Paris sera toujours Paris!

The Moulin de la Galette has stood on Montmartre since 1622. It must be one of the most painted and photographed landmarks in Paris – which, as Maurice Chevalier sang, will always be Paris.

There’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle

The violin played by the band leader on board the RMS Titanic has been discovered in Yorkshire, England. An engraved silver plate on the tailpiece carries his name and experts say that evidence of corrosion is compatible with it having been immersed in seawater.

In the playground of the gods

Every conductor worth his or her salt has performed and recorded Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps – celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year. From Pierre Monteux, who gave the first performance, to Sir Simon Rattle, who has just released his latest version with the fabled Berlin Philharmonic, there are now over 126 recordings to choose from.

Jean Sibelius: A voyage of discovery

Is anything more beautiful than the symphonies of Sibelius? Well, of course – from time to time. Two of these uplifting works are just over 100 years old, but they sound as fresh and bracing as the landscapes from which they were hewn.

Posh – “Port out, starboard home” – or not

It was Grandpa Potts in the film version of Ian Fleming’s Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang who was just off to India in his levitating hut. Played by the wonderful Lionel Jeffries, Potts cavorts to the song “Posh”, reinforcing the myth of “Port out, starboard home”.

The Mastersingers of Nuremberg and St Catherine’s Church

St Catherine’s Church in Nuremberg was dedicated in 1297 and formed part of a Dominican convent. It became a centre for illuminating manuscripts and weaving tapestry. After the Reformation, the church was put to profane uses and between 1620 and 1778 was the home of the Mastersingers of Nuremberg.