Johannes Brahms had famously difficult romantic relationships with women. He had a penchant for idealising women, as well as sabotaging his romantic relationships with them once he got close to proposing. In the first part of this article, we met

For generations after the invention of the instruments, the violin was widely considered to be a masculine instrument. Despite this, from the eighteenth century on, women have flocked to this instrument and succeeded at the highest levels. Today, we’re looking

Louise Farrenc is one of the most unjustly neglected composers of her generation. But despite the challenges of working as a woman musician in the nineteenth century, she carved out an extraordinary multi-pronged career for herself as a professor, performer,

Romantic Era composers had a unique relationship with Ludwig van Beethoven. The man and his music cast a massive shadow over the nineteenth century, especially when it came to orchestral music. The Beethoven works that loomed the largest were his

On the occasion of John Rutter’s 80th birthday on 24 September 2025, choral communities across the globe join in a formal celebration of his extraordinary contributions to the world of music. His compositions have enriched the repertoire of choirs worldwide,

On the first Friday in October, the world comes together to celebrate World Smile Day. It is a global occasion dedicated to spreading happiness, kindness, and the simple yet profound act of smiling. In 2025, as we mark this heartwarming

Marianna Martines was an extraordinary figure in the history of eighteenth-century Vienna. She grew up with a great librettist as a father figure, studied with her neighbour Joseph Haydn, and played four-hand piano duets with Mozart. And yet, despite her

In the world of music, where striving for excellence is an inherent part of growth, perfectionism can be both an inspiration and a trap. Whether you are an amateur or a seasoned musician, the pursuit of excellence often drives one