Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
@markvalencia.bsky.social
Critic for Opera, Bachtrack and Musical America. 7 decades a Southender. Francophile, grandfather, passionately pro-EU. Previously with the blue bird until it got sick. Much happier here.
Reposted by Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
A day to reflect on the wit and wisdom of Sir Tom Stoppard, not least in the line: ‘I’m with you on the free press, it’s the newspapers I can’t stand…’
November 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
A day to reflect on the wit and wisdom of Sir Tom Stoppard, not least in the line: ‘I’m with you on the free press, it’s the newspapers I can’t stand…’
I can't help smirking at the England Lions result. Five batters used and guess who was the only one to fail? Yes, the chouchou parachuted in by head office.
November 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I can't help smirking at the England Lions result. Five batters used and guess who was the only one to fail? Yes, the chouchou parachuted in by head office.
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen
(I take that to be live solo acts)
Chris Farlowe
Robert Holl / Winterreise
Sandrine Piau
Bertrand Chamayou / Messiaen 20 Regards
Sean Shibe
(I take that to be live solo acts)
Chris Farlowe
Robert Holl / Winterreise
Sandrine Piau
Bertrand Chamayou / Messiaen 20 Regards
Sean Shibe
November 30, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen
(I take that to be live solo acts)
Chris Farlowe
Robert Holl / Winterreise
Sandrine Piau
Bertrand Chamayou / Messiaen 20 Regards
Sean Shibe
(I take that to be live solo acts)
Chris Farlowe
Robert Holl / Winterreise
Sandrine Piau
Bertrand Chamayou / Messiaen 20 Regards
Sean Shibe
Oh no, Tom Stoppard had left the stage. His genius made other hacks seem like nin-competent-poops. RIP
a man with a beard and long hair talks to another man
ALT: a man with a beard and long hair talks to another man
media.tenor.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Oh no, Tom Stoppard had left the stage. His genius made other hacks seem like nin-competent-poops. RIP
Reposted by Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Reposted by Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
🚨BOOM! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 80,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000 this weekend. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 28, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🚨BOOM! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 80,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000 this weekend. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
This petition should be flying. What is wrong with everyone?
SIGN
SIGN
I’ve signed it👇🏼👇🏼let’s get the #RussianRot in politics exposed❗️
🚨Now on 86,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 90,000 tonight!
If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM
This petition should be flying. What is wrong with everyone?
SIGN
SIGN
3 years ago I took my seat for a new opera that didn't sound like my thing at all. Still, open minds and all that.
Two hours later I was pinned to my seat, convinced (as I still am) that I'd witnessed the passing of the baton.
Now Last Days by Oliver Leith is back at the ROH. Don't miss it.
Two hours later I was pinned to my seat, convinced (as I still am) that I'd witnessed the passing of the baton.
Now Last Days by Oliver Leith is back at the ROH. Don't miss it.
November 28, 2025 at 11:24 AM
3 years ago I took my seat for a new opera that didn't sound like my thing at all. Still, open minds and all that.
Two hours later I was pinned to my seat, convinced (as I still am) that I'd witnessed the passing of the baton.
Now Last Days by Oliver Leith is back at the ROH. Don't miss it.
Two hours later I was pinned to my seat, convinced (as I still am) that I'd witnessed the passing of the baton.
Now Last Days by Oliver Leith is back at the ROH. Don't miss it.
Reposted by Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Rachel Reeves on #C4News saying Labour are now lifting 450,000 children out of poverty by removing the two child benefit cap
So an admission that Labour kept 450,000 children in poverty for the past year because they didn't care enough about child poverty to lift them out of it last year
So an admission that Labour kept 450,000 children in poverty for the past year because they didn't care enough about child poverty to lift them out of it last year
November 27, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Rachel Reeves on #C4News saying Labour are now lifting 450,000 children out of poverty by removing the two child benefit cap
So an admission that Labour kept 450,000 children in poverty for the past year because they didn't care enough about child poverty to lift them out of it last year
So an admission that Labour kept 450,000 children in poverty for the past year because they didn't care enough about child poverty to lift them out of it last year
I was appalled by the denuded menu at my beloved Côte this autumn. Their insulting publicity campaign trailed it as a change for the better, but one dull dinner later they lost this customer.
Today's email suggests improvements to their now-dreary set menu. I'll look closely and report back.
Today's email suggests improvements to their now-dreary set menu. I'll look closely and report back.
a baby is sitting at a table with a green cup and a plate of food
ALT: a baby is sitting at a table with a green cup and a plate of food
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I was appalled by the denuded menu at my beloved Côte this autumn. Their insulting publicity campaign trailed it as a change for the better, but one dull dinner later they lost this customer.
Today's email suggests improvements to their now-dreary set menu. I'll look closely and report back.
Today's email suggests improvements to their now-dreary set menu. I'll look closely and report back.
