iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Just on our way home from #RBOParsifal. Some magnificent singing (esp Gerhaher), terrifying male chorus in Act 3. And some perverse directorial choices… Totally agree with your BaL 1st choice: it’s been mine too since I first got to love the piece in the noughties. Moll ✔️✔️

100

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I’ve only heard him in piano-accompanied Lieder; he sounded a bit underwhelming, but I enjoyed his clear diction. Romaniw was marvellous!

110

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Yes, Paul Appleby (hadn’t heard him before) was really excellent, and the massed choirs superb. All properly shattering, as you imply.

111

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

My current favourite in this rich sea of memes

061

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Intriguing - bookmarked, thanks. I like the way they explain Udon on their menu: pici giapponesi!

120

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Excellent timing! I’d planned on cooking a flatiron steak for myself tonight,and felt like a change from horseradish - and then saw this post at breakfast today. So, on my Sunday morning walk, I came home via Waitrose and picked up a St-Marcellin. Will report back!

120

Reposted by Jonathan Morgan

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

So much of, and in, the world is experienced and understood through music… week in, week out…

Stanhope band crossing the ford at the river Wear

Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band at Beamish museum

083

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Tre Archi! Yes,it’s really airless tonight; we’re just back from a walk along Zattere to Nico and back - not a trace of breeze.

021

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

This evening’s Spritz. @davidhewson.com will recognize the spot!

130

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Can’t quite tell from that pic: are you over here in Santa Marta?

100

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Looking rather spectacular yesterday evening on our walk to Gelateria Nico

121

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Some excellent value food and drink here in Venice’s Santa Marta district today. First pic shows the bargain €5 Spritz & snack deal at Carovansara, and second pic is at Osteria Bakan: €15 lunch, including primo, secondo, coffee, and wine/Spritz. Very local for us: that’s our bedroom window opposite!

030

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Ooh, I’d love to hear them doing Winterreise. I’ve never heard NM in Schubert (he’s wonderful in Monteverdi, and I’ve played in a few Bach Passions where he’s been an eloquent Evangelist). Konstantin Krimmel sang a superb Winterreise at the Wigmore last month.

110

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Jeremy Denk is one of those, for me at least.

110

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Ah, I’m afraid we’ll miss you this year - we leave on the 6th. We’ll be back, though…

010

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Yes, in August it’s well worth staying a bit on the periphery! Rehearsals start soon for this project: I’m sackbutting, and Philippa is singing, with lots of old friends & colleagues involved.

UN VESPRO SOLENNE DEL SEICENTO
Salmi del compositore e fratello francescano
Ludovico Grossi da Viadana
con motetti, inni e sonate per voci e strumenti
I CHIAROSCURISTI
Diretti da Philip Thorby
CHIESA DEL SANTISSIMO REDENTORE
Sabato il 5 settembre alle ore 17:00
Offerta libera per il restauro della chiesa

020

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Second evening in Venice, so two spritzes down so far. This evening at Carovansara, conveniently just round the corner from our apartment (thanks to @davidhewson.com for the rec); yesterday at Bar Blu (@robinsaikia.bsky.social’s little guidebook).

392

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Yes, the editor of the edition we have at home (Howard Ferguson) agrees here. But for the slower tempo in 9, Abschied, he suggests that the dotted rhythm (in just the one bar, I think) should be played after the triplet quaver.

010

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

But then there’s the question of what to do with the dotted rhythms in bars 13, 15 - assimilate to the overall triplet feel, or try to differentiate?

110

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

That’s how it was for me too, back in 2000 for my first visit. But then I met Nan (Venice resident, and expert in both Venetian rowing and drinking!), who introduced me to Select, and I haven’t looked back…

020

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Julian Prégardien & Kristian Bezuidenhout are much more successful, I think, if you’re after a recent recording with fortepiano (and stylish use of the sort of ornamentation that Schubert’s singers would have used).

120

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Interesting experiment, but I’m not totally convinced. I find much of the singing very mannered, and way too close-miked; I know Nigl talks about speech in his note, but some of the singing verges a bit too close to Sprechstimme for my taste. And some Very Slow tempi!

110

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

I’m another one who favours Select spritzes: I find Aperol a bit sweet and bland, and Campari a bit too domineering in a Spritz (but essential in a Negroni). Looking forward to 10 days in Venice at the end of this month, and a Lot of Spritz al Select…

140

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Ah yes, I grew up with two whippets in the family, so leggy dogs have always felt a bit more right!

100

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Yes, indeed. A breed particularly unsuited to acqua alta…

100

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Is Vivetti maybe related to Bruno?!

100

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Well, I couldn’t nap at all until my mid-60s; now, at 73, they’re an essential part of most days…

110

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Thanks for the recipe! Had this tonight, over some thinner noodles, and with minced pork, because that’s what was in the freezer… (pork & aubergine a classic combo, of course).

152

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

And they’re repeating it this morning: I’m just on my way there…

010

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Even more fantastic in the hall 🥳

100

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

That’s the one! And staying, this year, back in S Marta, just round the corner from Carovansara.

100

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Partly a generational thing? My father, during the 39-45 war was stationed at ‘Cicester’ - Cirencester (which, when we lived in nearby Stroud, everyone local just called Ciren).

010

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Those of us who live on the Isle of Dogs are delighted to have the Dome so close at hand…

000

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Ah yes - I’d admired the Giudecca one in previous visits, but that was before we shopped at the Carmini branch; hadn’t spotted that they were related.

110

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Looks superb! Which butcher? (We’re staying near S Niccoló dei M for our September visit this year; we know the butcher just by Carmini is good from last year’s shopping, but always after good local tips 😜)

120

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Lovely little book! This will be the third summer that I head off to Venice with Robin’s guide in my pocket. Last year, we were staying just round the corner from Al Squero, and enjoyed several Select Spritzes there; this summer, Bar Blu will be one of our local haunts 🥳

020

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Agreed: this is a marvellous new recording! I posted this after listening on Sunday afternoon: bsky.app/profile/jonathanmorgan2.bs…

010

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Risible? It’s a a damn sight better than what we’ve got at the moment!

110

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

#NowPlaying This is Very Good! Superb orchestral playing, and a marvellously clear but warm recorded sound. Honeck’s interpretation is often quite interventionist but never for the sake of it; details of articulation and dynamics are minutely observed.

DVOŘÁK
SYMPHONY NO. 9, "FROM THE NEW WORLD
SIMON
FOUR BLACK AMERICAN DANCES

- PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MANFRED HONECK, MUSIC DIRECTOR

030

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

It was the summer of my finals at Durham: didn’t do much for my revision…

010

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

And I’m on the journey home to London, so have moved today from the grey area to the middle of the totally bleached bit…

000

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

I’m feeling very lucky that my gîte in the Périgord (currently 40C) is owned by a US couple, so is fitted with excellent aircon. I always used to be very dismissive of aircon: us Europeans don’t need it, thick stone walls, shutters, etc etc. But I fear that view is no longer tenable…

110

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Looks like plain old G major from here!

010

Jonathan Morgan @jonathanmorgan2.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

And a fine homage to BBC studios of blessed memory (though probably not intended as such…)

110