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Brahms’ Last Concert review – OAE and Emelyanychev take audience back to 1897

Queen Elizabeth Hall, London This recreation of the final concert that the composer attended – only weeks before his death aged 63 – featured his fourth symphony, Dvorak’s Cello Concerto and Haydn’s symphony no 73. Every period-instrument outfit has its shtick – its own version of what “historically informed performance ” might mean. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment plays music from an increasingly generous historical tranche ( Stravinsky beckons next season ) but always on instruments dating from the same period as the works being performed. Except when they don’t. This performance marking the OAE’s 40th anniversary was not about imagining what certain compositions might have sounded like to their first audiences. Instead, it reproduced the exact programme of a concert held in Vienna on 7 March 1897. The 19th-century concert was the latest instalment in a series run by the eminent conductor Hans Richter , which turned out to be the final concert ever attended by Johannes Brah...
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Trump accused of showing ‘complete indifference’ to Americans’ living costs after cancelling housing bill signing – US politics live

President was due to sign deal aimed at making life more affordable for Americans but shelved event to pressure Congress to pass restrictive voting bill Trump abruptly cancels signing of bill aimed at lowering housing cost Sign up for the Breaking News US email A man or a movement? That was the question being asked when Zohran Mamdani gambled his political capital on Tuesday’s elections in New York . The answer from voters was emphatic: they prefer Mamdani and his brand of democratic socialism to the Democratic party establishment and its lukewarm version of capitalism. America’s biggest city has swung even further to the left. This is a battle between the establishment and this insurgency. And the roof is collapsing on the Democratic party establishment tonight … This is no longer a movement; this is a movement and a machine at the same time. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/n1oqiSc

South Yorkshire police cleared after video of officers appearing to shove teenage girls

Excerpts of footage of response to incident earlier described as ‘shocking’ but review finds use of force justified A review of video footage that appeared to show South Yorkshire police officers shoving and drawing batons and stun guns on teenage girls has found the “the use of force was proportionate, necessary, and justified to keep all involved safe”. South Yorkshire police initially described the footage as appearing “nothing short of shocking” but a review by its professional standards department found that while there “is an opportunity for learning around de-escalation” the actions were appropriate. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2i7Mcvd

Merlin the duck unruffled after meeting president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum

Pet in a replica shirt is unofficial mascot of the World Cup Merlin’s owner, Karla Gómez, says it was ‘an honour’ Merlin, the pet duck in a mini Mexico shirt who has ⁠become a viral sensation and an unofficial mascot of the World Cup, met Mexico’s president on Monday. The duck waddled on ⁠to the stage ⁠at the ​start of Claudia Sheinbaum’s regular morning press conference, took a seat where ministers and officials are usually seen, and unfazed ⁠by the occasion, let out a few quacks. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3wlAYVm

Nicholls’ experienced knock shows the way after callow England swatted aside | Simon Burnton

Brendon McCullum relied too much on youth in the second Test, while persistence paid dividends for New Zealand In December 2020 Henry Nicholls was a fixture in the New Zealand team, batting at No 5, but he was under pressure. In nine Tests since the end of their series against Bangladesh in early 2019 he averaged only 20.33. But they stuck with him and in his next game, against West Indies in Wellington, he scored 174 and was named player of the match. “In another time he may not have been offered that opportunity,” said one of the commentators covering the match on domestic television. “There’s many cases where guys haven’t had a sustained period to be able to find form, but a mark of this New Zealand side is their selection consistency, and they’re being rewarded.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0WEkBOl

Uruguay v Cape Verde: World Cup 2026 – live

⚽️ Kick-off: 6pm local time/11pm BST/8am (Mon) AEST ⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Email Beau Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s what to know about Uruguay and Cape Verde before they meet in a few hours in Miami. Uruguay Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/wVObgfB

Lamine Yamal and Oyarzabal fire Spain to emphatic win against Saudi Arabia

Luis de la Fuente said he wanted a new jumper for his birthday but this was even better. On the day that the Spain coach turned 65, his players gave him the perfect afternoon in Atlanta, all the doubts from their opener blown away. Unable to find a way through in 97 minutes here against Cape Verde , this time they put three past Saudi Arabia before anyone had even stopped for the first drink. Life is there to be enjoyed, Lamine Yamal had said and they did. Lamine scored ten minutes into his first start since suffering a hamstring injury in April and Mikel Oyarzabal added two more in the first quarter. By the end it was four and it could hardly have worked out more nicely, Spain’s victory secured so early that the coach could use the occasion to offer opportunities to those that needed them, Mikel Merino and Nico Williams invited to join the party too. De la Fuente said that Spain wanted to be Spain again, and here they were. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/9UxHl...