Reposted by Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Hie thee to the RCM to see their stunning Little Vixen. Honestly, you won't regret it.
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
November 26, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Hie thee to the RCM to see their stunning Little Vixen. Honestly, you won't regret it.
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
"You will be visited by three spirits"
November 26, 2025 at 8:31 PM
"You will be visited by three spirits"
Hie thee to the RCM to see their stunning Little Vixen. Honestly, you won't regret it.
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
November 26, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Hie thee to the RCM to see their stunning Little Vixen. Honestly, you won't regret it.
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
Reposted by Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
WE WON 💥 The two-child benefit limit is GONE! This will pull 470,000 children out of severe hardship by 2027.
This is a massive victory for families, campaigners, and every one of you that played your part urging the Chancellor to act.
This is a massive victory for families, campaigners, and every one of you that played your part urging the Chancellor to act.
November 26, 2025 at 1:30 PM
WE WON 💥 The two-child benefit limit is GONE! This will pull 470,000 children out of severe hardship by 2027.
This is a massive victory for families, campaigners, and every one of you that played your part urging the Chancellor to act.
This is a massive victory for families, campaigners, and every one of you that played your part urging the Chancellor to act.
Tonight I'll be at the Royal College of Music to see their new production of The Cunning Little Vixen.
Reviewing for Opera magazine.
Reviewing for Opera magazine.
a fox is holding a bucket of popcorn on its hind legs
ALT: a fox is holding a bucket of popcorn on its hind legs
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Tonight I'll be at the Royal College of Music to see their new production of The Cunning Little Vixen.
Reviewing for Opera magazine.
Reviewing for Opera magazine.
This week on The House of Games it's Cotter Time as the great @mrandrewcotter.bsky.social struts his stuff. I'm a huge fan of Mabel & Olive, and also his golf and athletics commentaries, but until today I had no idea what he looks like.
youtu.be/nFVHaus_pjI?...
youtu.be/nFVHaus_pjI?...
Olive and Mabel. Episode 4 - The Company Meeting
YouTube video by mrandrewcotter
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 9:43 PM
This week on The House of Games it's Cotter Time as the great @mrandrewcotter.bsky.social struts his stuff. I'm a huge fan of Mabel & Olive, and also his golf and athletics commentaries, but until today I had no idea what he looks like.
youtu.be/nFVHaus_pjI?...
youtu.be/nFVHaus_pjI?...
Reposted by Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Everyone is doing this ironically, but someone has to state it plainly. Chris Mason is exactly what is wrong with BBC politics coverage. Infantile coverage via soap opera and constant fawning over Reform and the archetypal Reform voter's supposed views.
Robbie Gibb describes the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason as the "unsung hero of covering politics" and "absolutely first rate"
November 25, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Everyone is doing this ironically, but someone has to state it plainly. Chris Mason is exactly what is wrong with BBC politics coverage. Infantile coverage via soap opera and constant fawning over Reform and the archetypal Reform voter's supposed views.
Reposted by Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
This Labour government’s talent for punishing its own natural supporters without gaining any new ones is something I don’t think I’ve ever seen in politics. What on earth are they smoking
November 23, 2025 at 10:57 PM
This Labour government’s talent for punishing its own natural supporters without gaining any new ones is something I don’t think I’ve ever seen in politics. What on earth are they smoking
Telling juxtaposition on the @bbc website
November 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Telling juxtaposition on the @bbc website
I cannot bear the desperation of hungry children but @teamlabouruk.bsky.social seems sanguine about it. Techno-Starmer thinks hunger can somehow be solved by speculative long-term politics. It's as wicked as 'trickle-down wealth' greed and just as pernicious. Kick the issue into the long grass, eh?
November 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I cannot bear the desperation of hungry children but @teamlabouruk.bsky.social seems sanguine about it. Techno-Starmer thinks hunger can somehow be solved by speculative long-term politics. It's as wicked as 'trickle-down wealth' greed and just as pernicious. Kick the issue into the long grass, eh?
The GOAT
Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Charles Bronson and Claudia Cardinale in, Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).
November 23, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The GOAT
Wordle 1,618 3/6
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That was fun
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That was fun
November 23, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Wordle 1,618 3/6
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That was fun
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That was fun
Me on Partenope. It's a bit of all white. @bachtrack.com
Cocteau-esque camp: Alden’s Partenope returns to English National Opera
✍️ Mark Valencia
bachtrack.com/review-parte...
✍️ Mark Valencia
bachtrack.com/review-parte...
November 21, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Me on Partenope. It's a bit of all white. @bachtrack.com
Well I'll have a go...
November 21, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Well I'll have a go...
Reposted by Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
I believe anyone could have done better than Johnson.
Here's a quiz I made to prove it.
Here's a quiz I made to prove it.
November 20, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I believe anyone could have done better than Johnson.
Here's a quiz I made to prove it.
Here's a quiz I made to prove it.