Richard Baker
@rchrdbkr.bsky.social
Composer based in Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Research Fellow at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London. Own views here. Weithiau yn Gymraeg.
Profile photo: Claire Shovelton
Artist website: https://rchrdbkr.com/
Profile photo: Claire Shovelton
Artist website: https://rchrdbkr.com/
Reposted by Richard Baker
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
November 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
Reposted by Richard Baker
“Every exit is an entry somewhere else.”
— Tom Stoppard
— Tom Stoppard
November 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
“Every exit is an entry somewhere else.”
— Tom Stoppard
— Tom Stoppard
My all-time favourite Stoppard anecdote
Perfect Tom Stoppard story from DTel obituary:
His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”
His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”
November 29, 2025 at 10:46 PM
My all-time favourite Stoppard anecdote
Reposted by Richard Baker
Creating a military conflict with Venezuela gives this administration a legal "hook" to invoke the Alien Enemies Act. In other words, the foreign war is being manufactured in order to facilitate court deference for its domestic mass deportation policy. It's a Stephen Miller Special.
November 29, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Creating a military conflict with Venezuela gives this administration a legal "hook" to invoke the Alien Enemies Act. In other words, the foreign war is being manufactured in order to facilitate court deference for its domestic mass deportation policy. It's a Stephen Miller Special.
Reposted by Richard Baker
BOOM!! 100,000 signatures! Now let’s have a date for the debate
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 29, 2025 at 5:17 PM
BOOM!! 100,000 signatures! Now let’s have a date for the debate
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Richard Baker
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 Richard Baker
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
Reposted by Richard Baker
RIP Martin Luther, you would have loved Papal Audience Black Friday deals.
November 27, 2025 at 10:08 PM
RIP Martin Luther, you would have loved Papal Audience Black Friday deals.
Reposted by Richard Baker
Three years is a long time in politics
November 27, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Three years is a long time in politics
Reposted by Richard Baker
A bit too on the nose for thanksgiving
ICE DETAINED MARILYN. Fuck these people. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
‘Northern Exposure’ actor gave ICE agents in Redmond her tribal ID. They called it ‘fake,’ she says
Indigenous actor Elaine Miles of "Northern Exposure" was detained by ICE at a Redmond bus stop. When she showed them her Tribal ID, they told her it was fake.
www.seattletimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
A bit too on the nose for thanksgiving
Reposted by Richard Baker
Igor Stravinsky | Arnold Newman
November 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Igor Stravinsky | Arnold Newman
Reposted by Richard Baker
Well THAT should help recruiting in dangerous places.
CIA statement about the Afghan man identified as the gunman who shot two National Guardsmen in Washington
November 27, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Well THAT should help recruiting in dangerous places.
Happy Thanksgiving to all friends and followers in the US!
To celebrate, some of the greatest broadway choreography ever committed to video:
To celebrate, some of the greatest broadway choreography ever committed to video:
Turkey Lurkey Time - Stereo - 1969 Tony Awards - Promises, Promises
YouTube video by Broadway Classics
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to all friends and followers in the US!
To celebrate, some of the greatest broadway choreography ever committed to video:
To celebrate, some of the greatest broadway choreography ever committed to video:
Reposted by Richard Baker
November 27, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by Richard Baker
For £1,000, you can support a young person from a disadvantaged background in breaking into the arts
🌟 This winter, we have a chance to make something extraordinary happen - and we’re looking for 27 people to help us do it. 🌟
Join our Bursar Club 👉 bit.ly/4p6Xqrw
Join our Bursar Club 👉 bit.ly/4p6Xqrw
November 27, 2025 at 11:59 AM
For £1,000, you can support a young person from a disadvantaged background in breaking into the arts
Reposted by Richard Baker
Oh, my loathing for it is boundless. BOUNDLESS.
Is this platform still massively against AI or has it moved more towards acceptance?
November 26, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Oh, my loathing for it is boundless. BOUNDLESS.
I think this objection works even if you’re of no faith: “AI won’t stand in authentic wonder” is a complete - and disqualifying- sentence.
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I think this objection works even if you’re of no faith: “AI won’t stand in authentic wonder” is a complete - and disqualifying- sentence.
Reposted by Richard Baker
Now here’s the kind of news you drop going into a long holiday weekend. Maybe no one will notice. 🤡
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
November 26, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Now here’s the kind of news you drop going into a long holiday weekend. Maybe no one will notice. 🤡
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Richard Baker
So disrespectful that people read the leaked budget. The effects shots weren't even done yet, and no music. So unfair to the creatives who put it together.
November 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM
So disrespectful that people read the leaked budget. The effects shots weren't even done yet, and no music. So unfair to the creatives who put it together.
Reposted by Richard Baker
🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 55,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. 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 26, 2025 at 8:41 AM
🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 55,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. 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 Richard Baker
our common life depends upon each other's toil
November 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
our common life depends upon each other's toil
I’m sure there will be the usual pearl clutching about this, but people pay it uncomplainingly when they’re in foreign cities. It’s totally reasonable, and good policy.
Mayors in England to get power to impose tourism tax on overnight visitors at 'modest' rate - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
November 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I’m sure there will be the usual pearl clutching about this, but people pay it uncomplainingly when they’re in foreign cities. It’s totally reasonable, and good policy.
Reposted by Richard Baker
What an incredible week it has been for Avril Coleridge-Taylor. Thank you so much to everyone who has bought, streamed, or downloaded the album, & who came to launch it with us. If you would like info about programming her music, please do contact me!!
November 25, 2025 at 2:37 PM
What an incredible week it has been for Avril Coleridge-Taylor. Thank you so much to everyone who has bought, streamed, or downloaded the album, & who came to launch it with us. If you would like info about programming her music, please do contact me!!
Reposted by Richard Baker
This sentence was taken out of a lecture they commissioned, reviewed through the full editorial process, and recorded four weeks ago in front of 500 people in the BBC Radio Theatre.
I was told the decision came from the highest levels within the BBC. /2
I was told the decision came from the highest levels within the BBC. /2
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
This sentence was taken out of a lecture they commissioned, reviewed through the full editorial process, and recorded four weeks ago in front of 500 people in the BBC Radio Theatre.
I was told the decision came from the highest levels within the BBC. /2
I was told the decision came from the highest levels within the BBC. /2