Bells, beautiful bells

Robert Thicknesse on Opera TO ANY SENSIBLE ...

When we think of all things Italian, in general terms, what do we think of? And how does that translate into music? As a musician, one might think of the heightened emotions of the Romantic era – spec

Norman Lebrecht on Music HE WORKED SO ...

SUMMER came early this year, which means that ...

In 1974, Mike Oldfield defied the critics and hit the top of the UK charts with Hergest Ridge, the ambitious follow-up to his unexpectedly successful debut Tubular Bells . To coincide with the release of the 50th-anniversary edition, the musician, his siblings and collaborators recount the story of an album created by an overwhelmed 21-year-old taking refuge near the Welsh borders.

Decorating the land with their brilliant and varied hues, our native flora–which operate as clocks, calendars and Nature’s medicine cabinet–are simply blooming brilliant,