Aidan Oliver
@aidanoliver.bsky.social
Chorus Director, Glyndebourne Opera
A mesmerising painting - endlessly fascinating and enchanting.
Hunting deer, with very enthusiastic dogs, in 1470. A strange forest with carefully receding space that is of course the creation of Paolo Uccello, whose day is today.
December 11, 2025 at 12:08 AM
A mesmerising painting - endlessly fascinating and enchanting.
Yet still from Eden springs the root
As clean as on the starting day.
Time takes the foliage and the fruit
And burns the archetypal leaf
To shapes of terror and of grief
Scattered along the winter way.
...
Strange blessings never in Paradise
Fall from these beclouded skies.
As clean as on the starting day.
Time takes the foliage and the fruit
And burns the archetypal leaf
To shapes of terror and of grief
Scattered along the winter way.
...
Strange blessings never in Paradise
Fall from these beclouded skies.
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 6, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Yet still from Eden springs the root
As clean as on the starting day.
Time takes the foliage and the fruit
And burns the archetypal leaf
To shapes of terror and of grief
Scattered along the winter way.
...
Strange blessings never in Paradise
Fall from these beclouded skies.
As clean as on the starting day.
Time takes the foliage and the fruit
And burns the archetypal leaf
To shapes of terror and of grief
Scattered along the winter way.
...
Strange blessings never in Paradise
Fall from these beclouded skies.
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
#Opera Glyndebourne defies 2023 Arts Council England cut with record 2025 crowds (32k; 24% first-time) and expands Autumn 2026: more mainstage shows, concerts, and the world premiere of Spark (Lucy Armstrong/Olivia Bell). Oct 14–Dec 13, 35k tickets, 11k under £50. Thoughts? #UKArts #ArtsFunding
November 26, 2025 at 3:09 PM
#Opera Glyndebourne defies 2023 Arts Council England cut with record 2025 crowds (32k; 24% first-time) and expands Autumn 2026: more mainstage shows, concerts, and the world premiere of Spark (Lucy Armstrong/Olivia Bell). Oct 14–Dec 13, 35k tickets, 11k under £50. Thoughts? #UKArts #ArtsFunding
Still the most mesmerising, amusing, atmospheric, crazy and exquisite painting: Ucello's 'The Hunt' at the Ashmolean. A narrative focus disappearing into complete darkness; mayhem, adrenalin and joy everywhere else. Wonderful.
November 10, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Still the most mesmerising, amusing, atmospheric, crazy and exquisite painting: Ucello's 'The Hunt' at the Ashmolean. A narrative focus disappearing into complete darkness; mayhem, adrenalin and joy everywhere else. Wonderful.
Saw this in the Christchurch Picture Gallery in Oxford just last week, and taken back by just how modern it comes across.
(Particularly when you see it at scale - it's big).
(Particularly when you see it at scale - it's big).
Beautifully painting unbeautiful things: butcher shop by Annibale Carracci of Bologna, 1580, whose day is today.
November 3, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Saw this in the Christchurch Picture Gallery in Oxford just last week, and taken back by just how modern it comes across.
(Particularly when you see it at scale - it's big).
(Particularly when you see it at scale - it's big).
One of the very finest
View of Delft, 1661. Sunlight splashes through soft clouds onto weathered hardness of brick & stone. Breathtaking. Vermeer, born OTD 1632.
October 31, 2025 at 6:11 PM
One of the very finest
I find myself loving Hobbema more and more these days.
Born on this day (or nearly) in 1638, in Amsterdam, Meindert Hobbema. Painter of wonderfully inhabitable landscapes. Here, High Road, 1665.
October 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I find myself loving Hobbema more and more these days.
Yes, this is the way to do it! Warmth, humour, authenticity, humanity. Lovely to see.
Juntos vamos a construir la ciudad que merecemos!
Y con tu ayuda, voy a seguir aprendiendo español 😉
Y con tu ayuda, voy a seguir aprendiendo español 😉
October 30, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Yes, this is the way to do it! Warmth, humour, authenticity, humanity. Lovely to see.
