In classical music, the Romantic Era lasted from around 1810 to around 1910. That century gave us some of the most famous symphonies in the repertoire. Nineteenth-century composers like Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Dvořák, Schubert, Mahler, Rachmaninoff, and others elevated the symphony
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Musical Double Takes II by Charles-Valentin Alkan, Johann Nepomuk Hummel & More January 22nd, 2023 Charles-Valentin Alkan In our exploration of musical double takes—composers who wrote multiple sets of preludes and/or fugues in all major and minor keys—we have to honour one of the most enigmatic composers in the history of music. Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888) -
On This Day
22 January: Myung-whun Chung Was Born January 22nd, 2023Most of us know Myung-whun Chung as one of the world’s leading conductors. He started his career with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1977, becoming the assistant conductor to Carlo Maria Giulini. The Beginning of His Career as the Assistant -
Beethoven of the Flute: Rediscover Kuhlau and His Works for Flute, Piano, and Operas! January 22nd, 2023 Danish composer and pianist Friedrich Kuhlau (1786 –1832) was one of the key figures of the Danish Golden Age, and his music represented Danish romanticism. Most of his compositions were either for the flute or piano and to this day, -
Yearnings of a King
Poetry of Ludwig I of Bavaria January 21st, 2023Ludwig I, king of Bavaria from 1825 until 1848, was primarily known for his enthusiasm for the arts and women. As a crown prince he collected German and Dutch painting, masterpieces of the Italian renaissance, and contemporary art for his -
A Fraction of the Whole
Classical Music Is Defined by a Few Giants January 20th, 2023How much do we really know about classical music? I have recently read about how success happens to only a very small number of people. How everything that is successful is a tiny portion of the whole. How the law -
On This Day
20 January: Yvonne Loriod Was Born January 20th, 2023Born on 20 January 1924 in Houilles, on the north-western outskirts of Paris, Yvonne Loriod was a dedicated champion of the piano works of Pierre Boulez, André Jolivet, Jean Barraqué and Arnold Schoenberg, and she played the world premieres of -
The Year of the Water Rabbit January 19th, 2023 According to the Chinese zodiac, 2022 was “characterized by strength, vitality, and growth, underpinned by the dynamism of the tiger.” It was a year designated as yang, the active principle of the universe in ancient Chinese philosophy. As such, in -
On This Day
19 January: Verdi’s Il Trovatore Was Premiered January 19th, 2023While Giuseppe Verdi was basking in the tremendous success he enjoyed with Rigoletto in March 1851, he was also looking for a subject for his next opera. His lover Giuseppina Strepponi had recently translated a play by García Gutiérrez titled