London-raised, Leeds-based primary music teacher, horn and ukulele player, film and classical CD critic, responsible dog and cat owner. Writing things for www.theartdesk.com (@theartsdesk.bsky.social)since 2009. Proud Irish citizen ☘️.https://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mzef2y3o4c2nInto the Woods, DDR style... this compilation of folktales is a tad uneven but the high spots are brilliant. Release the mice! theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray... #eurekavideo #GDR #DDR #DEFA #singingringingtree02 Nov 2026 22:35 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzef2y3o4c2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mz3ymgmnd22zIs @halfframephotoday.bsky.social still a thing? Took these in last weekend's sunshine with @ilfordphoto.com XP2. #filmphotography30 Oct 2026 14:30 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mz3ymgmnd22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mz3efm74qs2iI bought this second hand and it’s an interesting book to dip into. Poulenc comes across as such an affable and modest person. #francispoulenc #classicalmusic #frenchmusic30 Oct 2026 08:29 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mz3efm74qs2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3myx5u2z2xc26I'm working through Eureka Video's 'Into the Forest' anthology, a collection of East German fairytales. 'The Singing Ringing Tree' is a highlight, @bobfischer.bsky.social pointing out the transfigured prince's resemblance to Bungle. #defa #singingringingtree @scarredforlife.bsky.social28 Oct 2026 16:21 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3myx5u2z2xc26https://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mylyaq6lgk2tThis week's BIG HEAP of classical reviews - all wheat and no chaff: https://theartsdesk.com/classical-music/classical-cds-squibs-cows-and-chewing-gum @bernardhughes.bsky.social @davidnice.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #joansutherland #lucasdebargue #tubin #kabelac #williamgrantstill #debussy24 Oct 2026 05:41 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mylyaq6lgk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3myhvlfyab22o99p charity shop purchase, in excellent condition! Not my favourite Strauss, but this is a good performance. #vinyl #strauss #einheldenleben22 Oct 2026 14:43 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3myhvlfyab22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3myb2iqbnz22dThe Jerome Robbins/Robert Wise film of Bernstein's West Side Story is flawed but occasionally brilliant, and contains the line: "Cut the frabberjabber." I think that the Spielberg remake is better, though. https://theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray-west-side-story #westsidestory #bernstein #jeromerobbins19 Oct 2026 21:22 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3myb2iqbnz22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3my3lreor6c22I've just rewatched the 1961 Robert Wise/Jerome Robbins 'West Side Story'. Lots of flaws (I think Spielberg's remake is a better film overall) but I'd forgotten how affecting it is in places, and Saul Bass's closing credits are fabulous. #westsidestory #saulbass #leonardbernstein #creditsequence17 Oct 2026 17:15 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3my3lreor6c22https://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mxyu5ttl622fI've had to cancel a planned trip from Leeds to London, and LNER have just given me a full refund without me having to jump through loads of hoops. Bonanza! @lner.co.uk #refund #goodservice #railtravel16 Oct 2026 15:07 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxyu5ttl622fhttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mxqd5xyynk2c"Get back to your tenements!" Mike Leigh's 'Nuts in May' is marvellous. Read my thoughts here: https://www.theartsdesk.com/tv/blu-ray-nuts-may #mikeleigh #nutsinmay #bfi13 Oct 2026 05:42 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxqd5xyynk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mxipyo7nos2zTypically wide ranging - here's this week's BIG HEAP of exciting classical reviews: https://www.theartsdesk.com/classical-music/classical-cds-swans-soap-and-flying-machines @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #shostakovich #sibelius #astorpiazzolla #danielamack #emileparisien @rsno.bsky.social @berliner-philharmoniker.de #chanticleer10 Oct 2026 05:10 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxipyo7nos2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mxeqwlbuac26London's beautiful brutalist Barbican Centre, snapped on film using an Agfa Optima Sensor 335. Gives these images a nice 1970s vibe. #believeinfilm #barbicancentre #brutalism08 Oct 2026 15:16 