Off to Shanghai to record a new concerto with Maxim Vengerov. Slightly nervous as my hotel homepage finishes with “Fenyang Garden Hotel does not give you an easy trip” and hope something was lost in translation.

Heard a great performance of Shostakovich 7 today in Madrid with the Orquesta Nacionales conducted by David Afkham.

On the way to my recording this morning thought I’d visit the CD shop at Beck’s department store in Munich. This is just for classical music! Nostalgic tears of gratitude came to this producer’s eyes!

Terrible service Uber Support Wrote a direct message to them about an issue and explained their FAQ help page did not correctly address this issue. So what do they answer? Yes, you guessed! Sent me a link to their website FAQ again!! Idiots!

Have been enjoying recording symphonies by Ter-Tadevosyan and Terterian in Yerevan Armenia. The music was new to me but most stimulating and emotional and well played by the State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sergey Smbatyan. Lovely city, great food, enjoyable experience.

Just arrived in beautiful Sacile to record at the Fazioli concert hall with Giuseppe Albanese. But first some pasta!

Most courier services seem difficult to contact but @Hermesparcels customers’ service take the biscuit! Emails and phone calls to their ‘hot’ lines remain unanswered and the whereabouts of a parcel remains a mystery. I fear I’ll have to engage a lawyer.

Greta is everywhere!

Much enjoyed Igor Levit 's podcast about the LvB op.2 sonatas and wonder why the piano examples he plays there sounds so much better than the actual CD, at least on my small kitchen radio...

enjoyed open-air Aida yesterday in Naples with Jonas Kaufmann. Here the socially distanced chorus behind the not-so-distanced orchestra.

I don’t know how these numbers are computed but I am chuffed that this nice crowd of monks I recorded are no.1!

I sorely miss Whole Foods Market in Germany… back in the USA for the first time in 3 years, I went with anticipation to pick up a lunch from the self-service. Mentioned to an assistant I assumed the chicken is organic to be told NONE of the cooked food’s organic. What has changed here?

@josie5984 I can't say exactement what it was for reasons of confidentiality but it was with orchestra.

In Cambridge Boston to record an excellent choir. Wonderful morning runs along the Charles river 'racing' the rowers - they win easily...

Only in Italy have I experienced wardrobes where I can only just reach the rail. All those tall Italians!

Even if Echo awards are industry influenced...still proud 4 albums I produced got awards:Pretty Yende, Kaufmann, Aida Garafulina and Pollini

Feeling slightly shattered after recording with Argerich until 5 this morning. Now on the way to the airport and home.

If it interests anyone here’s our set-up for the recording with Argerich and Babayan at Schloss Elmau

Normal Venice scene, I know. But who asked the priest if they can fix their washing line to his church?

Confessions of a piano competition judge – Slipped Disc shar.es/1MGsIe