Finally caught up with the spectacular Welsh National Opera Death in Venice tonight 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Opera with circus, what's not to like? But I'm sick of cheering brilliant British opera companies under threat. Who can bring this philistinism to an end?

Caudieux is surely Proust's Baron de Charlus? That's at least how I imagine him!

Also an ad for the theatrophone by means of which Proust was captivated by Pelléas et Mélisande

Fabulous opening tonight to 'formidable' show of Toulouse-Lautrec and his contemporaries Victoria Art Gallery Catch it if you can!

Please can I ask everyone to sign/share/retweet the h*ll out of this petition asking our politicians to #SaveWNO before it’s too late. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

megaphone.org.uk/petitions/prot…

Lesley Griffiths Lucy Frazer Thangam Debbonaire Musicians' Union Equity Freelancers Make Theatre Work

Loved Wynton Marsalis playful, eclectic new concerto stunningly delivered by Alison Balsom and London Symphony Orchestra last night at the spectacular new-look Bristol Beacon. But it's Daphnis and Chloe that got to me - every time!

Please consider signing: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

Two great champions of modernism. RIP

If you commission the tone deaf to write a report on opera, then their conclusions should come as no surprise. You will not get more new work, you will not get greater access if you destroy the very ecosystem from which these things spring theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Freelance musicians generally receive a fixed daily rate; trombonists, however, are on a sliding scale

This term's Ertegun Futures Seminar is given by Shadreck Chirikure (Edward Hall Professor of Archaeological Science) on 'Archaeology and globalisation: what lessons for the present and future?' Do join us on Thur 8 Feb at 17.00 (free but booking required) torch.ox.ac.uk/event/ertegun-…

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Opera's Editor on the money, as always

Have you heard Zone Club’s Christmas song? Written and performed by our musical group for learning disabled adults, we’d love it to be your Christmas No 1. Watch - and do donate. gofund.me/574cb5ac

'On International Migrants Day, we highlight the urgent need for safe migration governance rooted in solidarity, partnership and respect for human rights' (UN Sec-Gen António Guterres) Rest in peace, Leonard Farruku. Britain failed you.

The eloquent Fiona Maddocks
devotes half her column to the plight of English National Opera, giving voice to the silenced musicians and technical staff. Well said 👏 theguardian.com/music/2023/dec…

Oxford mourns the loss of Mrs Mica Ertegun, CBE ox.ac.uk/news/2023-12-0…

In the light of the terrible news about the closure of Music Oxford Brookes University I reflect on the place of music education in UK society bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

“Did you know, Royal Opera House has just launched a new social channel ROH Schools dedicated to supporting teachers and schools across England by sharing free teaching resources, CPD ops and much more?”

I've joined bsky.social where you can find me with the same handle Jonathan Cross