Argentinian composer José Antonio Bottiroli (1920–1990) started his career with works influenced by folk music of his country before going more international and following a more Romantic style. His piano music frequently has an improvisational character while his orchestral works

Let’s continue to explore more concertos for unique instruments. Einojuhani Rautavaara: Cantus Arcticus “Concerto for Birds and Orchestra,” Op. 61 Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928-2016) has been called “one of the most colourful and diverse figures in Finnish music. He is an

Alicia de Larrocha is universally recognized as one of the finest pianists of the 20th Century. Her extraordinary musical abilities emerged at a seriously young age, and she demanded piano lessons at the age of 3. Progressing rapidly, she was

In 1938, American composer Walter Piston (1894–1976) wrote his only ballet, The Incredible Flutist. The Boston Pops under Arthur Fieldler commissioned it and premiered it on 30 May 1938. At the premiere, Hans Wiener and His Dancers, with Orchestra, performed

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