review @grahamrickson.bsky.social theartsdesk.com/tv/blu-ray-s...
Reposted by Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
#ClassicalCDs - Sleigh rides, pancakes & cigars with two big boxes #JoanSutherland #SirThomasBeecham, plus new music for brass and a pair of clarinet concertos @grahamrickson.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @davidnice.bsky.social www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...
Classical CDs: Sleigh rides, pancakes and cigars
Joan Sutherland: The Complete Decca Recordings - Operas 1959-1970 (Decca)
www.theartsdesk.com
September 6, 2025 at 9:22 AM
#ClassicalCDs - Sleigh rides, pancakes & cigars with two big boxes #JoanSutherland #SirThomasBeecham, plus new music for brass and a pair of clarinet concertos @grahamrickson.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @davidnice.bsky.social www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...
This week's CD column is a whopper, full of cool stuff: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @davidnice.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @ailisniriain.bsky.social #joansutherland #thomasbeecham #moomintroll #lauriporra #verdi @operanorth.co.uk
September 6, 2025 at 5:46 AM
This week's CD column is a whopper, full of cool stuff: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @davidnice.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @ailisniriain.bsky.social #joansutherland #thomasbeecham #moomintroll #lauriporra #verdi @operanorth.co.uk
I was teaching a Y3 class this morning, and one boy excitedly told me that he'd passed his Grade 1 clarinet. I asked him what mark he was awarded, and he told me that he'd been given an 'Extinction'. #primaryteaching #clarinet #distinction #extinction
September 5, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I was teaching a Y3 class this morning, and one boy excitedly told me that he'd passed his Grade 1 clarinet. I asked him what mark he was awarded, and he told me that he'd been given an 'Extinction'. #primaryteaching #clarinet #distinction #extinction