Born in Amsterdam on 4 March 1929, conductor Bernard Haitink imparted an uncommon strength of character and conviction to the players. Undemonstrative in performance, his restrained demeanour was the result of his intensive study of the scores even before rehearsal.

Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) was a scientist and medical doctor who considered music his favourite hobby. Regardless, his compositions place him in the front rank of Russian composers, as his music had a strong lyric vein that reflects the character of

Born in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk on 25 February 1989, Pavel Kolesnikov studied both the piano and violin for ten years, before focusing on the piano. A graduate of the Moscow State Conservatoire he won several major piano competitions

Although he was overshadowed during his lifetime by his more flamboyant colleague Jean-Baptiste Lully, Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704) is today acknowledged as one of the most gifted and versatile French composers. His most famous work, the main theme from the prelude

Known for his ability to communicate with and engage audiences, Alan Gilbert became one of the youngest music directors of the New York Philharmonic and the first native New Yorker to hold the position. Gilbert built his reputation conducting contemporary

The Danish composer, violinist, organist, educationist, and administrator Niels Gade, born in Copenhagen on 22 February 1817, ranks among the most important figures in 19th-century Danish music. A supremely talented and multifaceted musician, roughly half of his compositions remained unpublished

The life of the exceptional Italian composer and violinist Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) is surrounded by a wealth of anecdotes and legends. Such tall tales are particularly plentiful when history is attempting to reconstruct the doings of discreetly homosexual composers. Corelli

Acclaimed for her radiant and sophisticated performances, Eldbjørg Hemsing is one of the leading young violinists on the international scene today. A subtle and sensitive performer, Hemsing creates a sense of magic through her warm and gentle tones. She is