Chopin d otd 1849 - a composer of such magical powers. He could transform a dance into an emotionally profound statement - always unmistakably Polish, aristocratic, noble, full of power and strength; and yet at the same time vulnerable, infinitely touching. Unique perfection.

Oscar Wilde b otd 1854! Beyond brilliant... "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." “I am not young enough to know everything.” "Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." "I don't want to go to heaven. None of my friends are there."

A very happy 90th to the wonderful Marta Casals Istomin - what an amazing lady she is! So many remarkable achievements throughout her life - and such touching loyalty to both her husbands. She is a treasure!! And I so loved doing this interview with her: youtube.com/watch?v=0NssmON9…

A happy 90th to Steve Reich!! "All great music is contemporary. If it's still alive and kicking, then it's contemporary. If it fades away, it was a period piece." "I write music, and I want people to listen to it and care about it and have it make some difference in their lives."

Beautiful words from St Thérèse of Lisieux (d otd 1897): "The splendour of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness."

Cervantes b otd 1547! Wonderful: “When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams — this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!”

A very happy 85th to the great Salvatore Accardo! On the Beethoven concerto: "With a genuine masterpiece, it always feels fresh, each rendition feels like a new interpretation, and you can always find something different to say. It’s what I call the miracle of great music."