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A Song to Remember: The 1945 Chopin Film That Made George Sand a Villain
The 1945 film A Song to Remember offers a romanticised (some would say bastardised) portrayal of the life of Polish composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin, and, as of early 2025, it’s available for free on YouTube. A Song To Remember
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The Greatest Musician Portraits by John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent is famous for his psychologically probing portraits of wealthy and socially prominent people from the turn of the century. However, Sargent was also fascinated with music, and he painted many portraits of some of the most talented
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The Sounds of Summer
Summer is here! School’s out, weekends never seem long enough if you’ve been at work all week, and the outdoors becomes the place to be. We’ll look at summer through sound, and a few pieces of music, and see how
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What Happened to Sibelius’s Six Daughters?
Celebrated Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and his wife Aino were married for sixty-five years, from 1892 to 1957. It was one of the longest marriages in classical music history. Between 1903 and 1904, the couple famously built a rustic house
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Pixie Party Time
International Fairy Day Delight
You need to get ready to sprinkle some pixie dust and celebrate International Fairy Day, a magical moment on June 24 when we honour the whimsical world of fairies. Just think of tiny, glowing creatures flitting through enchanted forests, their
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A Tribute to Alfred Brendel
The Philosopher-Pianist
Alfred Brendel, who passed away at the age of 94 in June 2025, was not merely a pianist but a towering figure in classical music whose intellectual depth, technical mastery, and poetic sensibility left an indelible mark on the world.
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Seven Dedicatees of Chopin’s Music and the Masterpieces They Inspired
Frédéric Chopin is possibly the most beloved composer of the Romantic era. He also, despite his shy and somewhat aloof nature, had many friends in the musical world, and he often dedicated his compositions to them. These dedications offer a
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Duck Face Dynasty
Unleashing Your Inner Selfie Star
Get ready to unleash your inner selfie superstar because National Selfie Day is strutting into the spotlight on June 21. This delightfully fun holiday is your official excuse to channel your best angles, perfect that pout, and flood your socials
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