A standing ovation for both Elgar's Cello Concerto and Vaughan Williams' 5th Symphony at Amsterdam's Het Concertgebouw this evening. The received wisdom that English music doesn't travel well has been disproved tonight by Andrew Manze, Alban Gerhardt and the open-minded audience.

Spotify has just surprised me by revealing the name of the composer I listened to more than anyone else this year, after my predictable No.1 - Sibelius.

It was wonderful to hear the LSO play Hindemith's Mathis Der Maler symphony at a packed Barbican this evening. I was less enamoured with George Benjamin's Concerto for Orchestra, but music like his needs more than one hearing to reach a verdict.

I booked a ticket to see Blomstedt next May, in Bamberg. I'm not a betting man, but the odds aren't looking good. Fingers crossed that he'll surprise us all.

I went to really great performance of Shostakovich's 4th yesterday, at the LSO's #HalfSixFix in the Barbican. Simon Rattle dedicated the concert to Navalny and drew apposite comparisons with Shostakovich. But this 1976 quote was surprising, as Shostakovich died the year before.

Wow! What an amazing new work by James MacMillan at the Barbican tonight. Fiat Lux had his trademark elements of elemental mystery, ethereal beauty and deaf-aid shattering excitement (with a hint of Veni, Veni Emmanuel?). I think I had a glimpse of Heaven this evening.

Did anyone else go to see the Tippett 2nd Symphony at the RFH yesterday?

I'm intrigued by this review. Is Tippett's Symphony No.2 still so shocking, 66 years on? theguardian.com/music/2024/apr…

Many thanks to BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and the BBC Singers, ably guided by the Brabster in tonight's concert of the Italian Modernists. Their seemingly effortless virtuosity belied the music's many challenges and the concert was a joy.

Just passing through Bayreuth, listening to Brahms.

Just been to a really interesting concert in Baden-Baden, with the Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokowski conducting the German SWRSO in Vaughan Williams' London Symphony. What would the Germans make of it? Verdict: a really great performance and five curtain calls at the end!

What an amazing evening in Bamberg, last week, with the 96-year-old Herbert Blomstedt (who defied the odds and recovered from a fall last December) conducting a blistering performance of Bruckner's 8th. It's a concert I'll never forget.

I've just finished this book. The Classic FM branding was an accurate indication of the book's chatty, occasionally banal Ladybird book style. But it's a highly readable account of Beethoven's life, for those who don't want an academic study littered with musical examples.

An ambition fulfilled: I have visited Sibelius's home Ainola. Many thanks to the person who advised turning up early, before the coach parties start to arrive, as I had the place to myself for a good half an hour. It's a beautiful house surrounded by nature. A perfect home.

Good to see a packed hall for tonight's Prom concert. Martyn Brabbins sprang a surprise by performing the 1920 version of Vaughan Williams' London Symphony - almost identical to the standard version, but with a few extra bars. A great evening. #bbcproms

Sir Antonio Pappano hugs Sir James MacMillan after the triumphant premier of the latter's new Concerto for Orchestra, 'Ghosts.' I can't remember being more excited by a new piece of music and loved its energy, poetry and wit.

I saw Adam Hickox - son of the late (and much missed) Richard Hickox - conduct Beethoven and Tippett yesterday and was very impressed. Adam is no 'nepo baby' and clearly has a substantial talent of his own. It was a privilege to see a future great at the beginning of his career.

Vaughan Williams fans: guess what I went to see this evening.

It was great to hear Bax's Tintagel at the Barbican last night, but it reminded me of Thomas Beecham's advice to start well and end well, as the audience won't remember the middle. Tintagel began and ended with its fantastic big tune, but the middle was really Poundland La Mer.

Looking forward to Friday's Barbican performance of Malcolm Arnold's 5th - a rare treat!