Ever fall in love? It’s the best way to describe how we string players feel about our cellos, violins, violas, and basses. After all, we will spend much more time with our instruments than even our spouses. And often, it

Dinner is the most important meal of the day. It doesn’t have to be fancy all the time, but it is the perfect occasion for letting the air out of your day. It is a time to leave the tensions

Richard Wagner was the manliest of composers. He was a titan who looked at opera and demanded more gods, added dragons, and maidens to guard the cursed gold. Wagner’s stories are not dainty salon entertainments; they are mythic endurance tests

I just love the piano music of Frédéric Chopin. It makes me laugh, it makes me sigh, it makes me feel as if the world has suddenly become brighter, softer, and a little more magical. There is something in the

The legacy of Henri Duparc (1848-1933), who died at Mont-de-Marsan on 12 February 1933, rests on a remarkably small body of works. Although he only composed a limited number of French mélodies, either sixteen or seventeen, depending on the source,

As the last days of the wood snake wind down, we can look forward to the Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse. Starting on 17 February, the Year of the Horse is part of the 12-year Chinese Zodiac cycle.

The name Hélène Jourdan-Morhange may be obscure today, but she was the dedicatee of a handful of the most beloved violin works in the repertoire. She was also a muse, interpreter, and chronicler of a golden era of French music.

I will say this upfront, as a pianist who knows exactly how hard this instrument can bite. Yuja Wang is a miracle! She is both an inspiration and a delightful menace. She raises the bar so high, it feels almost