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On This Day
24 May: Pärt’s Berliner Messe Was Premiered
Estonian-born composer Arvo Pärt (1935- ) has managed to strike a sound of devotional archaism into a world of chaotic modernity. Highly experimental during his early musical career, Part’s study of early music inspired a new, and completely unique musical
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On This Day
23 May: Alicia de Larrocha Was Born
Alicia de Larrocha, born on 23 May 1923 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, was never too keen on giving interviews in English. That reluctance was based on the unfounded fear of being unable to express her views on music fully and
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On This Day
22 May: Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri Was Premiered
L’Italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) is Gioachino Rossini’s first buffo masterpiece in a fully-fledged two-act form, and it is one of the greatest comic masterpieces ever created. Based on a libretto by Angelo Anelli, and specifically written
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22 May: “Sherlock Holmes Day”
Sherlock Holmes, the fictional detective of great observational and deductive powers, is probably the best-known sleuth in the world. The invention of British author Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes sprang to life in 1887 and is supposedly modeled on Joseph Bell,
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What’s the Most Expensive Cello in the World – And Where Is It?
Have you ever wondered what the most expensive cello in the world is, and what its story might be? Today we’re taking a look at the history of the Duport Stradivarius…and why we don’t even know for sure where it
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On This Day
20 May: Paul Lewis was Born
Pianist Paul Lewis is credited with an “uncommon sensitivity and musical intelligence, with a discerning balance between vivid moment-by-moment characterization and long-range structural command.” Without doubt, Lewis is internationally recognized as one of the leading musicians of his generation. Yet,
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New Music 550 Years Later: The Leuven Chansonnier
In 2015, a 15th-century parchment book of songs was discovered and in the book were 12 previously unknown songs. All were given without attribution but modern scholars examining them have discovered links with works of many of the greatest composers
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On This Day
18 May: Gluck’s Iphigenie en Tauride Was Premiered
Iphigénie en Tauride has always been one of Willibald Gluck’s most frequently performed operas. It was the sixth of his seven operas for Paris, and premiered on 18 May 1779 by the Paris Opéra at the second Salle du Palais-Royal.
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