Tim Ashley
@timashash.bsky.social
Writer, critic, gay, likes decadent French, German and Italian literature, can sometimes be found slouching around in leather. I live in Sussex by the sea. #TeamRacine #TeamFlaubert #TeamFranzWerfel
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Tim Ashley
@timashash.bsky.social
· Aug 25
Still can't quite get over the thrill of finally seeing my Gramophone Collection piece on Debussy's Le martyre de Saint Sébastien in print.
Sex, violence and the Trojan War. I have been spending time in the company of Hugo Wolf and Kleist for a Gramophone Magazine Explorations piece on Penthesiliea.
January 24, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Sex, violence and the Trojan War. I have been spending time in the company of Hugo Wolf and Kleist for a Gramophone Magazine Explorations piece on Penthesiliea.
Spending a morning with Wozzeck ........
January 21, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Spending a morning with Wozzeck ........
Samuel Barber's Vanessa was first performed in New York on this day in 1958, conducted by Dmitri Mitropoulos, with the great Eleanor Steber in the title role. This is the broadcast from a later performance in the opening run.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWmu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWmu...
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January 15, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Samuel Barber's Vanessa was first performed in New York on this day in 1958, conducted by Dmitri Mitropoulos, with the great Eleanor Steber in the title role. This is the broadcast from a later performance in the opening run.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWmu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWmu...
Really saddened and shocked to hear of Andrew Clements' death. A wonderful critic, matchless on 20 and 21st century music, and a great colleague and friend to whom I owe an immense debt of gratitude for his role in giving me my own break as a critic. It's a huge loss. And he will be greatly missed.
January 11, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Really saddened and shocked to hear of Andrew Clements' death. A wonderful critic, matchless on 20 and 21st century music, and a great colleague and friend to whom I owe an immense debt of gratitude for his role in giving me my own break as a critic. It's a huge loss. And he will be greatly missed.
The great American soprano Evelyn Lear was born 100 years ago today. Here she is singing Hugo Wolf's orchestral version of Kennst du das Land, with the Vienna Symphony and Otto Gerdes in 1968.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkCB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkCB...
Wolf: Lieder der Mignon: No. 9, Mignon "Kennst du das Land"
YouTube video by Evelyn Lear - Topic
www.youtube.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:14 PM
The great American soprano Evelyn Lear was born 100 years ago today. Here she is singing Hugo Wolf's orchestral version of Kennst du das Land, with the Vienna Symphony and Otto Gerdes in 1968.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkCB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkCB...
So Storm Goretti is now upon us! An unholy racket from outside and we're only under the yellow warning here. So stay safe and take good care, good people, and don't go out in it unless you absolutely have to .....
January 8, 2026 at 5:59 PM
So Storm Goretti is now upon us! An unholy racket from outside and we're only under the yellow warning here. So stay safe and take good care, good people, and don't go out in it unless you absolutely have to .....
Reposted by Tim Ashley
When did having different political views turn into utter contempt for the lives and feelings of others?
Right after Renée Good’s disgusting murder, a ICE goon was filmed kicking her memorial candles.
Absolutely vile.
Absolutely vile.
January 8, 2026 at 4:17 PM
When did having different political views turn into utter contempt for the lives and feelings of others?
"Il pleure dans mon coeur comme il pleut sur la ville ....." Paul Verlaine died 130 years ago today. Here is Debussy in 1904 accompanying Mary Garden in three songs from his wonderful Verlaine cycle Ariettes oubliées
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r_M...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r_M...
Debussy plays Debussy | Ariettes Oubliées, with Mary Garden (1904)
YouTube video by Adagietto
www.youtube.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:33 PM
"Il pleure dans mon coeur comme il pleut sur la ville ....." Paul Verlaine died 130 years ago today. Here is Debussy in 1904 accompanying Mary Garden in three songs from his wonderful Verlaine cycle Ariettes oubliées
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r_M...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r_M...
Beethoven was (probably) born on this day in 1770. So here's the great Frida Leider singing Ah! Perfido.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilzx...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilzx...
Ah! perfido (Konzertarie, Nr.65)
YouTube video by Frida Leider - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Beethoven was (probably) born on this day in 1770. So here's the great Frida Leider singing Ah! Perfido.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilzx...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilzx...
The vagaries of delivery firms this Christmas. I get a message saying "We tried to deliver your parcel, but ......" Actually, no, you didn't. I was in. The doorbell and entry-phone both work. There's a concierge's desk in the block's lobby. It really isn't that hard to get right .......
December 14, 2025 at 10:46 AM
The vagaries of delivery firms this Christmas. I get a message saying "We tried to deliver your parcel, but ......" Actually, no, you didn't. I was in. The doorbell and entry-phone both work. There's a concierge's desk in the block's lobby. It really isn't that hard to get right .......
Wondering whether to change my name to Ebeneezer by deed poll. I've never felt less Christmassy than I do this year, so totally stressed by it all .......
December 12, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Wondering whether to change my name to Ebeneezer by deed poll. I've never felt less Christmassy than I do this year, so totally stressed by it all .......
Reposted by Tim Ashley
Brilliant adaptation of 'Cabaret' to 'RFK' shows Randy hasn't lost his touch. You have to wait a bit for the song, but it's worth it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDHp...
RFK! - A Randy Rainbow Song Parody
YouTube video by Randy Rainbow
www.youtube.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Brilliant adaptation of 'Cabaret' to 'RFK' shows Randy hasn't lost his touch. You have to wait a bit for the song, but it's worth it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDHp...
