Over to Dorchester-on-Thames this week for a live broadcast of the opening concert from the 2012 English Music Festival in Dorchester, England with the BBC Concert Orchestra in music by Parry, Curtis, Delius, Vaughan-Williams, Ireland and Moeran.

Celebrating their 60 years as a tight-knit little band, The BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Martin Yates and featuring Mark Bebbington, play an outstanding program of World Premieres and seldom heard works by British composers, and a couple of work-horses in the mix.

Here the rundown:

Live from Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester-On-Thames
Presented by Catherine Bott

The opening concert from this year's English Music Festival in Dorchester-on-Thames. The BBC Concert Orchestra are joined by pianist Mark Bebbington in John Ireland's Legend and the first performance of an early work by Vaughan Williams, his Piano Fantasia. The concert ends with another premiere: conductor Martin Yates's completion of Moeran's Second Symphony.

Part 1:Parry: Jerusalem
Curtis: Festival Overture
Vaughan Williams: Piano Fantasia (World Premiere)
Part 2:Ireland: Legend
Delius: Over The Hills And Far Away
Moeran: Second Symphony (World Premiere)

Mark Bebbington (piano)
BBC Concert Orchestra
Martin Yates (conductor).

It's Anti-road Rage Wednesday, and this one does the trick.

Enjoy.

Over to Ireland this week, via Radio France. A performance from the 2010 Cork Festival, recorded on July 2 of this year featuring the Escher String Quartet playing the Mozart String Quartet K.465 (Dissonant). The concert starts with another Quartet featuring Pekka Kuusisto, Violin Hartmut Rohde, viola, Anja Lechner, cello and Phillipe Cassard, Piano, performing the Beethoven Piano Quartet Number 1 op. 36.

The concert is split up into two parts with the Beethoven up top and the Mozart down below.

Here, as always are the notes via Radio France Musique:

Bantry : Beethoven, Mozart
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Quatuor N°1 en Mi bémol majeur WoO.36 N°1
Pekka Kuusisto, Violon
Hartmut Rohde, Alto
Anja Lechner, Violoncelle
Philippe Cassard, Piano

Wolfgang-Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Quatuor N°19 en Do majeur K.465, Les Dissonances

Quatuor Escher
Adame Barnett-Hart, Violon
Wu Jie, Violon
Pierre Lapointe, Alto
Andrew Janss, Violoncelle
Concert donné le 2 juillet 2010 en l’ Eglise St Brendan de Bantry dans le cadre du Festival de Musique de chambre de West Cork

Announcements are in French ("but the concert's from Ireland" - yeah, I know) and the music won't make you want to kill anything.

A busy week for floods, riots, apologies and team sports. Aside from our own goings on with the everlasting Gulf of Mexico catastrophe and mumbled "sorry 'bout that's" from CEO's, the rest of the world was having its own set of trials and tribulations to deal with. From the release of a report on a 1972 massacre in Ireland and its reaction in the town where it happened, to another scene of violence in a former breakaway republic in Eastern Europe. The specter of Darfur raised its genocidal eye this week. Further evidence our climate is going haywire if you were living in Southwest France and The World Cup heads into the end of its first week.

(Getting to be a familiar scene)

The violence in Kyrgyzstan erupted again this past week with civil unrest claiming more lives and another flood of refugees. This report from Voice of Russia's Hourly News from June 14th gives some details.

(opening old wounds)

Shocking enough when it happened in 1972. The demonstration turned ugly in January of 1972 when British troops opened fire on a group of unarmed civilians, killing 13 in a day to be know forever as Bloody Sunday. Initially the report claimed the troops were fired on. But an inquest brought about by pressure to the Blair government reopened the old wound and fresh details and horrifying revelations came out. The revelations were such that it prompted Prime Minister Cameron to publicly apologize for unwarranted behavior on the part of the Army. This report from the BBC World Service Newshour program of June 15th also features the statement as well as reaction from the government.

(and thirty-eight years after this scene . . .still seems like yesterday to some)

RTE in Ireland, as part of their News At One program from the 16th of June went to the scene of the original massacre to get reactions from those who were there at the time to see how the report and the apology set with the people who were most effected.

(A possibility of justice)

From the BBC Africa Service also on June 16th, came word of the indictment and arraignment of Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain and Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus, the two Sudanese Rebel leaders accused of mass murder during the Darfur conflict. Now comes the trial, the revelations and the opening of old wounds for this part of the world. Seems to be a lot of that going on lately.

