Bruno Walter [Schelsinger], born on 15 September 1876 in Berlin, is celebrated as an outstanding conductor in an era of great conducting. He worked closely with Gustav Mahler and held major positions in Europe and the United States. His work
On This Day
Samuel Barber had always been looking for success in the opera house, an achievement that sadly eluded him. The story was markedly different in the field of instrumental music, as his Overture The School for Scandal was performed by the
Igor Stravinsky visited the Chicago Art Institute on 2 May 1947. He was struck by a series of eighteenth-century paintings by William Hogarth titled “The Rake’s Progress.” This series of scenes from a drama suggested the subject for an English-language
Pierre-Laurent Aimard is described as “a brilliant musician and an extraordinary visionary.” A celebrated interpreter of the standard repertoire, he is also a key figure in contemporary music. Throughout his remarkable career, he has been the pianist of choice of
On 5 September 2022, the German pianist and conductor Lars Vogt succumbed to oesophageal cancer at the age of 52. He came to prominence after taking second prize at the 1990 Leeds International Piano Competition, bringing exceptional sensitivity and lyricism
Considered one of the best pianists in the world, Jean-Yves Thibaudet has the rare ability to combine poetic musical sensibilities with dazzling technical prowess. As the New York Times writes, “…every note he fashions is a pearl… the joy, brilliance
Born in Somero, Finland, on 5 September 1960, Karita Mattila can turn any performance into an event. She is one of opera’s most compelling actors, combining conscious artistry with a “truly physical and vocal performance.” In fact, she has been
The music of Anton Bruckner, born as the son of a schoolmaster and church organist in Ansfelden near Linz on 4 September 1824, still strongly resonates today. Yet he was more than just an artist, he was a visionary. One