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Reposted by Christian Hoskins

UK Critics' Circle Music @ccmusicuk.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

The Critics' Circle has announced the winners of the 2025 Music Awards, including Rising Artist, Achievement in Opera, and Lifetime Achievement (awarded to Mitsuko Uchida). Full list and photos here: criticscircle.org.uk/the-critics-...

criticscircle.org.uk

THE CRITICS' CIRCLE MUSIC AWARDS FOR 2025 | The Critics' Circle

Christine Rice (Sister Helen Prejean, left) receiving the Best New Opera Production Award for Dead Man Walking from Amanda Holloway (Critics’ Circle), with (left to right) Bob Holland (executive produ...

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

I use an external Verbatim drive for CDs and a Pioneer one for Blu-rays. If you're simply ripping CDs, you don't need to spend more than around US$40 to get 100% accurate files.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I've not used the Shanling so can't comment, but EAC has some major advantages: 1) Connects to several databases for labelling tracks. 2) Checks the accuracy of the copy against a central store. 3) Gives lots of choice of output file types. 4) Free to use. All you need is a CD drive costing £30.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Same here, although EAC is my preferred software. I have around 10,000 CDs and nearly 300 DVDs and Blu-rays playable from my hard drive. It's only fair to mention, however, that it's something I've been doing since 2009.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Black-capped squirrel monkey at London Zoo.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

A very relaxed Asiatic lion at London Zoo this afternoon.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Carefully planned and absolutely rothless.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Looks like I picked the wrong week to post a letter.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

At the Gramophone Awards this evening. Isabelle Faust has just won for her recording of Ligeti's Violin Concerto, having already picked up the award for Artist of the Year.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Yes, 8 Bishopsgate is excellent too. The angle of view is slightly more limited but you can more easily visit in the evening.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I love the view from tall buildings, so it's great that the UK's highest observation deck at 22 Bishopsgate is free to visit and only a few stops on the Tube from where I work. It's fascinating to see London at different times of the day across the changing seasons.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Incredible. First the LPO gets Paavo Järvi and now the Philharmonia gets Honeck... With the London orchestras already having Vasily Petrenko at the RPO, Pappano at the LSO and Oramo at the BBCSO, this could be painful for my credit card!

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The performance of the Scherzo is superb. One of the best around in my view.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Reviewed Gerd Schaller's new Bruckner 9 for the October issue of Gramophone. This features the third version of his performing edition of the finale. I'm not convinced it's better than the second one, but the excellence of the performance of the first three movements makes this well worth hearing.

The cover of the new recording of Bruckner's Symphony 9 conducted by Gerd Schaller with his performing version of the incomplete finale, released on the Profil label.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Regent's Park in the early autumn. My favourite of the major London parks.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

At last, the third and final box of Bernard Haitink's recordings for Decca and Philips. Recordings made between 1963 and 1997 and issued on 31 CDs. 😊

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

In which case, it seems very unjust that they deny you from January to August!

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Do people really want to buy Christmas products when the landscape is still parched from summer and the items expire in October?

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

The view from Horizon 22 towards the Barbican Centre, with Hampstead Heath in the background. Excellent visibility today.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

The view from Horizon 22 towards St Paul's Cathedral and the West End.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Visited Horizon 22 in the City of London today. At 254 metres, it's the highest observation deck in the UK and the 2nd highest in Western Europe after the Eiffel Tour.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Presto seem to have been remodelling their website for ages, and I don't find it as good as it used to be.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

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...

The cover of the digital magazine published by Gramophone containing reviews of the 66 recordings shortlisted for the 2026 Gramophone Awards.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Loving the Hannibal Lecter version of Bruckner on cover above. "A pupil once added some cymbals to my finale. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti..."

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Sony must have retained some capacity for this function as a Koussevitzky edition is due for release later in the year. However, I hear it will be download only, so the situation doesn't look promising overall.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

As impressive as it is, if keen collectors like you and me aren't tempted, I do wonder what the market is for such a release. It's noticeable that Warner has been splitting their recent boxes (Barenboim, Beecham and Boult for instance) into more affordable chunks.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

You'll have to write another book! 😅

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

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.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

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.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

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.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

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.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

- deport long term residents with a foreign passport. - remove benefits from people who've paid taxes all their life.

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Reposted by Christian Hoskins

Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

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.)

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The eclipse made the resident parakeets squawk in Ealing!

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

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.)

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

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

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

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.

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Especially frustrating when you've made it halfway to the top and find yourself going backwards!

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

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

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Christian Hoskins @aquilanebula.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

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.

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