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Nathalie Stutzmann (Born on May 6, 1965): “Winterreise”
A Cycle in Contralto Colours
Only the second woman in history to lead a major American orchestra, Nathalie Stutzmann is currently the Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In fact, she has extended her tenure through the 2028-2029 season. In addition, she will become
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Who Were the Women Composers Like Liszt?
Franz Liszt is often remembered as the quintessential Romantic era piano virtuoso and composer. Less often discussed, however, is the remarkable group of women composers and pianists who studied with him, admired him, challenged him, or were otherwise inspired by
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Cédric Tiberghien (Born on May 5, 1975)
Musical Partnerships
Cédric Tiberghien, born on 5 May 1975, achieved his international breakthrough in 1998 when he won the First Grand Prize and five special prizes at the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition. Since then, he has engaged in a truly international career, and he
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Forgotten Pianists: Stanislav Neuhaus
Russian pianist Stanislav Neuhaus carried on the tradition of his father, the pianist and teacher Heinrich Neuhaus (1888–1964). Heinrich taught at the Moscow Conservatory from 1922 to 1964 and was the author of The Art of Piano Playing (1958), considered
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Idiosyncrasies of Brass Players and Why We Still Love Them: The Trombone
A popular trombone saying goes like this: Marriage is like playing the trombone. It looks easy until you try it! The trombone is widely recognised as a challenging brass instrument, particularly due to its slide mechanism, which requires precise muscle
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Cousin Marriages in Music History
Five Composers and Their Unusual Love Lives
Although it’s a practice frowned upon today due to social taboos, a surprisingly high number of great composers married their cousins. These relationships shaped influential careers, inspired music, and in some cases even triggered familial or religious conflicts (or all
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Antonín Dvořák (Died on May 1, 1904): Symphonic Poems
Witches, Goblins, and Glory
I am sure that everybody knows at least a couple of symphonies by Antonín Dvořák. In all, he composed nine such pieces, with the “Symphony from the New World” probably the most famous. All of his symphonies are wonderfully warm
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Why Did Composers Write Atonal Music?
In the world of classical music, atonal music often receives a cool reception. Listeners who love listening to Schubert or Schumann often tap out when Schoenberg is on the program. It makes a certain amount of sense. The dissonances common
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