Blogs

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Sir Roger Norrington (1934-2025)
Legacy in Every Measure
In the annals of classical music, few figures have left footprints as profound and enduring in the art of orchestral performance as Sir Roger Norrington. A conductor, scholar, and visionary, Norrington’s legacy is one of daring innovation, meticulous scholarship, and
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Friedrich Wieck: Clara Schumann’s Father and Classical Music’s Villain
Friedrich Wieck – Clara Schumann’s much-maligned father – is one of the great villains of classical music history, infamous for how he tried to keep Clara and her future husband Robert Schumann apart. However, Wieck had a fascinating biography apart
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The Perfect Working Holiday: The Skallsjö Sommarorkester
It all started with the double problem of what to do in the summer and how to get together with your friends. And, to compound it, you have to practice. Violinist Carl Vallin, now Artistic Director, and conductor and bassist
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Secrets About Chopin from George Sand’s Novel Lucrezia Floriani
In the spring of 1846, dashing French author George Sand began writing a novel inspired by the breakdown of her romantic partnership with pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin. She titled it Lucrezia Floriani. Lucrezia Floriani tells the story of three
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A Journey to the Heart
Schubertiade Hohenems 2025
The Schubertiade Hohenems, specifically the one held in July 2025, was more than simply visiting a music festival; it felt like coming home. Tucked between the rolling hills of Vorarlberg and the shadow of the Alps, Hohenems hosted a celebration
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A Boulez Celebration
Ensemble Intercontemporain
Jean-Guihen Queyras and Pierre-Laurent Aimard
In the hallowed halls of the Philharmonie de Paris, the Boulez Celebration of 6 January 2025 unfolded as a vibrant tribute to the centenary of Pierre Boulez’s birth. Under the masterful direction of Pierre Bleuse, the Ensemble Intercontemporain, an ensemble
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Robert Schumann’s Illness, In His Own Words
Every person with mental illness experiences it in different ways, with different symptoms of different severities. This deeply personal and subjective experience means that mental illness is famously difficult to diagnose, even with our comparatively advanced medical knowledge. If it’s
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Your Favorite Composers’ Favorite Composers
Pop star Chappell Roan has adopted a slogan for herself that has become famous: “I’m your favourite artist’s favourite artist!” Who’s the equivalent in the classical music world? Have you ever wondered who your favourite composer’s favourite composer was? Sometimes
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