Malcolm Arnold (1921–2006) was a master of the English light classics and wrote a great deal of his music for that ultimate British ensemble, the brass band, and he himself played the trumpet. In 1964, he was commissioned by the

Opera in London in the 1790s was a cut-throat competition. Handel had abandoned Italian opera in 1741, and the quality began to fall. The high fees that singers such as the castrati Senesino and Farinelli and the soprano Cuzzoni commanded

Winter thaw giving way to the gentle warmth of spring is the perfect time to explore the sunnier side of classical music. Here are twenty classical pieces that capture the essence of the season. They’re guaranteed to add a spring

The Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova (1881-1931) was without doubt the most celebrated dancer of her time. Famed for her technical skills, expressiveness, and grace, she was the principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and, for a short time, the

As the world becomes increasingly polarized, China stands in a unique and generous position where listeners are able to enjoy concerts given by musicians coming from conflicting, even rival political camps. This is probably the only place in the world

Spanish composer Joaquín Turina (1882–1949) invoked the magic of the women of Spain in three sets of piano music, his Mujeres españolas, Series 1, Op. 17, of 1916; Mujeres españolas, Series 2, Op. 73, in 1932; and finally, Mujeres de

Sergei Prokofiev and Igor Stravinsky are two of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Their compositions continue to captivate audiences today, and stories about their life and work have become legendary. However, there’s another lesser-known narrative that deserves

Ever since the hit series Game of Thrones pillaged across television screens, audiences around the world have found a new perspective on the dragon. In Western mythologies, dragons often guard treasures, fly through the skies, and breathe fire. Generally, they