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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Wilhelm Furtwängler
The Conducting Composer February 2nd, 2023Wilhelm Furtwängler (1886-1954) is known as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, but he saw himself primarily as a composer for whom conducting was “the roof under which I have taken refuge in life because I was -
On This Day
2 February: Fritz Kreisler Was Born February 2nd, 2023Almost every biography of Fritz Kreisler quotes his famous saying, “I knew musical scores instinctively before I knew my A B C. It was a gift of Providence. I did not acquire it.” I have always wondered how this statement -
Rachell Ellen Wong February 1st, 2023 “Play It How You Want To” The worlds of ‘modern’ and ‘historical’ performance are often seen as two very different beasts – but not for young violinist Rachell Ellen Wong. The only early music practitioner to have ever received an -
On This Day
1 February: Puccini’s La Bohème Was Premiered February 1st, 2023Giacomo Puccini’s (1858-1924) La Bohème is one of his best-loved and most frequently performed operas. After its premiere on 1 February 1896 it was quickly adopted into the repertory of all the major theatres across Italy. However, the response of -
Victor Hugo’s Les Djinns
By Gabriel Fauré, César Franck and Louis Vierne January 31st, 2023Victor Hugo’s 1829 poetry collection, Les Orientales, was inspired by the Greek War of Independence, where, between 1821 and 1829, the Greeks worked to overthrow the Ottoman Empire. Assisted by the British, the French, and the Russians, the Greeks overthrew -
10 Hilarious Titles in Classical Music January 30th, 2023 Classical music has a reputation for being altogether too serious. It’s an often-repeated cliché based on the great fear of being locked in a concert hall for several hours without the use of mobile phones. Granted, classical composers didn’t make -
On This Day
30 January: Francis Poulenc Died January 30th, 2023Some say that Francis Poulenc was granted an ideal death. He died of a heart attack in his Paris apartment on the rue des Medicis, on 30 January 1963. On that day he was planning to have lunch with Denise -
“None Shall Sleep”
Exciting Versions of “Nessun Dorma” January 29th, 2023Crossover and Pop Versions of the Famous Opera Aria I believe that it was Luciano Pavarotti who single-handedly made “Nessun dorma,” from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot one of the most popular tunes on the planet. “Nessun dorma”: Luciano Pavarotti It