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Richard Betts

@ricardaonz.bsky.social
287 followers 154 following 1.7K posts

Nasty, brutish and short. Arts columnist NZ Listener, other words elsewhere. Music with a soupçon of politics.

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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 17h
Earlier than my usual rep but this is lovely. #nowlistening #classicalmusic
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 18h
Keeping up with the Kashkashian #classicalmusic
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Lev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 19h
Happy birthday Steve Reich appy birthday Steve Reich H ppy birthday Steve Reich Ha py birthday Steve Reich Hap y birthday Steve Reich Happ birthday Steve Reich Happy birthday Steve Reich Happy irthday Steve Reich Happy b rthday Steve Reich Happy bi thday Steve Reich Happy bir
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 20h
Now: art
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David Pattemore @dpattemore.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Hey Bluesky New Zealand!! Can you help spread the message this weekend?! Yeah sure this is just one video, but so many people haven’t enrolled yet and don’t realise they are running out of time. Thank you! 🇳🇿
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David Cavlovic🇨🇦🍁 @davidcavlovic.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
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Dan of the Year @downwithdan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
When you have no concept of how people engage with music
nicksaraev ~
@nicksaraev
X.com
I am not joking when I say this.
Spotify, Apple Music, and streaming in general is over.
Al music is now very, very good. You just don't know yet because all Al music circulating today is from ~2-3 generations ago.
Suno v6 pro et al has solved infinite personalized music.
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Russel Norman @russelnorman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade thinks the reversal of the oil and gas exploration ban breached the EU Free Trade Agreement. How do we know? Because they accidentally leaked their own legal opinion in Sep 2024. newsroom.co.nz/2024/10/01/g... www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
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Gail Myerscough @gailmyerscough.co.uk · 29/09/2026
I’m Gail, a one woman (and a feline assistant) business, based in Manchester. I create prints, homewares, T-shirts & cards inspired by midcentury design, music and architecture. Have a look gailmyerscough.co.uk
A grid of twelve illustrations featuring music designs, architecture designs, books, retro abstract designs and swimmers. Bold and colourful.
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Most of the composers on this are new to me, but this is an absolute cracker. #nowlistening #classicalmusic
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Bernard Hughes @bernardhughes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Listening now and already in love. What a wonderful way to start the day - more Songs in the Key of Life. Thank you Stevie - I’m grinning like an idiot!
theguardian.com
Stevie Wonder releases four unheard songs from Songs in the Key of Life sessions
Previously unreleased material comes as Wonder marks 50th anniversary of album with arena tour
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
My #Listener colleague (though he may not know it) @slanecartoon.bsky.social nails it again.
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Not my usual rep at all, but worth a crack, right? #nowlistening #classicalmusic
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Weber piano sonatas - who knew? #nowlistening #classicalmusic
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I have other recordings of both these works that I'm likely to return to more often, but I'm enjoying the hell out of this. #nowlistening #classicalmusic
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Oh dear. #sigh #classicalmusic
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Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Kākāpō numbers pass 300 for the first time in 75 years. New Zealand’s flightless, nocturnal parrot now totals 325 birds, after a record 90 chicks fledged this season, built on the Department of Conservation’s recovery programme, which started with just 51 birds in 1995. DOC buff.ly/7YIOBd9
doc.govt.nz
Kākāpō population reaches new milestone
The official population of the critically endangered kākāpō has reached a recovery-era high of 325 birds.
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Me: I have 500-600 baroque CDs. Enough. I will never buy another baroque CD. Also me: Ooh, @prestomusic.bsky.social has a sale! #Sigh #classicalmusic #myprecious
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I know the Concentric Paths violin concerto, and bits of Powder Her Face, but I'm otherwise woefully ignorant of Adès's music. Looking forward to this.
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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Friends don’t let friends vote National. Especially if your friend has a child that went to school with the bed leg beater.
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I love Hindemith and like Foss but this album cover is a disgrace. #nowlistening
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NZ Transit Buzz @nztransitbuzz.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
#StationNews: Auckland Transport has confirmed the names of the new robot cleaners for the City Rail Link stations. Robot Downer Junior Fat Freddy's Mop Meryl Sweep
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 09/09/2026
I co-founded an orchestra 18 years ago. Since then, I’ve seen doors close for working-class musicians | Robert Ames
theguardian.com
I co-founded an orchestra 18 years ago. Since then, I’ve seen doors close for working-class musicians | Robert Ames
