Richard Betts
@ricardaonz.bsky.social
Nasty, brutish and short. Arts columnist NZ Listener, other words elsewhere. Music with a soupçon of politics.
All right then, I will.
November 11, 2025 at 6:52 AM
All right then, I will.
First listen to this. (Which also happens to be my first purchase in the Versailles series - thanks, FNAC Lisbon!) Impressed so far. #NowListening
November 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
First listen to this. (Which also happens to be my first purchase in the Versailles series - thanks, FNAC Lisbon!) Impressed so far. #NowListening
Ok, yes, I did have to buy an extra suitcase to hold the CDs I bought while on holiday. And?
October 28, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Ok, yes, I did have to buy an extra suitcase to hold the CDs I bought while on holiday. And?
Now: art, Seville edition, pt2. #PhilipGlass
October 5, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Now: art, Seville edition, pt2. #PhilipGlass
I'm not saying this result is because we are currently in Seville, but I'm not saying it's not because we're currently in Seville.
October 5, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I'm not saying this result is because we are currently in Seville, but I'm not saying it's not because we're currently in Seville.
Now: art, Seville edition. I love that it's October and Seville is holding an opera festival. Outdoors. #Monteverdi
October 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Now: art, Seville edition. I love that it's October and Seville is holding an opera festival. Outdoors. #Monteverdi
I expect @lisasass.bsky.social and @dancingmonk.bsky.social will know more of these composers than I do (just the two for me!), but I'm looking forward to this.
October 1, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I expect @lisasass.bsky.social and @dancingmonk.bsky.social will know more of these composers than I do (just the two for me!), but I'm looking forward to this.
Porto speciality. It's a lot of meat for one sandwich.
September 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Porto speciality. It's a lot of meat for one sandwich.
That sounds... unpleasant. Currently this is Aveiro, Portugal.
September 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
That sounds... unpleasant. Currently this is Aveiro, Portugal.
Matching socks to luggage on international flights: an occasional series
September 1, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Matching socks to luggage on international flights: an occasional series
It's tasty, but this wee coffee just cost me $6 #inflation
August 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM
It's tasty, but this wee coffee just cost me $6 #inflation
Chip off the old Bach. #nowspinning #firstlisten
August 23, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Chip off the old Bach. #nowspinning #firstlisten
I've been writing about a dear friend's new Stabat Mater today, which has sent me to this disc of Caldara. It's among the first recordings that I remember making me think, Y'know, Baroque music sounds better on the right instruments at the right tempo in the right style. #classicalmusic #nowspinning
August 22, 2025 at 7:01 AM
I've been writing about a dear friend's new Stabat Mater today, which has sent me to this disc of Caldara. It's among the first recordings that I remember making me think, Y'know, Baroque music sounds better on the right instruments at the right tempo in the right style. #classicalmusic #nowspinning
Are these performances any good? I can no longer tell. I've been playing this disc for so long it just sounds right. And I love how slowly he opens the concerto, against his own tempo markings.
August 9, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Are these performances any good? I can no longer tell. I've been playing this disc for so long it just sounds right. And I love how slowly he opens the concerto, against his own tempo markings.
So the devil doesn't always get the best tunes #nowspinning
August 6, 2025 at 6:56 AM
So the devil doesn't always get the best tunes #nowspinning
I've had it a while and the shop's no longer there, sadly.
August 4, 2025 at 6:17 AM
I've had it a while and the shop's no longer there, sadly.
One for @mostlyrambling.bsky.social, I reckon #nowspinning
August 4, 2025 at 6:13 AM
One for @mostlyrambling.bsky.social, I reckon #nowspinning
The best of Philip Glass is comfort food to me. His string quartets are some of his best. #nowspinning
August 2, 2025 at 7:57 AM
The best of Philip Glass is comfort food to me. His string quartets are some of his best. #nowspinning
I did this yesterday to avoid it happening again.
August 1, 2025 at 8:39 AM
I did this yesterday to avoid it happening again.
I'm excited about making my way through last night' purchases.
August 1, 2025 at 5:55 AM
I'm excited about making my way through last night' purchases.
Ok, yes, I stumbled into a record store and found a couple of things. And?
August 1, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Ok, yes, I stumbled into a record store and found a couple of things. And?