Teresa Stich-Randall singing Jesu, komm in meine Seele from Machet die Tore weit, Telemann's cantata for the first Sunday in Advent.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t0M...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t0M...
Teresa Stich-Randall unearthly beautiful Telemann aria
YouTube video by otterhouse
www.youtube.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Teresa Stich-Randall singing Jesu, komm in meine Seele from Machet die Tore weit, Telemann's cantata for the first Sunday in Advent.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t0M...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t0M...
Puccini died on this day in 1924. So here are Ewa Podles and Patricia Racette as the Zia Principessa and Angelica in the great confrontation scene from Suor Angelica, in San Francisco in 2009, conducted by Patrick Summers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF5b...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF5b...
Il Principe Gualtiero (Suor Angelica-Puccini): Ewa Podles
YouTube video by In Fernem Land
www.youtube.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Puccini died on this day in 1924. So here are Ewa Podles and Patricia Racette as the Zia Principessa and Angelica in the great confrontation scene from Suor Angelica, in San Francisco in 2009, conducted by Patrick Summers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF5b...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF5b...
Franz Schubert died on this day in 1828. Elly Ameling sings Im Abendrot with Danton Baldwin at the piano.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkhu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkhu...
Schubert: Im Abendrot, D. 799
YouTube video by Elly Ameling - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Franz Schubert died on this day in 1828. Elly Ameling sings Im Abendrot with Danton Baldwin at the piano.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkhu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkhu...
Good friends, I have some news in that I have now stepped down permanently from the Guardian. This has not been a decision taken lightly, but I believe it to be right for me now. 1.
November 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Good friends, I have some news in that I have now stepped down permanently from the Guardian. This has not been a decision taken lightly, but I believe it to be right for me now. 1.
Never deride someone else's phobia. You might find it daft or ridiculous, but please remember that phobias can ruin lives.
November 12, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Never deride someone else's phobia. You might find it daft or ridiculous, but please remember that phobias can ruin lives.
God, how I love Hugo Wolf sometimes. That ability to lay bare a human soul in three minutes. Unique and utterly astonishing.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5PB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5PB...
Wolf - So lasst mich scheinen - Seefried / Werba Salzburg 1957
YouTube video by incontrario motu
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:52 PM
God, how I love Hugo Wolf sometimes. That ability to lay bare a human soul in three minutes. Unique and utterly astonishing.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5PB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5PB...
Having a terrible time with my mobile at the moment, as I've just (yesterday) transferred from pay as you go to a contract and for whatever reason now can't make or receive calls. Doesn't help that I'm completely technophobic and haven't the first clue what I'm doing ...... 😳
November 8, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Having a terrible time with my mobile at the moment, as I've just (yesterday) transferred from pay as you go to a contract and for whatever reason now can't make or receive calls. Doesn't help that I'm completely technophobic and haven't the first clue what I'm doing ...... 😳
Tchaikovsky died on this day in 1893. So here are Patrick Dupond and Marie Claude Pietragalla as Siegfried and Odile In Swan Lake in Paris in 1992. Just astonishing, the pair of them
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ0n...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ0n...
POB 1992 Swan Lake cho Bourmeister Patrick Dupond Marie Claude Pietragalla Oliver Patey
YouTube video by judith booth
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Tchaikovsky died on this day in 1893. So here are Patrick Dupond and Marie Claude Pietragalla as Siegfried and Odile In Swan Lake in Paris in 1992. Just astonishing, the pair of them
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ0n...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ0n...
Gunpowder, treason and plot ........ Some amazing fireworks going on round here. 🎆
November 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Gunpowder, treason and plot ........ Some amazing fireworks going on round here. 🎆
Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf was born on this day in 1739. Here's the Sixth (Fifth in some orderings) of his wonderful Symphonies after Ovid's Metamorphoses, The Lycian Peasants Transformed into Frogs. Bohumil Gregor conducts the Prague Chamber Orchestra.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7VN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7VN...
Carl Dittersdorf - Symphony 6 on Ovid's 'Metamorphoses', Kr.78 'Les paysans changés en grenouilles'
YouTube video by TheOneAndOnlyZeno
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf was born on this day in 1739. Here's the Sixth (Fifth in some orderings) of his wonderful Symphonies after Ovid's Metamorphoses, The Lycian Peasants Transformed into Frogs. Bohumil Gregor conducts the Prague Chamber Orchestra.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7VN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7VN...
Have just watched the Mia Wasikowska/Michael Fassbender Jane Eyre having not seen it before. God, what a beautiful piece of work, the best version since Joan Fontaine/Orson Welles, maybe the best version ever, I don't know. But it's really wonderful.
November 1, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Have just watched the Mia Wasikowska/Michael Fassbender Jane Eyre having not seen it before. God, what a beautiful piece of work, the best version since Joan Fontaine/Orson Welles, maybe the best version ever, I don't know. But it's really wonderful.
A sinister story's best for Halloween. 🎃 This is Nino Oxilia's wonderful 1917 film Rapsodia Satanica. The score is by Mascagni, his only work for film. For some reason, the music doesn't start until seven or so minutes into the movie.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRdD...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRdD...
"Rapsodia Satanica" (1917) - Full Movie
YouTube video by Movie_Seeker
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:40 AM
A sinister story's best for Halloween. 🎃 This is Nino Oxilia's wonderful 1917 film Rapsodia Satanica. The score is by Mascagni, his only work for film. For some reason, the music doesn't start until seven or so minutes into the movie.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRdD...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRdD...