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
Latest article
Spotlight
-
Sergei Rachmaninoff and His Circle of Friends II July 10th, 2022 Henry Cowell (1897-1965) was a twenty-two year old Californian composer trying to establish his musical reputations. His mentor John Varian suggested, “you will have to depend on yourself and very few other musicians to develop your music.” As such Cowell -
On This Day
10 July: Jonas Kaufmann Was Born July 10th, 2022Described as “the hottest tenor in the world,” Jonas Kaufmann is constantly trying to live down the “greatest living tenor hype.” While the tabloid press focuses on his physical attributes and his earlier supposed liaison with Madonna, Kaufmann has a -
The Modern Patron: Benny Goodman July 9th, 2022 After having made his name in jazz, clarinetist Benny Goodman set out to make his name in classical music, feeling that he was likely to leave a longer impression in classical music than in jazz. To fill that need, he -
On This Day
9 July: Ottorino Respighi Was Born July 9th, 2022Born on 9 July in Bologna, Ottorino Respighi’s paternal ancestry originated from Cortemaggiore, a small country town near Piacenza in northern Italy. His grandfather Tommaso was a capable violinist and the founder of the local orchestra. He also worked as -
A Royal Family of Composers in Sweden:
The Bernadotte Dynasty July 8th, 2022The Bernadotte dynasty in Sweden was founded in 1818 when the French field marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte ascended the throne as Charles XIV John (Karl XIV Johan) of Sweden. How a French military leader rose to be head of Sweden -
Abandoned at the Altar
Maxwell Davies’ Miss Donnithorne’s Maggot July 7th, 2022Eliza Emily Donnithorne (1821-1886) got engaged to George Cutherbertson, a clerk in a local shipping company in Sydney, Australia, or perhaps it was Stuart Donaldson, an aspiring politician in Sydney. Come the wedding day, the guests gather, the wedding breakfast -
On This Day
7 July: Gustav Mahler Was Born July 7th, 2022The birth of Gustav Mahler, the second of fourteen children born to Bernhard Mahler and Marie Mahler née Herrmann, was announced on 7 July 1860 in Kalischt, a small settlement on the border of Moravia. His parents were members of -
Untuning the World of Jan Steen July 6th, 2022 The household is in an uproar – the cat is at the meat, a bottle is broken on the floor, a heavy book is being trodden on, the backgammon board is overturned, a pocket watch lies open, and the lute