(George Osborne - wading through the sea of financial debris)

As BBC Radio 4's Today Program reported, The Bank of England has put into place a scheme to regulate the UK financial sector in an attempt to get a handle on the seemingly on-going crisis. Spearheading that campaign is Chancellor George Osborne, who was interviewed on the program and gives details and points a few fingers in the process. Yes, the first decade of the new millennium was something of a free-for-all for people in banking.

(It seems no one is particularly immune to flooding these days)

While we've been going through our own horror stories of flooding around the U.S. in recent weeks, it's cold comfort in knowing the same is going on in Southwest France at the moment. According to this report from Radio France International's English Service "Focus On France" program from June 17th, this was the worst flooding in the region in over 200 years. Gives further evidence our climate changes aren't imaginary - oh, but some will still think so anyway.

(A very familiar sight this week)

And finally, the Friday installment of the World Cup Daily reports from BBC 5Live. When this piece went to press (at around 6 this morning) the U.S. hadn't played their latest game, so there's no word on the outcome. But I'm sure you've heard about it by now.

Another week in paradise. And another one is poised to appear shortly.

The news throughout most of the world this week was focused on the Gaza Flotilla incident, with repercussions going on for days, and in fact continuing with the latest on-going story on the Irish relief ship Rachel Corrie heading towards Gaza and no doubt another confrontation of one kind or another. But the world had other news. In Japan, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama stepped down, Australian immigration laws were coming under fire (sounds familiar), and the world continued its reaction to the Oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

(Stepping down amid the Okinawa question)

Amid allegations that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama stepped down as the result of an indecisive stance on the Okinawa question. It was still a surprise when NHK broke in with a bulletin on June 1st informing of the Prime Ministers decision.

(Developing story, even as we speak)

RTE in Ireland reported that 6 Irish nationals had been taken prisoner during the first confrontation with the Israelis during the Gaza Aid run. It was now turning into a diplomatic skirmish as the Irish government was now asking the Israelis for repatriation of the six workers.

(so close, yet so far away for a lot of people)

From ABC Radio National Australia's news program National Interest, news on the immigration problem currently going on in New South Wales, and what is being proposed to be done about it.

(brush up on your French right here)

And finally, for our French friends or people who just want to brush up on their French skills, here's a June 4th broadcast of Journal Francais which discusses the Gaza situation, the Gulf disaster and numerous domestic issues on this 8:00 pm (in France) newscast.

That's the week as it looks from this Friday night. I'm sure in 24 hours everything will change just as it will again by Monday.

If you can't keep up, don't feel bad - nobody else can either.

(Catherine Leonard - rising star on the horizon)

Chamber music this week. From the West Cork Chamber Festival of 2008 and by way of BBC Radio 3's Lunchtime Concerts, a performance featuring Irish violinist Catherine Leonard in works by Bolcom and Schubert (Bolcom's Second Sonata for Violin and Piano and the Schubert "Trout" Quintet). The program was recorded live in July of 2008 and broadcast on August 1st of that year.

Lunchtime Concert

1 August 2008

West Cork Chamber Music Festival

Friday 1 August 2008 13:00-14:00 (Radio 3)

Jonathan Swain concludes a series of concerts from this year's West Cork Chamber Music Festival in Bantry. Leading Irish violinist Catherine Leonard is showcased as a soloist and ensemble musician in Balcom's Second Sonata for violin and piano, and Schubert's Trout Quintet.

Duration:

1 hour

Playlist:

Bolcom: Second Sonata for violin and piano

Catherine Leonard (violin)

Andrea Rebaudengo (piano)

Schubert: Piano Quintet in A, D667 (Trout)

Antti Siirala (piano)

Catherine Leonard (violin)

Vladimir Mendelssohn (viola)

David Cohen (cello)

Chi-chi Nwanoku (double bass)

This day in 1982 was about shooting wars. British troops landed on The Falkland Islands and the shooting war started. Amid reports of casualties and both sides claiming the upper hand, the propaganda wheels were in motion. The diplomatic wheels however were not, and even though Pope John Paul II appealed to Britain to show restraint and seek a peaceful solution, Margaret Thatcher said "thanks, but no thanks". And the war was on.

Likewise in the Middle East, only this time it was Iran who boasted major gains in territory over the Iraqi's, but it didn't look as though this thing would be over anytime soon. Terrorist bombs went off in Beirut, this time at the French Embassy and with scores of casualties.

