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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The Top Ten Loves of Franz Liszt’s Life October 10th, 2024 Women loved Franz Liszt, and Franz Liszt loved women. The pianist and composer is almost as famous for his love life and his effect on women as his music-making. Today we’re looking at ten of the most intense love affairs -
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
The Instrumental Sonatas October 9th, 2024As we celebrate Camille Saint-Saëns’ birthday on 9 October 1835, we remember a musical genius and the leader of the French musical renaissance during the later part of the 19th century. He composed in virtually every musical genre available to -
15 Pieces of Classical Music About the Sea October 7th, 2024 Today we’re looking at pieces of classical music inspired by the sea. We’ll be listening to the work of composers who made musical waves, capturing the sea’s tranquility and its tumult. Anchors aweigh! Ludwig van Beethoven: Calm Sea and Prosperous -
Taking Flight: Music about Balloons October 6th, 2024 The summer is a time for balloons – children’s balloons in the park, adult balloon flights in the sky, or as a part of a day’s adventure at the theme park. Historically, their beginnings are associated with the great experiments -
Lost Euridice and Found Again October 6th, 2024 The story of Orpheus and Euridice is one of the early stories told in opera. From the first operas in 1600 by Caccini and Peri to the 21st century, the story of the musician and his lost love was central -
Electronics and La Marseillaise October 3rd, 2024 Danish composer Else Marie Pade (1924-2016) was a pioneer in electronic music. Her initial music studies were in piano and composition, moving into 12-tone technique. In 1954, inspired by the first electronic composers such as Pierre Schaeffer, she became Denmark’s -
Classical Music About Betrayal October 2nd, 2024 Betrayal is one of the most painful – and sadly, most universal – of human experiences. No matter who you are or where you come from, we’ve all been let down by friends, family, or lovers. Luckily for the betrayed, -
The Other Danubes I October 1st, 2024 Johann Strauss II’s evergreen An der schönen, blauen Donau (The Beautiful Blue Danube), Op. 314, wasn’t, of course, the only piece of music about the Danube. Franz Schubert, in his 1817 setting of Johann Meyrhofer’s pessimistic poem Auf der Danau,