#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #40 we have Neeme Järvi’s glorious set of Rimsky-Korsakov opera suites. A huge, colourful treat.
August 3, 2026 at 7:58 PM
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #40 we have Neeme Järvi’s glorious set of Rimsky-Korsakov opera suites. A huge, colourful treat.
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #41 we have one of my favourite opera recordings of all time. Mackerras’s Decca Jenůfa is desperately moving and emotionally devastating.
August 2, 2026 at 12:56 PM
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #41 we have one of my favourite opera recordings of all time. Mackerras’s Decca Jenůfa is desperately moving and emotionally devastating.
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday, for #44 is Haydn, from Szell. His 93 and 94 are heartwarming. And 93 has the biggest musical fart anyone could possibly wish for.
July 30, 2026 at 3:23 PM
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday, for #44 is Haydn, from Szell. His 93 and 94 are heartwarming. And 93 has the biggest musical fart anyone could possibly wish for.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #17 we have Eugen Jochum’s truly inspired Schubert Unfinished from Boston. A darkly dramatic first movement is followed by flowing lyrical elegance in the second.
August 20, 2026 at 2:10 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #17 we have Eugen Jochum’s truly inspired Schubert Unfinished from Boston. A darkly dramatic first movement is followed by flowing lyrical elegance in the second.
#LYICMGat50 In one month I will turn 50. Between now and 26 August I’s going to thoroughly indulge myself, playing 50 favourite recordings and, yes, posting about them mercilessly, with no shame and only the top 5 in order. #50: Jiří Bělohlávek’s magnificent Chandos Martinů 4.
July 27, 2026 at 1:57 PM
#LYICMGat50 In one month I will turn 50. Between now and 26 August I’s going to thoroughly indulge myself, playing 50 favourite recordings and, yes, posting about them mercilessly, with no shame and only the top 5 in order. #50: Jiří Bělohlávek’s magnificent Chandos Martinů 4.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. And it’s now the top 5. At #3 it is Klemperer’s Mahler Das Lied Von der Erde, with Wunderlich and Ludwig. Such deeply moving music making is the stuff of legend.
August 25, 2026 at 8:27 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. And it’s now the top 5. At #3 it is Klemperer’s Mahler Das Lied Von der Erde, with Wunderlich and Ludwig. Such deeply moving music making is the stuff of legend.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #8 it’s Leif Segerstam and Sibelius. The Lemminkäinen Legends are thrilling here, but there’s also a terrifying Tapiola. As a whole, the disc is irresistible
August 24, 2026 at 4:42 AM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #8 it’s Leif Segerstam and Sibelius. The Lemminkäinen Legends are thrilling here, but there’s also a terrifying Tapiola. As a whole, the disc is irresistible
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday, #48 is a real corker and almost made it to the top 5. Martha Argerich’s astounding debut for Deutsche Grammophon, with the Liszt B Minor added for good measure! Outrageous technique!
July 28, 2026 at 6:28 AM
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday, #48 is a real corker and almost made it to the top 5. Martha Argerich’s astounding debut for Deutsche Grammophon, with the Liszt B Minor added for good measure! Outrageous technique!
#LYICMGat50 here we are, at 6.36 am on 26 August 2026, exactly 50 years - to the minute - since my birth. At #1 in the 50 recordings I’ve chosen to celebrate, we have Richard Hickox’s incredible Vaughan Williams 5. And how apt, given today is also the anniversary of RVW’s death.
August 26, 2026 at 5:37 AM
#LYICMGat50 here we are, at 6.36 am on 26 August 2026, exactly 50 years - to the minute - since my birth. At #1 in the 50 recordings I’ve chosen to celebrate, we have Richard Hickox’s incredible Vaughan Williams 5. And how apt, given today is also the anniversary of RVW’s death.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #22 we have Petri Sakari’s recording of Madetoja’s Symphony No.2. A powerfully atmospheric performance in glowing sound, full of fantasy alongside searching introspection. Lovely!
August 18, 2026 at 5:18 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #22 we have Petri Sakari’s recording of Madetoja’s Symphony No.2. A powerfully atmospheric performance in glowing sound, full of fantasy alongside searching introspection. Lovely!
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #15 we have Wagner’s Ring from the 1956 Bayreuth Festival under Knappertsbusch. This is a monumental interpretation, though I realise views will vary widely on this.
August 21, 2026 at 8:27 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #15 we have Wagner’s Ring from the 1956 Bayreuth Festival under Knappertsbusch. This is a monumental interpretation, though I realise views will vary widely on this.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #29 we have a disc that could have easily made my top 5. But here it is, one of the most emotionally taxing records I know. Vintage Baker, for sure. Great music in great performances.
August 14, 2026 at 6:43 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #29 we have a disc that could have easily made my top 5. But here it is, one of the most emotionally taxing records I know. Vintage Baker, for sure. Great music in great performances.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #19 we have Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet with Elisabeth Leonskaja and the Borodins. Stupendous music-making with an amazing balance between bleakness and beauty.
