December, 2012

22 Posts
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Curtain’s Up! Wagner and Weber
It is generally acknowledged that no single operatic composer influenced Richard Wagner as decisively as Carl Maria von Weber. When Richard was nine, Weber came to Dresden to rehearse and conduct his opera Der Freischütz. In his autobiography, Wagner gives
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Presenting Jian Wang – Chopin, Barber, Schumann
Chopin Sonata Op. 65 Largo Jian Wang, cello Carol Rosenberger, piano From Presenting Jian Wang – Chopin, Barber, Schumann (1990) Released by Delos Records Chopin: Cello Sonata Op. 65 – Largo Recording debut of Jian Wang in 1990. A wonderful
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Dvořák’s Legacy!
In 1884/85, a wealthy patron of classical music named Jeanette Thurber set out to establish a uniquely American school of classical music composition. To accomplish this ambitious undertaking, she founded in quick succession the National Conservatory of Music of America
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Do you know Ashkenazy?
Last month, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, led by chief conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, performed a six-concert tour in China. This included visiting Qingdao and Wuhan ‒ two cities where few big orchestras get to play, due to the financial constraints of
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Mummy, Panties and a Princess called Leah
Richard Wagner and Leah David
In his most renowned psychoanalytic conjecture — appropriately dubbed the “Oedipus complex” — Sigmund Freud suggested that a child’s unconscious mind projects the desire to sexually possess the mother, and kill the father. Freud derived his theory from ancient Greek
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Mendelssohn Symphony no 4 “Italian”
Do you know the Land where the Lemon Trees blossom? Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90, “Italian” Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Sergiu Celibidache Music Score In 1786, the polymath genius Johann Wolfgang von Goethe embarked on a secret
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The Golden Age of Violinists
The turn of the 20th century was the golden age for violinists. Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein, Mischa Elman, Fritz Kreisler, David Oistrach and Yehudi Menuhin, considered the greatest violinists of all time, graced us with their presence. At least in
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In touch with John Rutter
Choral Music (A Song in Season) Royal Philharmonic, John Rutter Look to the day Most Glorious Lord of Life I am with you always John Rutter is one of the most successful and frequently performed composers of his generation. Many
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