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
How insanely beautiful can sunlight on a cloud be? This insanely beautiful. The Maas at Dordrecht, 1650, by Aelbert Cuyp, whose day is today
October 20, 2025 at 4:28 PM
How insanely beautiful can sunlight on a cloud be? This insanely beautiful. The Maas at Dordrecht, 1650, by Aelbert Cuyp, whose day is today
Delighted to be making my Royal Albert Hall conducting debut with this Glyndebourne performance of Messiah!
Hallelujah! For one night only, experience the power of Handel’s sacred oratorio, Messiah, in this concert from Glyndebourne Chorus and Glyndebourne Sinfonia.
Priority booking for Friends & Patrons open at 10am on Thu 25 Sep. General sale starts at 10am on Fri 26 Sep: https://bit.ly/4nIIXRk
Priority booking for Friends & Patrons open at 10am on Thu 25 Sep. General sale starts at 10am on Fri 26 Sep: https://bit.ly/4nIIXRk
October 9, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Delighted to be making my Royal Albert Hall conducting debut with this Glyndebourne performance of Messiah!
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
Glyndebourne is the pinnacle of country house opera, but the organisation's radical programme and charity work is overlooked.
This opera festival might be elitist – but it's also more community minded than you think
www.bigissue.com
September 28, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Glyndebourne is the pinnacle of country house opera, but the organisation's radical programme and charity work is overlooked.
A lovely interview with the best music librarian I've ever worked with (and I've known some miracle workers).
Martyn makes a vastly complicated job look easy, and runs the nicest and most efficient music team you will ever meet. All of them stellar, and lovely with it. Worth a read.
Martyn makes a vastly complicated job look easy, and runs the nicest and most efficient music team you will ever meet. All of them stellar, and lovely with it. Worth a read.
Ever wondered how how an opera festival keeps all its musicians supplied with the right scores and parts? Martyn Bennett of Glyndebourne explains in the latest instalment of our "Week in the life" series: iaml-uk-irl.org/a-week-in-th.... Picture © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Sam Stephenson
August 1, 2025 at 10:30 PM
A lovely interview with the best music librarian I've ever worked with (and I've known some miracle workers).
Martyn makes a vastly complicated job look easy, and runs the nicest and most efficient music team you will ever meet. All of them stellar, and lovely with it. Worth a read.
Martyn makes a vastly complicated job look easy, and runs the nicest and most efficient music team you will ever meet. All of them stellar, and lovely with it. Worth a read.
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
It was the greatest of pleasures to see Handel's Saul at Glyndebourne on Sunday, and I can now confirm that @timashash.bsky.social is accurate in every respect in this typically insightful review.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
Saul review – probing, dark and engrossing staging of Handel’s oratorio
Barrie Kosky’s remarkable 2015 production returns to the summer festival with Christopher Purves and Iestyn Davies superb in the lead roles
www.theguardian.com
July 9, 2025 at 1:44 PM
It was the greatest of pleasures to see Handel's Saul at Glyndebourne on Sunday, and I can now confirm that @timashash.bsky.social is accurate in every respect in this typically insightful review.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
Saint George doffs his helmet as he presents Canon van der Paele to Mary (as altar) in the apse of a church. Brilliant symbolic construct and so gorgeously painted in 1434 by Jan van Eyck. It’s his day.
July 9, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Saint George doffs his helmet as he presents Canon van der Paele to Mary (as altar) in the apse of a church. Brilliant symbolic construct and so gorgeously painted in 1434 by Jan van Eyck. It’s his day.
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
Went to the opera at Glyndebourne yesterday. A Stunning performance of The Marriage of Figaro. Too many standout performances to mention.
It’s said that opera (and Glyndebourne particularly) are elitist and expensive, but it can cost less than some West End shows. Do yourself a favour and just go.
It’s said that opera (and Glyndebourne particularly) are elitist and expensive, but it can cost less than some West End shows. Do yourself a favour and just go.
