In a previous episode on the “Mechanical Mozart” I have introduced you to the mechanical instrument, most commonly associated with a clock, that plays music at regular time intervals. Unlike a conventional chiming clock, this device plays music selected automatically
August, 2017
TchaikovskyString Quartet No. 1 in D major, op. 11 String Quartet No. 2 in F major, op. 22 String Quartet No. 3 in E flat major, op. 30 String Quartet in B flat major Performed by Quatuor Anton Recorded in
As with many pianists from France, Jean Doyen (1907-1982) attended the Paris Conservatoire, ending up as a student of Marguerite Long. He made his solo debut in 1924, but returned to the Conservatoire in 1926 for lessons in counterpoint and
The old age adage of New Year’s resolutions was thrust upon me the other day by this 10-year-old wearing designer alpargata shoes who is determined to learn to play a musical instrument this year. “My resolution this year is to
We all know that Yuja Wang was born in Beijing, but she is deliberately vague about her emergence as a prodigy. She always likes to tell interviewers that her mother wanted her to be a dancer, “but that she was
StraussSonata for violin and piano in E flat major, op. 18 StravinskyDuo concertant CoplandSonata for violin and piano Performed by Joseph Fuchs, violin Artur Balsam, piano Leo Smit, piano Recorded in 1950 – 1955 Strauss: Sonata for violin and piano
Some of the most celebrated scenes depicting madness of the mind can be found in nineteenth century opera. For example, Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti’s depiction of psychosis in Anna Bolena and Lucia di Lammermoor are still considered to be some
On Sunday Afternoons between1833 and 1835, Frédéric Chopin frequently made his way to 107 rue Saint-Dominique in Paris. His destination was the Hotel de Monaco, sometimes called the Hôtel d’Eckmühl, which functioned as the home of the Austrian ambassador to