I have lost patience with the sector’s talk of diversity when it refuses to acknowledge those people who can’t afford to keep playing, says conductor and composer Robert Ames
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I've been on a bit of a French music bender so it's been weeks since I've played Italian baroque. Normal service resumed. #nowlistening
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Lush #nowlistening
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Well this is fun #nowlistening
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
At the NZSO season launch. Bold of arts minister Paul Goldsmith to give a speech, what with his $1.4m budget cut. Mind you, he does tend to turn up to free stuff.
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Aw man. Y'know, when Dolly died last week I was sad. But this one feels more personal. Absolutely gutted. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Cassandra Wilson, Grammy-winning jazz singer, dies aged 70
Mississippi-born Wilson, who worked across folk, pop, R&B and country, was once dubbed America’s best singer
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
First listen. Clérambault is a favourite but I've never even heard of Piroye. #nowplaying #classicalmusic #Baroque
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Rowdy Rebel @rowdyrebel.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
I get that. 👊🙄
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Still, for me, the greatest British composer (much as I love Britten). #nowlistening #classicalmusic #baroque
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
OK, yes, I passed a 2nd hand shop. And? #ohdear #classicalmusic #sigh
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Today's purchase. Is Villa-Lobos a great composer? Maybe not, but he's probably the one I've listened to most over the years. #classicalmusic
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Toss @stevenspoints.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I really cannot think of a greater honor than to have the Muppets say this about you upon your passing
Instagram post from the official Muppets account: Few humans have earned the title of honorary Muppet more than the legendary Tim Curry. As a performer he was unparalleled - witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny. We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew. Thank you for everything, Tim.
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Oh poop 😞
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
I'm going to say yes to the Zemlinsky and, respectfully, no to the Reger, even though I'm generally a fan. #nowlistening #classicalmusic
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Make a band bigger: Hifihead
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Been listening to this a lot. Includes a lovely version of Schumann's Dichterliebe, plus new, complementary music from @heloisewerner.bsky.social #nowplaying #classicalmusic
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
He had quite the life and wrote some beautiful music. This is absolutely lovely. #nowlistening #classicalmusic
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Interested to hear this because although these are all composers I love, and I have a lot of their music, everything else I own is vocal stuff. Not sure about the modern instruments. #nowlistening #classicalmusic
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Matt Owen @mjowen174.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
My far, far better half @gailmyerscough.co.uk is having an incredibly tough month business-wise. Her website is full of amazing, stylish designs and it’d be great if you could visit her website and who knows, maybe even purchase something www.gailmyerscough.co.uk - if you could plse share this 👍👍
gailmyerscough.co.uk
Gail Myerscough | Surface Pattern Designer & Illustrator | Manchester
Bold illustrated wall art, greeting cards and homewares designed in Manchester. Inspired by architecture, music and mid century design. Made in the UK.
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Gosh I enjoyed this. Especially the Creston, a composer I've never really listened to. #classicalmusic
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Not what I expected at all. Tuneful late-romanticism. For me, it lacks a little in the degenerate stakes. cc @mostlyrambling.bsky.social
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
As far as I can reckon it, this is the CD I owned the longest without playing. Purchased: 1990. Played: 2026. Opinion? Pleasant. Probably not worth the 36-year wait. 😆 #nowplaying #classicalmusic
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David Quantick @quantick.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
RIP Dave Marsh. A great American music writer.
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
#nowplaying
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NewsThump @newsthump.com · 14/08/2026
NEWS! Relieved Nigel Farage looking forward to not having to visit Clacton again for a while newsthump.com/2026/08/14/r...
newsthump.com
Relieved Nigel Farage looking forward to not having to visit Clacton again for a while
Nigel Farage has expressed immense relief after successfully holding his seat in a by-election he triggered himself, meaning he can finally stop visiting Clacton-on-Sea for at least six months.
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Well this was interesting. Can't quite decide if it was good or merely good in parts, but it's beautifully sung. Will definitely listen again. #classicalmusic
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
FFS
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Richard Betts @ricardaonz.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
An interaction here with @mostlyrambling.bsky.social prompted me to dig this out. You want poignant? As a teen, Ullmann proudly fought for Austria in WWI. He wrote this wonderful opera in 1944, while in Terezín. Just weeks later, he was shipped to Auschwitz, where he was murdered. #nowlistening
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