Let's end the day as we started, with an immersion into the Chinese culture. This time, ballet. More exactly, with "The Red Detachment of Women", a revolutionary ballet that premiered in 1964 by the Central Ballet of China. It's a story related to the 1930s Chinese Civil War and an all-female communist guerrilla detachment. Some may laugh, some may enjoy it, it's a history page.

For jazz lovers, Thelonius Monk performing Ugly Beauty in 1969, in Paris, where he travelled for an interview with the French state television. This footage is from Rewind & Play, a 2022 Franco-German documentary by Alain Gomis.

Well, this is somehow a blind spot for me. While most of us know Lang Lang, here's together with solo violist Diyang Mei and principal horn Yun Zeng as they perform Huang Haihuai’s “Sai Ma” (Horse Racing), dedicated to the new Chinese year of the horse.

"La commedia è finita" One of the first opera moments that got stuck in my memory, but only years later I found out to be the end of the second act from Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. Today, this special moment with Jonas Kaufmann, my favourite tenor. (Salzburg, Austria, 2016)

Do you ever think about the fact that every single note you hear from Requiem was in Mozart's imagination?

All of a sudden, my evenings are asking for jazz. Tonight, Eddie Harris and Les McCann are performing "Cold Duck Time" which gives a mood that I want to share with you. Montreux Jazz Festival 1969

The last time I listened to the second movement from Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, I thought it felt like a falling leaf. Perhaps Khatia Buniatishvili will make you feel the same.

An early morning espresso effect with Khatia Buniatishvili playing Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No 7, Op 83 - 3. Precipitato. Have a great day!

In mood for rain, cognac, cigar and Paul Desmond playing Emily in a dark basement full of cigarette smoke. Monterey Jazz Festival 1975

If you're like me, with the grace of a brick, this hits differently. Jorge Calabrigo and Tiziana Silva, Tango Cup Buenos Aires 2026. 👏👏👏

Montserrat Caballé singing Casta Diva from Bellini's Norma is one of those moments when you remember what exceptional means. This performance was recorded on the night of July 20, 1974, in Théâtre antique d'Orange (the ancient Roman Theatre of Orange) in France. As you can see in the video, it was a night with strong winds that was a nightmare for the orchestra, which needed their musical sheets in place, but it resulted in one of the most important opera moments in the history of television. Have a beautiful evening!

The "Off with their heads" scene from The Royal Ballet's "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland", with Lauren Cuthbertson as The Queen of Hearts.

This is what perfection looks like. Katelyn Kirchhofer, William Newton and Rhys Kosakowski, in Garrett Smith's choreography.

A few moments from the Vienna Opera Ball 2026.

This is my last post for today. We have some sun, and being a rare event this winter, it's beer day all of a sudden. Cannonball Adderley Sextet absolutely rockin' "Work Song". (Switzerland, 1963) Have a great weekend!

For today's lunch break, Maurizio Pollini, together with L'Orchestre de Paris, conducted by Pierre Boulez, performing Bela Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 1. Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, 2001 (I added the YouTube link for the full version.)

A jazz dose this morning with Melba Liston (Quincy Jones Band) playing "My Reverie". Municipal Theatre Lausanne, Switzerland, May 20,1960

I'll end the day on the same note it began, with Chika Asamoto's "Cogs4". Have a great evening! View quoted note →

Somehow, it makes me think about jazz. György Cziffra improvising on Dvořák's Slavonic Dance Op. 72 No. 2.

As an espresso for lunch, Nemanja Radulović playing Beethoven's Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47, "Kreutzer": I. Adagio sostenuto.