Richard Betts
@ricardaonz.bsky.social
Nasty, brutish and short. Arts columnist NZ Listener, other words elsewhere. Music with a soupçon of politics.
Pinned
I wrote this about NZ's last specialist classical music store. It made me sad.
I forced myself into the horror of Bruckner, and listened to symphony 7 in preparation for an NZSO concert tonight. Now the Airbus shenanigans means the NZSO can't get enough musicians to Auckland to play it, and Bruckner's been replaced by Mozart. There's a lesson in there.
November 29, 2025 at 4:43 AM
I forced myself into the horror of Bruckner, and listened to symphony 7 in preparation for an NZSO concert tonight. Now the Airbus shenanigans means the NZSO can't get enough musicians to Auckland to play it, and Bruckner's been replaced by Mozart. There's a lesson in there.
Just enjoyed a Bruckner symphony. Feeling confused.
November 29, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Just enjoyed a Bruckner symphony. Feeling confused.
Reposted by Richard Betts
Sam Uffindell talking about standing over people and bullying them takes the fucking cake. Irony is dead.
November 27, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Sam Uffindell talking about standing over people and bullying them takes the fucking cake. Irony is dead.
Only just this second learnt that poet Brian Patten died. Immediately thought of @wordsshiftminds.bsky.social #SometimesItHappens
November 26, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Only just this second learnt that poet Brian Patten died. Immediately thought of @wordsshiftminds.bsky.social #SometimesItHappens
One of the things about getting to the office early, of course, is that you can dance around playing air guitar to Gimme Shelter and only 5 or 6 people will see it.
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
One of the things about getting to the office early, of course, is that you can dance around playing air guitar to Gimme Shelter and only 5 or 6 people will see it.
Reposted by Richard Betts
Fossil fuel companies were given confidential drafts of legislation during their (successful) two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban - new reporting from me via the OIA
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
How the oil and gas industry helped rewrite New Zealand’s drilling rules
A paper trail shows just how far ministers went to accommodate the oil and gas industry's wishlist.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Fossil fuel companies were given confidential drafts of legislation during their (successful) two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban - new reporting from me via the OIA
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
I wrote this about NZ's last specialist classical music store. It made me sad.
November 25, 2025 at 7:16 AM
I wrote this about NZ's last specialist classical music store. It made me sad.
#nowlistening #firstlisten A composer I first heard just this year.
November 23, 2025 at 9:07 AM
#nowlistening #firstlisten A composer I first heard just this year.
We've gone big on opera in the latest NZ Listener, including three pages on the late Sir Donald McIntyre. (Oh, and a feature interview with Joyce DiDonato.)
November 21, 2025 at 12:10 AM
We've gone big on opera in the latest NZ Listener, including three pages on the late Sir Donald McIntyre. (Oh, and a feature interview with Joyce DiDonato.)
Reposted by Richard Betts
First listen to this. (Which also happens to be my first purchase in the Versailles series - thanks, FNAC Lisbon!) Impressed so far. #NowListening
November 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
First listen to this. (Which also happens to be my first purchase in the Versailles series - thanks, FNAC Lisbon!) Impressed so far. #NowListening
Reposted by Richard Betts
Reposted by Richard Betts
The thing I like particularly about the fact that Isaac Newton invented the catflap is it gives the image of him trying to lay the foundations of classical mechanics but getting distracted by having to let a cat out then in again 40 seconds later and thinking, “Shit, I really need to sort this.”
October 28, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The thing I like particularly about the fact that Isaac Newton invented the catflap is it gives the image of him trying to lay the foundations of classical mechanics but getting distracted by having to let a cat out then in again 40 seconds later and thinking, “Shit, I really need to sort this.”
Reposted by Richard Betts
The SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha category always features artists who take a wonderfully broad range of musical approaches. This year's winner is 'of coral and foam' by Ihlara McIndoe.
October 29, 2025 at 8:54 AM
The SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha category always features artists who take a wonderfully broad range of musical approaches. This year's winner is 'of coral and foam' by Ihlara McIndoe.
Ok, yes, I did have to buy an extra suitcase to hold the CDs I bought while on holiday. And?
October 28, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Ok, yes, I did have to buy an extra suitcase to hold the CDs I bought while on holiday. And?
Reposted by Richard Betts
it is a genuinely viable comms strategy under current settings to pitch policy and have some of the generationally unpopular government ministers responding like this
the opposition should consider announcing a “Luxon Tax” that targets multimillionaires with housing portfolios just to get the boost
the opposition should consider announcing a “Luxon Tax” that targets multimillionaires with housing portfolios just to get the boost
This is literally the best endorsement a tax plan could possibly have 😂😂
October 27, 2025 at 10:07 PM
it is a genuinely viable comms strategy under current settings to pitch policy and have some of the generationally unpopular government ministers responding like this
the opposition should consider announcing a “Luxon Tax” that targets multimillionaires with housing portfolios just to get the boost
the opposition should consider announcing a “Luxon Tax” that targets multimillionaires with housing portfolios just to get the boost
Going on a Bluesky break for a coupla weeks. See you in a bit.
October 6, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Going on a Bluesky break for a coupla weeks. See you in a bit.
Now: art, Seville edition, pt2. #PhilipGlass
October 5, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Now: art, Seville edition, pt2. #PhilipGlass
I'm not saying this result is because we are currently in Seville, but I'm not saying it's not because we're currently in Seville.
October 5, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I'm not saying this result is because we are currently in Seville, but I'm not saying it's not because we're currently in Seville.
The truest thing I've read this week. I may get a tattoo.
I really shouldn't go to the record fair today but what if something amazing happens?
October 4, 2025 at 7:07 AM
The truest thing I've read this week. I may get a tattoo.