I was lucky enough to hear Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Orchestre National de France play Ardès’ ‘Air for Violin and Orchestra’, written for the violinist, at the George Enescu Festival in Bucharest in September. It’s a sublime piece but hasn’t been recorded yet. Can’t wait til it is!

As if three defensive walls with eight towers and gates weren’t enough of a deterrent, invaders had to get past this lock to get into the sacristy of the Biertan fortified church in Transylvania.

Tower in walled city of Sighișoara in Transylvania where Vlad the Impaler was born. Shows where he got his inspiration.

Bessey clamps — one of the woodworker’s best friends, along with double-sided tape and blue-and-red pencils — in the service of art at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.

‘Bach’s harpsichord’ at the Musical Instruments Museum in Berlin. Seems like there’s some debate about its authenticity but I’m putting that aside and imagining him composing on it. What a bonus to have my very knowledgeable friend Elizabeth Kerr along at this fabulous museum.