Blogs

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Five Must-See Augustin Hadelich Performances: His Most Popular YouTube Videos
Augustin Hadelich is one of the greatest violinists of his generation. Today, we’re looking at five of his most popular performances on YouTube. We’re also looking at each video’s heatmap, a graphic that appears when you hover over a video’s
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The Dual Artistry of Dinu Lipatti
Unveiling the Composer
We primarily remember Dinu Lipatti as a celebrated and exceptional pianist. For Yehudi Menuhin, he was “a manifestation of a spirit realm, resistant to all pain and suffering,” while Alfred Cortot considered his playing “quite simply perfection.” And Francis Poulenc
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Ten Pieces of Musical Advice from the Great Composers
The great composers left behind more than just great music: they also left behind advice for their fellow artists. Much of that advice is still surprisingly relevant, even in our fast-paced digital age. Today, we’re looking at ten pieces of
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The Dramatic Soprano: The Powerhouse of Opera
The dramatic soprano stands out in opera as one of the most powerful and emotionally resonant voice types, capable of soaring above a full orchestra and capturing the essence of the operatic experience with breathtaking intensity. Characterized by a large,
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Science-Backed Ways to Feel More Confident in Performance
While it’s normal to be nervous before an important concert, there are techniques you can use to ensure that butterflies don’t interfere with giving the expressive performance of which you are truly capable. Read on for strategies to stay calm
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Was Chopin’s Friend Tytus Woyciechowski Actually His Boyfriend?
The friendship of Frédéric Chopin and Tytus Woyciechowski has been a source of fascination for generations. Despite rarely meeting, these two men shared a deep and unique emotional intimacy. Chopin’s letters to Woyciechowski are so passionate, and his devotion to
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Test Your Music Knowledge: How Many of 10 Masterworks by Composers in Their 80s Have You Heard?
Be forewarned: Three is an excellent score Recently, I heard a superb premiere of music by an 87-year-old composer. I wondered how many composers in their 80s have maintained similar creativity. To my surprise—and delight, as I’m in my 70s—I
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Denis Bédard’s Variations
Denis Bédard (b. 1950) is a Canadian organist, pedagogue, and composer celebrated for his prolific output of organ and choral music. Born in Québec, Bédard was educated at the Conservatoire de musique de Québec, where he graduated with premier prix
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