What a day for superlative premieres! Is there a more touching slow movement than that of Schumann's 2nd symphony (1st perf otd 1846)? A more glorious melody than Vltava, from Ma Vlast (1st perf otd 1882)? Or a funnier tone-poem than Till Eulenspiegl (1st perf otd 1894)?

Felix Mendelssohn d otd 1847, age 37.Astonishing master, charismatic man, idealist: "This is what I think art is and what I demand of it: that it pull everyone in, that it show one person another's most intimate thoughts and feelings, that it throw open the window of the soul."

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Beloved Gabriel Fauré d otd 101 years ago! A quiet genius who never pushed himself, who aimed for musical simplicity while expressing the most profound thoughts and emotions, creating a unique world full of tenderness, controlled passion and joy. And a truly wonderful man, too.

Wonderful thoughts (applying to musicians too!) from Henri Matisse (d otd 1954): “The artist must see all things as if he were seeing them for the first time.” “An artist should never be a prisoner of himself, prisoner of style, prisoner of reputation, prisoner of success, etc."

A very happy birthday to beloved Marta Istomin Casals. Alas, her health is not as it was; but still, when one sees her (as I did earlier this year), it is impossible to believe that her first husband was born in 1876! A truly wonderful person. https://t.co/yiyO9cFdcI

Limited time. Lasting impression.

Wonderful conductor Eugene Jochum b otd 1902. Hearing his Bruckner 7th symphony with the Vienna PO c 40 years ago remains one of the highlights of my musical life. It was overwhelming - and didn't seem long at all! Just transcendent: powerful, magical - and unforgettable.

Keats b otd 1795! “The poetry of the earth is never dead.” “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.” “Thou wast not born for death, immortal bird!” “Time, that aged nurse, rocked me to patience.” “The excellence of every Art is its intensity.” “Love is my religion--I could die for it.”

Wit/wisdom from R B Sheridan (b otd 1751): “The number of those who undergo the fatigue of judging for themselves is very small indeed.” "There is not a passion so strongly rooted in the human heart as envy." "Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you."

Don Giovanni premiered otd in Prague 1787. What a timeless masterpiece, expanding well beyond mere beauty; the music ranges from the seductive to the terrifying - and retains its power to shock, as well as charm. An opera that can convert those who claim to hate opera!

Evelyn Waugh b otd 1903! O God, make me good, but not yet. When we argue for our limitations, we get to keep them. All this fuss about sleeping together. For physical pleasure I'd sooner go to my dentist any day. In the dying world I come from, quotation is a national vice. (!!)

Paganini b otd 1782! His performances as a violinist are still the stuff of legend; but he should also not be under-estimated as a composer. His music is full of unique charm and originality - and, like his playing, not just fireworks. As Schubert put it: 'I heard an angel sing.'

Domenico Scarlatti b otd 1685! A unique musical voice - each sonata a gem, polished to brilliance, affording endless delight; the master of the unexpected. And here some wise advice for listeners: "Show yourself more human than critical, and then your pleasure will increase."

Bizet b otd 1838! What a master - and a wonderful man, too: "When a supposedly civilised society tolerates, even encourages, stupid and useless monstrosities... honest and intelligent men must come together, agree, love one another, enlighten one another, and pity the idiots..."

Luciano Berio, b otd 100 years ago! "Music helps people to find harmony between the body and the mind... It helps you sometimes to fly away. You listen with your body." 'The music that interests me is that which carries traces of the past, but has a vision of the future, too."

Wisdom from Saint Ignatius (b otd 1491): "I wish not merely to be called Christian, but also to be Christian." "Occupy yourself in beholding and bewailing your own imperfections rather than contemplating the imperfections of others." "Teach us to give and not to count the cost."

Liszt b otd 1811! I love Grieg's description: "He does not really play—one forgets he is a musician, he becomes a prophet proclaiming the Last Judgment, till all the spirits of the universe vibrate under his fingers... He stirs one’s inmost soul with demonic power.” Wow...

Conductors on using words in rehearsal: Solti (b otd 1912):"I can achieve much more when I am quiet and not shouting." Haitink (d otd 2021): "I want to create a communication with an orchestra...with your hands, and with your musical personality.  Words don’t help then, anymore."

Charles Ives b otd 1874! Beauty in music is too often confused with something that lets the ear lie back in an easy chair. Every great inspiration is but an experiment - though every experiment we know, is not a great inspiration. Stand up and take your dissonance like a man.

Wonderful writer/man John le Carré/David Cornwell b otd 1931. Complex, piercing, brilliant: "Only the dream has changed; the blood is the same colour." "The rules have changed; we haven't." "Betrayal can only happen if you love." “The opposite of love isn't hate, it's apathy.”

Some music especially suits particular audiences. For instance: I have just been playing two Boccherini sonatas for 2 cellos here in Japan. This is some of the most intimate, gentle music I know - and it so greatly benefits from that very special silence of Japanese audiences...