Watching Die Fledermaus from Munich, 1987 conducted by Kleiber. Very traditional production, albeit sumptuous, but nobody captures the brilliance, wit and joy of this music like Kleiber. Fassbaender matchless as Orlovsky. Only the recent Jurowski from Munich competes. Both elevate the work.

This is extraordinary. Pollini and his son playing Schubert’s Fantasy. I’ve never heard anything like it. Definitely the fastest but with a manic quality which is there in the music. The pauses… the feeling of emptiness, of life drained. I found it overwhelming as no other performance. Wept a lot!

Tosca in Tarascon - town of 15,000 people - admittedly with piano accompaniment with a tubular bells player - but a sincere and honest effort that I much enjoyed. Here’s the theatre.

A favourite pianist especially in Bach, Vikingur Olafsson’s newest release is short but not full price. Mostly adaptations of extracts from the Cantatas, this impresses me as immaculate pianism and deeply moving.

Jonas Hacker as Alfredo in La Traviata in Avignon. All three principals were exceptional and uniquely suited to their characters in age and looks.

First night of Parsifal at Bayreuth 27th August, 2024.