February, 2015

32 Posts
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“Selling” Classical Music – Ad Bloopers
Classical music has a bad rap. Despite current research that indicates music education enhances all learning, reverses the effects of poverty and dementia, and encourages empathy, publicity departments seem to think they must exert themselves to market classical music. Their
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GOUVY, L.T.: Sonatas for Piano 4 Hands, Opp. 36, 49 and 51 (Naoumoff, Yau Cheng)
Sonata for Piano 4 Hands in C Minor, Op. 49 II. Larghetto From GOUVY, L.T.: Sonatas for Piano 4 Hands, Opp. 36, 49 and 51 (Naoumoff, Yau Cheng) (2014) Released by Naxos / Grand Piano Gouvy: Sonata for Piano 4
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Antonín Dvorák: Stabat Mater, Op. 58
Professionally, the years 1876 and 1877 accorded Antonín Dvorák (1841-1904) the first glimpses of international recognition. Privately, however, these years were overshadowed by great personal tragedy. Just two days after her birth, Dvorák’s little daughter Josefa unexpectedly died. In response,
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Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back
Just about every product on sale in a modern supermarket offers consumers a money back guarantee. The concept is not new. It originated with the 18th-century entrepreneur Josiah Wedgewood as a marketing strategy to shift more goods. Since then, the
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LSO/Rattle/Deranged Ligetian Soprano
At a time when rumours of Sir Simon Rattle returning to the UK, no less to head the London Symphony Orchestra, were running thick and fast, it was no surprise that I found myself in a sold-out Barbican Hall, preparing
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Play it again Condi! Brahms, that is!
Do you still remember Condi Rice? Actually, that is Dr. Condoleezza Rice, and she was Secretary of State for the administration of George W. Bush. Night after night she stood in front of eager television cameras and lied about weapons
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Sophie Dartigalongue
Sophie Dartigalongue personifies the fact that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. The bassoon often becomes the butt of many of the orchestra’s jokes, and the comical contrabassoon only sees a double serving of this teasing, but the
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Obligation of the First Commandment, K. 35
Sigismund von Schrattenbach was Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg from 1753 to 1771. He appointed Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as members of the episcopal court orchestra, but only after Wolfgang had passed a rigorous test! Schrattenbach had always been suspicious that
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