July 6, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Went to the opera at Glyndebourne yesterday. A Stunning performance of The Marriage of Figaro. Too many standout performances to mention.
It’s said that opera (and Glyndebourne particularly) are elitist and expensive, but it can cost less than some West End shows. Do yourself a favour and just go.
It’s said that opera (and Glyndebourne particularly) are elitist and expensive, but it can cost less than some West End shows. Do yourself a favour and just go.
It was empty the morning we were there last December too, except for the lovely curator who met us by chance and fondly showed us Pieter's burial place, just near this viewpoint.
Born this day in 1597, in Assendelft, Pieter Saenredam. Painted the spatial marvels of Holland's (mostly) empty churches. Here, the Bavokerk in Haarlem, 1628.
July 3, 2025 at 11:02 PM
It was empty the morning we were there last December too, except for the lovely curator who met us by chance and fondly showed us Pieter's burial place, just near this viewpoint.
3 months later, with the Supreme Court now having given effective carte blanche to a rogue regime, this is more true than ever.
I don't think most people in the UK really have a sense of the deep, deep trouble the US is in.
Trump’s latest law firm target?
Wilmer Hale.
Read the Executive Order here: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Wilmer Hale.
Read the Executive Order here: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
July 3, 2025 at 10:56 PM
3 months later, with the Supreme Court now having given effective carte blanche to a rogue regime, this is more true than ever.
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
★★★★★ Review: Le Nozze di Figaro – Starring Michael Nagl, Mariame Clément’s production of Mozart’s classic comedy showcases Glyndebourne at its best 👇
Le Nozze di Figaro: Mariame Clément's production is observant and truthful
www.thestage.co.uk
June 30, 2025 at 5:08 PM
★★★★★ Review: Le Nozze di Figaro – Starring Michael Nagl, Mariame Clément’s production of Mozart’s classic comedy showcases Glyndebourne at its best 👇
This is increasingly clear.
Seriously, guys, stop pretending the Constitution is going to save you. You have to save yourselves.
June 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
This is increasingly clear.
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
“Each move by Trump now seems normalised, hardly a news item for more than a few hours…
“The constitution of the United States is in crisis, and there are shrugs rather than pitchforks.” @davidallengreen.bsky.social emptycity.substack.com/p/a-postcard...
“The constitution of the United States is in crisis, and there are shrugs rather than pitchforks.” @davidallengreen.bsky.social emptycity.substack.com/p/a-postcard...
A postcard from a spectator of a constitutional crisis
How things look in June 2025
emptycity.substack.com
June 12, 2025 at 10:46 AM
“Each move by Trump now seems normalised, hardly a news item for more than a few hours…
“The constitution of the United States is in crisis, and there are shrugs rather than pitchforks.” @davidallengreen.bsky.social emptycity.substack.com/p/a-postcard...
“The constitution of the United States is in crisis, and there are shrugs rather than pitchforks.” @davidallengreen.bsky.social emptycity.substack.com/p/a-postcard...
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
If you ever wanted to understand what an effort to exert unchecked executive power against representatives of the legislative branch looks like
BREAKING
US Senator Alex Padilla was just forcibly removed and detained at DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference in Los Angeles.
US Senator Alex Padilla was just forcibly removed and detained at DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference in Los Angeles.
June 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM
If you ever wanted to understand what an effort to exert unchecked executive power against representatives of the legislative branch looks like
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
All roads lead to the Bavokerk in Gerrit Berckheyde's Haarlem, 1680. Today is his day.
June 12, 2025 at 3:47 PM
All roads lead to the Bavokerk in Gerrit Berckheyde's Haarlem, 1680. Today is his day.
Reposted by Aidan Oliver
2/2 North transept & choir chapel of St. Janskerk, Utrecht. Trust Pieter Saenredam to find a view in any church that surprises & fascinates the eye.
June 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
2/2 North transept & choir chapel of St. Janskerk, Utrecht. Trust Pieter Saenredam to find a view in any church that surprises & fascinates the eye.