Meanwhile, in other parts of the world. Successor to the ailing Leonid Brezhnev was looking more and more like Yuri Andropov, head of the Secret Police.

On Capitol Hill - Pres. Reagan's Fiscal spending plan for 1983 goes to battle at the House. Reagan also pushed for The Department of Energy to be merged with the Department of Commerce. The Supreme Court ruled people on Nixon's Enemies list did not need to be revealed. The Abortion question was also back on the docket, this time via State's rulings on abortions.

The DeLorean Auto plant in Ireland was ordered closed by the Irish government, citing no buyers in the foreseeable future.

All that, and a lot more on this May 24th in 1982 from the CBS World News Roundup and the 9:00 am (PDT) network news.

April 6, 1976 - News was breaking, during this broadcast, of a possible settlement in the long running Teamsters Strike. President Ford campaigned in Wisconsin, ahead of Tuesday's Primary election. Democratic hopeful Morris Udall quietly campaigned in Wisconsin. UAW President Leonard Woodcock was quoted as saying if a Democrat wanted to be in the White House this election, he needs to consider that it's not less government, but better run government that''s the key. Whether anyone took his advice or not wasn't clear. Right Wing death squads were responsible for the systematic rounding up and murder of 15 people ages 20-25 during the latest reign of terror as part of the Military crackdown in Argentina. Terrorist bombs went off in Northern Ireland and Northern Portugal. Women stage the largest protest in Rome's history as several thousand march in opposition to the Vatican's position on contraception. And France tested another nuclear device in the South Pacific this day.

All that, via NBC News On The Hour for April 6, 1976.

In setting the tone for what promised to be a contentious election year, February 6th 1948 fit in quite nicely.

With a call for Southern Democrats to bolt from the Party over President Truman's proposed Civil Rights legislation (which included an anti-lynching Law) and nominate their own Presidential candidate, got their first meeting together, headed by Mississippi Governor Fielding L. Wright. Far from a unified front, Governor Wright pledged to do anything possible to defeat Truman in 1948, including support the Republican nominee, whoever that was going to be.

Meanwhile, predictions were coming in that Truman would win re-election, if the current Economic climate kept up. Food prices were dropping considerably, even though it was too early to tell if the drop would be across the board. Republicans charged it was an election year gimmick. How things never change.

Further domestic news saw the Rent Control Bill on temporary hold, but did forecast an extension of controls through 1949 even though the extension would be in a greatly relaxed form. General Eisenhower stepped down on this day as Chief of Staff at the Pentagon with Gen. Omar Bradley taking over.

Overseas news saw trouble for Eamon de Valera in Ireland with election returns showing the Valera government now in a minority and in a definite lack-of-confidence mode. On the Foreign Aid front - an additional $250 million was seen to be needed as the slow process of rebuilding Europe continued.

And the last day of the 1948 Winter Olympics was bogged down with snowstorms putting a number of events on hold.

And that's what it looked and sounded like on this particular February 6th in 1948 via NBC's News Of The World with John Cameron Swayze and live reports from all over.

Tonight it's Irish Alternative band An Emotional Fish and their biggest single, the 1990 hit Celebrate. Discoveries of U2 who were also one of the first signings to their label Mother Records. An Emotional Fish got started in 1988 and rose rather quickly to prominence and later were opening act to U2 during their 1993 Zoo TV tour. They were eventually licensed to Atlantic where Celebrate became their one and only hit in the US.

An Emotional Fish were bigger in their native Ireland than they were the rest of the world and after their initial success failed to yield follow-ups, they were dropped by Atlantic, but continued releasing material in the UK.

They more or less drifted into limbo around 1994 and dropped pretty much out of sight with founding members going in different directions and forming other bands.

Such were the 90's.

This version of Celebrate is an extended mix featured on the Maxi-single issued by Atlantic and I suspect not anywhere else.

Staying at The Electric Picnic in Ireland tonight and putting up an extended excerpt of a set by 80's Techno/Electronica pioneers OMD, recorded live by RTE FM2 this past Saturday (September 3rd).

I almost forgot just how many hits this band had throughout that decade and just how influential they were. Although by no means the only Techno band at the time, they were certainly one of the more popular and judging by the crowd at this festival, they still very much are.

Here's their set:

EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE - O.M.D

Enola Gay, Performing Messages, and Tesla Girl

Admit it, you remember this band really well.

Ah, the 80's.