I can't let today pass without marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hector Berlioz, an amazing and still under-appreciated composer. His memoirs, which are totally unreliable, are nevertheless very entertaining as are the "Evenings in the orchestra". I'm not aware of any major celebrations in Australia, although the Châtelet in Paris have just mounted a new production conducted by John Eliot Gardiner which sounds terrific. Let's all hope that it is eventually released on DVD.

Happy Birthday Hector!