Specific cities have inspired a huge amount of classical music over the years. Today, we’re looking at a selection of classical works explicitly connected to major cities, examining how each composer responded to each place. Some pieces reflect civic pride
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My Top Ten Concert Experiences in China in 2021 December 31st, 2021 If there is one perfect word to sum up the audible culmination of China in 2021, homogeneity must be somewhere close to the top. The whole country indulged in a year-long celebration of the centennial of the Chinese Communist Party -
Lieder for and About New Year December 31st, 2021 It’s time to say good riddance to 2021 as we hopefully look forward to a more upbeat 2022. The changing of a calendar year, regardless of culture, nationality or creed has traditionally been cause for celebrations. Expressions of exuberance include -
More Year in Review 2021 December 31st, 2021 For a year when so many of us limited our social activities to things that were local, the only real travel news that made an international hit was Billionaires in Space! Why use your fortune for good when you can -
End of the Year Review 2021 December 30th, 2021 How will we end this year? With an Omicron bang or a COVID whimper? A year ago, we expected that by mid-summer, all would be back to normal and life could resume. Now, however, we’re not so sure what normal -
6 Types of Orchestral Musician December 30th, 2021 Orchestral musicians are an odd bunch. It’s ok, I can say that – I speak as one of the oddest. Within any orchestra different personalities emerge, each with their own quirks and habits. Take this as a guide through the -
Connections – An Interview With Işıl Bengi December 29th, 2021 When we last interviewed pianist Işıl Bengi in 2020, she’d just issued her first album. Now, nearly 2 years later, we interviewed a very different pianist about a very different album. The reason? The same reason all of our lives -
Carl Maria von Weber: Abu Hassan December 29th, 2021 First performed in Munich in 1811, the delightful one-act Singspiel Abu Hassan is based on a famous episode in “The Arabian Nights.” Set to music by Carl Maria von Weber, the opera features Abu Hassan (tenor) and his devoted wife -
How The Taubman Approach Can Help Prevent Tension, Even If You’re Not a Musician December 28th, 2021 At its roots, the Taubman Approach is based on the premise that there is a way to play the piano that is tension-free. However, in the past thirty years, I’ve discovered these life-changing techniques can benefit not only pianists and