The musical journey of Itzhak Perlman, born in Tel Aviv on 31 August 1945, from young prodigy to one of the world’s most celebrated violinists, is a testament to his unyielding spirit and extraordinary talent. Stricken with polio at the

September’s classical music anniversaries span both continents and centuries – from a 12th-century abbess who preached at a time when women were forbidden to speak in church, to a 20th-century violinist who spent World War II translating for a government

Many classical music lovers know the broad strokes of the life and career of Clara Wieck Schumann: she was a renowned prodigy, her father, Friedrich, tried to keep her from marrying her true love, Robert Schumann, and she went on

If you’re wondering how to find a music teacher, you’re not alone – and it’s harder than it looks. A Google search will favour teachers with optimised websites, which means the best teacher in your community might not show up

The French composer Félicien David died at Saint-Germain-en-Laye on 29 August 1876 at the age of 66. He was well-known and respected during his lifetime. At the premiere of Le Désert at the Paris Conservatoire on 8 December 1844, Hector

The Danish tenor Aksel Schiøtz (1906–1975) is probably a name unfamiliar to most today, not least because this musician, whose career was repeatedly disrupted by misfortune, enjoyed a true “solo career” of perhaps less than ten years—possibly considerably less. In

Lady Radnor, born Helen Matilda Chaplin, was a trailblazer in the world of classical music during the late Victorian era. At a time when societal expectations restricted women’s roles in public life, she defied convention by stepping up onto the

The Czech-Moravian composer Bohuslav Martinů died on 28 August 1959 in Liestal, Switzerland. His music remains one of the great unexplored territories of twentieth-century classical music, and it is difficult to know where to start. Martinů’s music unmistakably belongs to