Ludwig van Beethoven’s impact on classical music is impossible to overstate. Born in 1770, Beethoven redefined what music could be. He managed that redefinition by rewriting formal boundaries, finding new ways to express emotion, and making a living in a

As much as one can try to preserve art from being tainted with political ideologies, promotions and intentions, history has shown that it has often been objectified to serve political purposes. Particularly when it comes to music. Whether from the

Jehan Alain is one of classical music’s great “what-ifs.” A brilliant French composer and organist, he grew up in a Paris household filled with music. Over the course of just a few short years, he produced more than 120 works

Writing classical music reviews can feel intimidating. After all, how can anyone possibly hope to capture what musicians do in words? The unsatisfying answer is the same advice those musicians have been given: practice, practice, practice! But there are some

March has been one of the most important months in classical music history, packed with pivotal premieres, legendary births, and moments that reshaped how music is written, performed, and understood. From the births of Frédéric Chopin and Joseph Haydn to

Alcohol shaped (and sometimes shattered) the lives of some of classical music’s greatest composers. From John Field, a pianist who had to be dragged out of bars to play his scheduled concerts, to Jean Sibelius, whose binge drinking nearly ended

Few pianists in history have inspired as much fascination as Vladimir Horowitz. He was not only a dazzling virtuoso, but also a deeply complex figure whose life offstage was often as dramatic as his performances. Fans and scholars alike continue

When we think of the great revolutions in classical music history, we might think about the premiere of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Wagner’s Ring Cycle of operas, or Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. But not every revolution happens on such a