The (almost) full Järvi at the Pärnu Music Festival conducting masterclasses: Claudia Jablonski gets advice from Neeme and sons Paavo and Kristjan (pink T shirt; flautist Maarika later appeared at back). Järvi Academy (Youth) Symphony Orchestra already playing Schumann's 'Spring' Symphony so well.

I know he's a binface and not a binliner, but this is good.

Here's the first report from 2016. I've written a roundup for @theartsdesk every year I've been. It's grown since then, but the core concerts are always electrifying. theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

Explosive, revelatory performance of Nielsen 3 from Paavo Jarvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra last night. This is the previous night's performance, which you might want to watch all the way through. The symphony starts at 1h41m. Photo by Kaupo Kikkas parnumusicfestival.tv/landing/bc/6...

7/ World premiere of Gerald Barry's typically wacky take on 'She's far from the land' is at 2h14m34s here. www.rte.ie/radio/lyricf... Pictured, Gerald and intense tenor Dean Power, both from the same Irish village. In between is friend Rosanna Kelly, whose mum Linda wrote a fine book on Moore.

6/ My own not great shot of the company at the end. Wish the audience had been bold enough to clamour for an encore of the Barry.

3/ Looking back, walking to Monkstown. It had already got a lot busier in an hour.

2/ The programme (click to enlarge). A fine line-up of splendid singers, and the world premiere of Gerald Barry's setting of 'She's far from the land', a Europe House commission. RTÉ Lyric FM broadcasts both the concert and, before it, other contributions from the continent (details in next entry).

Tonight at 8 in the fine newish Whyte Concert Hall of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, the brainchild of my other half at the European Parliament: song and instrumental music dedicated to 'Europe's minstrel' Thomas Moore, introduced by Dame Ann Murray, curated by Dearbhla Collins. Programme next.

2/ Howth from Seapoint. The mackerel cirrus cloud formed while we were sitting enjoying the morning sun after the swim.

After the crowds of Tuesday evening, I returned to Seapoint this morning at 8.45am with my London visitor, and found the amphitheatre-like steps by the Martello Tower far less busy than round the corner. Like old times, swimming with a few chatty folk - and staying in for longer than I can remember.

Such a beautiful, moving concert. Not just because of the 89 year old Neeme Järvi conducting a sophisticated group of young people, but for the discovery of Eller and Fibich Twilight pieces. Smetana's Vltava perhaps too fast, but Neeme has lost none of his fire parnumusicfestival.tv/landing/bc/6...

4/ Last glimpse towards Howth, one cormorant on the rocks they usually populate, but also possibly two more terns as well as seagulls. Getting on for 9pm.

3/ Friendliness and consideration as usual even in the crowds. And good to see so much submerging when the sea temperature is still what some folk might regard as cold. Here, looking towards the Poolbeg Towers.

2/ Just a little way along, though, a tern (I think) on a rock made me feel that everything is still much the same despite the crowds.

Since my dip in the upper lake at Glendalough, I've not frequented the usual haunts in Dublin Bay because the heatwave - up to 28 degrees here - has brought out swimmers in their thousands. But after walking from Blackrock Clinic to Seapoint yesterday, sweatiness made me glad of the refreshment.

Special EU concert devoted to Thomas Moore in the RIAM on Saturday, curated by Dearbhla Collins. Inc. a commission setting 'She is far from the land' by Gerald Barry. Wide range of singers, pianists, cellist and iolinist; Dame Ann Murray, pictured here on a visit to my Zoom opera course, presides.

9/ The set wouldn't be complete without a photo by Aldeburgh Productions of the twilight concert I had to miss because of train back to London (another to Scotland for the best wedding I've ever been to early the next morning).

7/ Close-up on one of the Tudor bee boles.

2/ Here's the long-read interview @theartsdesk.bsky.social . She was very generous with her time. theartsdesk.com/opera/theart...

6/ Closer view of excellent planting in what used to be the knot garden in front of the glasshouses. The ancient wisteria surrounding it is even producing a few more flowers now.

Of course. On 5 July 2025 The People's Britain wrote on Facebook 'last year, Yvette Cooper received £215,000 from the Israel lobby. Yesterday, she proscribed Palestine Action as a "terrorist organisation". Here she is with Israel's UK Ambassador Evil Tzipi Hotovely.'

5/ Colour against the glasshouse wall (tomatoes ripening within).

4/ Flowers on the edge of the numerous vegetable beds, looking across to the cart where they sell all produce grown there, and the church again.

3/ The recently-developed pond (chickens and beehives beyond). I always check out dragonflies and damselflies here; none to be seen on Friday.

2/ One of the three Tudor-era bee boles in the surrounding wall, with the tower of All Saints beyond.

Haven't been able to visit the Walled Garden at @fulhampalacetrust.bsky.social for a while. This is peak flowering season, even though the plum tree and the wisteria have their main flourishing earlier. Still a Garden of Eden, as I called it when I first (re)discovered it. Head gardener is a genius.

Finely written piece by that best of mezzos/contraltos Helen Charlston on why she loves Schumann's 'Dichterliebe'. Accompanies Graham Rickson's review on @theartsdesk.bsky.social of the CD in question. theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

3/ Only saw one common blue, and as usual it alighted with wings folded. Not the greatest pic, but ocular proof at least. July is the time when the birds go quiet, so butterflies are a good compensation.

2/ Most abundant, though, were the gatekeepers. Dozens flitting around in two patches of seemingly unexceptional grass, rarely settling, though this one did.