Audiences can never resist a duel. For hundreds of years, audiences have enjoyed watching confrontations between virtuoso pianists that showcase both their technical prowess and competitive spirits. Today we’re looking at six of the most famous piano duels in the

Renowned for his eloquent, deeply personalised interpretations, conductor Rafael Kubelík was most at ease in the symphonic repertory, particularly the symphonies of Beethoven and Brahms, and the works of his fellow-countrymen Martinů, Janáček, and Mahler. Loved by critics and his

Mauricio Kagel (1931–2008) wrote Exotica on commission for the 20th Olympic Games, held in 1972 in Munich. In the work, he explored the idea of confronting musicians with instruments they’d never played before and challenging them to come up with

No great composer achieved their greatness in a vacuum. Although the narratives of music history often ignore them, all of the great composers had female relatives, friends, and colleagues who were major influences on their artistry. Today, we’re looking at

Brazilian pianist João Carlos Martins’ life is a tale of success and personal tragedy, of traumatic injuries and triumphant comebacks. It is a story of greatness, of 24 surgeries and resignation, but also a story with a Hollywood ending. In

The piano is heavy, weighing between 480 to 600 lbs (180–270 kg) for an upright one, up to 1,100 (500 kg) for a baby grand, and over 1,200 (540 kg) for a concert grand. How do you put these out

When Carl Reinecke published the first of his well over three hundred works in the 1830s, Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Liszt were at the height of their fame. Such was Reinecke’s longevity that when his final scores were printed, Schoenberg, Webern,

Just how musically talented was Carl Maria von Weber? Well, at the age of 17, he was offered and accepted the post of Director at the Breslau Opera in 1804. Weber had spent some time in Vienna, studying hard with