The shortlist for the Gramophone Awards 2026 is now available, along with a special edition containing the original reviews of all 66 recordings on the list (no paywall): reader.exacteditions.com/issues/15805...

Latest list of classical boxes due for release (number of discs in brackets): Adni/Warner (17) Maazel/Warner (20) Muti/Decca (37) Ohlsson/Hyperion (16) Ozawa/Universal (238)* K Richter/DG (19) K Richter/Warner (18) Walter/Warner (20) *Includes all recordings from all labels. Previously Japan only.

Christian Hoskins@aquilanebula.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Updated list of classical big boxes spotted in the future releases lists: Barenboim/Warner (37) Gavrilov/Warner (21) Haitink/LPO/Decca (31) Harnoncourt/Warner (29) Kocian Quartet/Praga (31) Rodziński/Decca (25) Rogé/Decca (43) Stein/Decca (15) Romantic Piano Concerto/Hyperion (50)

Watched "Goldfinger" (1964) after a gap of many years. I thought most of it would be familiar, but there was a lot I had forgotten. An excellent film on many levels, despite some sexism that hasn't aged very well.

Reviewed Gerd Schaller's new recording of Bruckner 3 for this month's Gramophone magazine. Surprisingly, given his extensive Bruckner discography, this is Schaller's first recording the original 1873 version, as well as the 1876 Adagio.

The September issue of Gramophone has my review of Barenboim's recordings with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (37 CDs). I found the Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Wagner rather uneven but the set is worth it for the excellent performances of the many 20th century works.

The solar eclipse at its peak in London a short while ago, with 91% of the Sun covered by the Moon. (Photographed with my phone and some eclipse glasses.)

The solar eclipse at its peak in London a short while ago, with 91% of the Sun covered by the Moon. (Photographed with my phone and some eclipse glasses.)

Tonight's ongoing solar eclipse projected onto a wall using binoculars.

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which was completed in 1805 and carries the Llangollen Canal for a length of 300 metres over the River Dee. One of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in north Wales.

I'm not sure I've seen a steeper gradient sign than this one in Harlech.

Castell Harlech, built by Edward I between 1282 and 1289 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even here on the normally rainy west coast of Wales, the grass is now yellow and threadbare.

A visit to Portmeirion in north Wales in its centenary year. It's also 60 years ago next month that filming for The Prisoner started here - that's No 6's house on the bottom left.

The view from the 50th storey observation deck at 8 Bishopsgate, looking towards the BT Tower and the British Museum.

View of London from the free observation deck at 8 Bishopsgate, 50 floors above street level.

Skyscrapers in the City of London.

The new Zubin Mehta box has arrived! This one features everything he recorded for Decca that wasn't included in the excellent Los Angeles Philharmonic box. 57 CDs in total recorded between 1965 and 2013, including Mahler 2, Schmidt 4 and Puccini's Turandot. 😊

When I was younger, I was thrilled if the temperature in London went above 25C. These days, I get excited if it goes below 30C. It's still that now, which is crazy given that it's past 9pm.

Can't stop watching this performance of the Prelude and Liebestod from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde performed by Waltraud Meier with Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Enormously powerful and infinitely moving. Just wonderful. youtube.com/watch?v=n4bq...

Wagner: Tristan and Isolde – Prelude and Liebestod | Waltraud Meier, Daniel Barenboim & WEDO

YouTube video by DW Classical Music

youtube.com

Finished watching season 1 of "The Eternaut" on Netflix, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi series filmed and set in Argentina. Found it superbly made and absolutely gripping. Can't wait for season 2.

This month's Gramophone has my review of Bernard Haitink's recordings with the LPO. There are some gems here, but overall the earlier box of Concertgebouw recordings is a much more rewarding listen.

"What did you say?" "HAPPY #NewReleaseFriday!" "What's new this week?" "Strauss's Alpine Symphony from Ed Gardner, Andrew Manze in Bruckner 7, and two modern Czech masters." "Two modern Czech masters?" "YES! YOU AND ME!" "Oh yes, now I remember!" ▶️ open.qobuz.com/playlist/513...

New to the collection: Daniel Barenboim's recordings with the Chicago Symphony Orchestral for EMI/Warner, made between 1970 and 2001.

Now listening to Der Schmied von Marienburg, Siegfried Wagner's 12th opera, premiered in 1920. It features some absolutely ravishing music, especially in Act 2. Siegfried Wagner, son of Richard Wagner and grandson of Franz Liszt, born on this day in 1869.

A terrific actor, an essential part of one of the greatest TV shows ever, and from what I’m hearing, a really good dude. Rest in Peace, Anthony Head.

Watched "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" (1974) again. Superbly plotted, directed and acted, not to mention the excellent New York subway setting. Crime thrillers don't get much better than this.

Now listening to songs by Rubbra for piano and harp. I've loved the symphonies for years, but these songs are new to me and are a revelation.

#NowSpinning David Diamond’s Symphony No.3. The Diamond series is a very appealing corner of the Naxos American Classics series. Immediately bracing and approachable, this work demands to be heard.

@news.sky.com I think you need to review the numbers in this story. There is no such temperature as -400°C. The coldest temperature that exists is -273°C. news.sky.com/liveblog-web...

NASA moon mission latest: Space agency unveils massive plan to settle on moon - with eyes on Mars next

We've been hearing from NASA about its plans for a moon base to keep a permanent human presence there. It could end up covering the size of a large city - and Mars is next in the agency's sights. Foll...

news.sky.com

Deeply pathetic that BBC is reporting this as a Reform power struggle rather than explaining that Reform's policies would require deporting people -including pensioners - who have lived and worked here legally for decades. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Yusuf in clash with Jenrick over Reform's deportation policy

Reform's home affairs chief has publicly disagreed with its Treasury spokesman over what party policy is.

bbc.co.uk

#NowSpinning Next in the big Abbado box is his LSO recording of Berg’s Lulu Suite. And a curious surprise came when I looked at the recording data. 1970, Anvil Studios in Denham, just outside London. You’ll all remember what else was recorded there. Same orchestra 7 years later.