The love story between Robert and Clara Schumann is often regarded as one of the most romantic in classical music history. Happily for historians, many of their love letters survive. They document their inner thoughts and emotions, as well as
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On This Day
17 April: Artur Schnabel was Born April 17th, 2023Pianist Artur Schnabel (1882-1951) is primarily associated with his glorious performances of the late Beethoven sonatas. As a scholar writes, “Here he often achieved a visionary quality in which the piano itself was almost forgotten; and although he allowed himself -
50 Times Great Composers Insulted Other Great Composers April 16th, 2023 Listeners often think of classical composers as otherworldly gods above earthly matters, who did nothing else in life besides transcribing music from the heavens. But of course, in reality, the famous composers were human beings, indulging in the same kinds -
The ambassador of women composers- Antonio Oyarzabal April 16th, 2023 Antonio Oyarzabal is a pianist with a serious commitment and passion for promoting music written by women composers. In addition to being named as the ambassador of Donne, Women in Music since 2021, Antonio recently released an album, El Fin -
On This Day
16 April: Handel’s Alcina Was Premiered April 16th, 2023The Italian epic poem “Orlando furioso” (The Frenzy of Orlando) is considered one of the most influential works in European literature. Penned by Ludovico Ariosto and published in its completed form in 1532, the story takes place against the backdrop -
Pianists and Their Composers: Sergei Rachmaninoff April 15th, 2023 Sergei Rachmaninoff is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers for the piano. Cornerstones of the repertoire for many pianists, his music is beloved by performers and audiences the world over. His piano music is known – and feared -
An Old Genre is Given a New Voice
The Art of the Coloratura Soprano April 15th, 2023The art of the coloratura soprano came into its own in the 18th century with lyric coloratura soprano role in works by Mozart (Blonde in Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Cimarosa (Caroline in Il matrimonio secreto), and Handel (Alcina). This -
Heroic Adventures for Guitar
Carlo Domeniconi’s Sinbad, a Fairy Tale April 14th, 2023The Italian composer and guitarist Carlo Domeniconi (b. 1947) took his education at the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro and at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin and combined with his interest in Turkey (he founded the classical guitar course at -
Should We Remember the Titanic’s Band as Heroes? April 14th, 2023 When the Titanic struck an iceberg on the night of 14 April 1912, sinking at 2:20 AM the following day, eight unlikely heroes emerged: the members of the ship’s band. They played for passengers, keeping them calm and preventing panic.