August 19, 2026 at 9:24 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #19 we have Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet with Elisabeth Leonskaja and the Borodins. Stupendous music-making with an amazing balance between bleakness and beauty.
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday, at #43 we hear our first Mahler. Abbado’s Chicago Seventh still strikes me as incredibly cogent, otherworldly and enchanting. It’s a very special example of Abbado’s finely nuanced art.
July 31, 2026 at 4:23 PM
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday, at #43 we hear our first Mahler. Abbado’s Chicago Seventh still strikes me as incredibly cogent, otherworldly and enchanting. It’s a very special example of Abbado’s finely nuanced art.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #35 we have this disc of Stravinsky and Brahms. Although I have other preferences for the Stravinsky, this is still very fine. But for me the Brahms is incredible!
August 9, 2026 at 8:04 AM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #35 we have this disc of Stravinsky and Brahms. Although I have other preferences for the Stravinsky, this is still very fine. But for me the Brahms is incredible!
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #10 it’s Bernstein’s Vienna account of Mahler’s Sixth. This is a truly lacerating and emotionally challenging performance. Such sustained intensity is a very rare thing indeed.
August 23, 2026 at 7:37 AM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #10 it’s Bernstein’s Vienna account of Mahler’s Sixth. This is a truly lacerating and emotionally challenging performance. Such sustained intensity is a very rare thing indeed.
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday, for #45 weeks turn to Bryson Thomson’s stupendous account of Bax’s Second Symphony. This is a windswept and dramatic account of a stormy, primal work.
July 30, 2026 at 7:57 AM
#LYICMGat50 Continuing the countdown of 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday, for #45 weeks turn to Bryson Thomson’s stupendous account of Bax’s Second Symphony. This is a windswept and dramatic account of a stormy, primal work.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #28 we have Pierre Fournier and George Szell with Dvořák’s wondrous Cello Concerto. I could have chosen Karajan and Rostropovich, but I think Fournier is even more magically attentive to nuance. Such a wonderful recording.
August 15, 2026 at 8:00 AM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #28 we have Pierre Fournier and George Szell with Dvořák’s wondrous Cello Concerto. I could have chosen Karajan and Rostropovich, but I think Fournier is even more magically attentive to nuance. Such a wonderful recording.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #24 we have Karajan’s DG Madama Butterfly. For me, Freni’s performance is devastating. This is particularly true when she sings ‘Un Bel Di’, flying into the stratosphere with raw emotional power.
August 17, 2026 at 5:37 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #24 we have Karajan’s DG Madama Butterfly. For me, Freni’s performance is devastating. This is particularly true when she sings ‘Un Bel Di’, flying into the stratosphere with raw emotional power.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #27 we have Seiji Ozawa’s Boston Petrushka. It’s an impetuous and impactful performance and thunders across with translucency and fabulous balance.
August 15, 2026 at 2:15 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #27 we have Seiji Ozawa’s Boston Petrushka. It’s an impetuous and impactful performance and thunders across with translucency and fabulous balance.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #38 we come to Mitsuko Uchida’s Debussy Etudes. There are many I could have chosen here, but this is something very special indeed. I just wanted to pay homage to the wonderful delicacy of this magnificent pianist’s art.
August 6, 2026 at 8:33 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #38 we come to Mitsuko Uchida’s Debussy Etudes. There are many I could have chosen here, but this is something very special indeed. I just wanted to pay homage to the wonderful delicacy of this magnificent pianist’s art.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. And it’s now the top 5. At #4 it’s Bernard Haitink’s stunning Debussy collection. I particularly love La Mer here, but it’s all great. I might choose others for individual works, but I treasure everything here.
August 25, 2026 at 5:50 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. And it’s now the top 5. At #4 it’s Bernard Haitink’s stunning Debussy collection. I particularly love La Mer here, but it’s all great. I might choose others for individual works, but I treasure everything here.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #6 we have another modern classic. Sure, I love Jessye Norman in this music, but I find Soile Isokoski’s account of the Four Last Songs even more touching. A disc to treasure.
August 25, 2026 at 6:50 AM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #6 we have another modern classic. Sure, I love Jessye Norman in this music, but I find Soile Isokoski’s account of the Four Last Songs even more touching. A disc to treasure.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #23 it’s Samson François and André Cluytens with Ravel’s Piano Concertos. These vintage performances capture the fantasy only Ravel’s writing and the unblended orchestral sound brings wonderful textural clarity.
August 18, 2026 at 5:20 AM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #23 it’s Samson François and André Cluytens with Ravel’s Piano Concertos. These vintage performances capture the fantasy only Ravel’s writing and the unblended orchestral sound brings wonderful textural clarity.
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #9 we have the complete Holmboe Symphonic Metamorphoses. This is music of genuine depth, but if you want a slightly lighter starting point, try Symphonies 1 and 3!
August 23, 2026 at 4:00 PM
#LYICMGat50 50 recordings, ahead of my 50th birthday. At #9 we have the complete Holmboe Symphonic Metamorphoses. This is music of genuine depth, but if you want a slightly lighter starting point, try Symphonies 1 and 3!