Before modern concert halls and subscription series, classical music performances in Europe mostly took place behind closed doors at courts, in churches, or in private salons. But by the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a new idea began to take shape:

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) had a rather limited involvement with opera. However, he did complete three one-act operas between 1892 and 1905. Aleko was written as a graduation piece at the Moscow Conservatory in 1892, and it earned him high honours

In the first part of this article, we considered the vastly different experiences associated with classical concerts and concerts of other genres. We saw that “common sense” reasons for concert etiquette can veil much more intricate and meaningful matters, and

Did you know there is an amazing one-of-a-kind museum in Shanghai, China? The museum, located in Hongkou, is the historical site where European Jews took refuge during World War II. The exhibits highlight the Jewish refugee experience as well as

Everyone loves a great comeback story, and classical music is full of them. Some of today’s most beloved symphonies and ballets were disasters at their premieres. Critics have hissed; audiences have walked out; and even fellow musicians have tossed around

Professional choir Sonoro celebrates its 10th anniversary with the world premiere of Five Beacons of Light: A Cantata for the Sea – a sweeping new 50-minute choral work specially commissioned by award-winning British composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad, with a libretto by

During the nineteenth century, syphilis was rampant in Europe, and quite a few composers are believed to have had it. The 2024 article “The Syphilis Pandemic Prior to Penicillin: Origin, Health Issues, Cultural Representation and Ethical Challenges” estimates that during

[ze-neh-zen] Zene [noun, Hungarian] music Zen 1. [noun] A state of meditative calm, in which one uses direct, intuitive insights as a way of thinking and acting 2. [adjective/colloquial] Wise, enlightened, relaxed, capable Zenezen is an emerging initiative and digital