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxeqwlbuac26https://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mxdpvfhnuc25I watched the new Celibidache biopic. It makes for amenable enough viewing but doesn't dig very deep. https://theartsdesk.com/film/yellow-tie-review-politics-philosophy-and-unanswered-questions #bruckner #celibidache #johnmalkovich #seanbean08 Oct 2026 05:25 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxdpvfhnuc25https://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mx7puglja22wCouldn’t resist this second hand LP. This early recording of Prokofiev 7 features the original quiet ending, which is a plus. #prokofiev #sviatoslavrichter #karelancerl #supraphon06 Oct 2026 15:14 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mx7puglja22whttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mwvmguzphk2mMahler 6 for piano duet! Just dipped into a preview copy, and it's really, really good. @deeplyclassical.bsky.social #mahler #zemlinsky #piano4hands02 Oct 2026 14:46 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwvmguzphk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mwfnslslyc2sAnother bumper slew of quality classical reviewage: https://www.theartsdesk.com/classical-music/classical-cds-postcards-sighs-and-tap-dancing @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @nmcrecordings.bsky.social #elgar #dvorak #ghedini #sandrinepiau #vaughanwilliams26 Sep 2026 06:28 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwfnslslyc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mw4ipiml3226Looking forward to hearing this slab of French baroque goodness. Roy’s Soups! I love this repertoire…#baroque #lalande #herveniquet22 Sep 2026 15:03 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw4ipiml3226https://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mw3hz5ngmk2jHunt for the Wilderpeople, in a 10th anniversary reissue. Lovely, funny film with a melancholy edge. Plus two charismatic dog actors. Read more: https://www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray-hunt-wilderpeople #huntforthewilderpeople #samneill #newzealand22 Sep 2026 05:18 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw3hz5ngmk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mvntrihcpc2aA simple search for a stopping mute on eBay throws up some alarming things. If you're flogging a horn, why not check to see if what you're selling is set up correctly? These two listings are the stuff of nightmares.... #frenchhorn #valveslides #brassinstrument16 Sep 2026 19:11 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvntrihcpc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mvjybuxwcc2cI used to think that John Schlesinger's 'Billy Liar' was a comedy, but his adaptation of Keith Waterhouse's novel gets darker and sadder each time I see it. A brilliant film: https://www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray-billy-liar @studiocanal.com #billyliar #tomcourtenay #juliechristie #leonardrossiter15 Sep 2026 06:21 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvjybuxwcc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mvcflkyglc2iHere's my research for the main item in this week's column. "On Broadway" belonged to my grandad, who used to read a story from it every day. https://www.theartsdesk.com/classical-music/classical-cds-bluejays-cornetts-and-crapshooters @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #guysanddolls #johnwilson #mahler #brahms @jkaconductor.bsky.social12 Sep 2026 05:58 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvcflkyglc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mv2s4imasc2yI've been contributing to @theartsdesk.bsky.social since it began in 2009. All the arts coverage you'll ever need, on a single nifty website. Have a look at the site, and if you subscribe by midnight you'll pay just £40 per year FOR EVER!09 Sep 2026 05:21 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv2s4imasc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mu77q6fav22eThis Saturday's typically eclectic selection, expertly curated. https://www.theartsdesk.com/classical-music/classical-cds-pigeons-pennies-and-piaf @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #cpebach #poulenc #schubert #juliuseastman @stevereich.bsky.social #pigeons29 Aug 2026 06:10 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu77q6fav22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/grahamrickson.bsky.social/post/3mu34zbjlus2sNew bike shed, installed (not by me) on time and on budget. Who says big infrastructure projects don't succeed in the UK? #shed #dog #backyard #timclad27 Aug 2026 15:11 +0000at://did:plc:zxgeogcd3kfvbx3o36seqmph/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu34zbjlus2s