LISTENING TO TCHAIKOVSKY: Béla Hartmann uses his knowledge of Eastern Europe to argue against the banning of all Russian culture following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Known principally for a Serenade for Strings, the Swedish composer Dag Wirén was born at Striberg on 15 October 1905 and died at Danderyd near Stockholm on 19 April 1986. Both composer and critic - he wrote for some time (including the War years) in Suenska Morgonblader - but left five symphonies and four string quartets amongst shorter works.
CD Spotlight. Very Humanistic - Geoff Pearce enjoys a Naxos set of orchestral music by Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén. 'This is a set to be savoured.'
National ambition - Keith Bramich visits Wales for the opening concert of the 2001 Presteigne Festival