The viola may be the less flashy sibling of the violin, but in the hands of these seven great women composers, the viola truly shines as a solo instrument. From the bold modernism of Marga Richter and Peggy Glanville-Hicks to
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Famous Composers as Subjects of Opera II November 14th, 2020 The life of Alessandro Stradella (1639-1682) was characterized by turbulence, adventure and amorous escapades. In fact, in 1677 an attempt was made to murder him for reasons unknown, although it was believed to be at the instigation of a Venetian -
The Knowing Audience
Don Giovanni: Gia la mensa e preparata November 13th, 2020In the dramatic final scene of Don Giovanni, Mozart includes an on-stage band, a Tafelmusik, that plays light fluff of the day for the party that Don Giovanni is planning. The music the group plays, however, may be fluff, but -
Nicky Spence at Wigmore Hall November 12th, 2020 Jess Dandy: mezzo-soprano, Julius Drake: piano 16 November 2020: Janáček This concert will be live streamed on the Wigmore Hall website in HD, and all concerts in the Autumn Series will be available on demand for 30 days after the -
On the Road: Jürgen Saalmann’s 28 Days November 12th, 2020 Remember when you used to run out, get in the car, and just drive? Somewhere? Anywhere? Those days have been pretty much finished since early 2020 but in 2019, guitarist Jürgen Saalmann designed his own road trip and his new -
Tōru Takemitsu
A Composer Between Two Traditions November 11th, 2020As a composer, Tōru Takemitsu (1930-1996) was essentially self-taught. In fact, as he freely admits, his first real teacher was the radio. During the post-war occupation of Japan, Takemitsu worked for the U.S. Armed Forces. He contracted tuberculosis and was -
Beethoven’s Lairs
“Ossolynskisches Schloß, Baden” November 10th, 2020By 15 November 1815, Beethoven’s brother Caspar Carl’s health had suddenly deteriorated, and he suddenly collapsed and died on that very day. In his will, he appointed Beethoven the sole guardian of his only child, the 9-year-old Karl, but an -
Five Notes
How the Pentatonic Scale Guided the Evolution of Contemporary Classical Music November 9th, 2020Five notes, endless possibilities… The pentatonic scale is often associated with popular music — and for a very good reason, it has been used extensively from blues to jazz, rock, pop and everything in between. However, as much as it -
Piano Music for Autumn November 9th, 2020 The turning of the season sees some composers of piano music in reflective mood, while others portray meteorological conditions – misty mornings and autumn gales which blow the gold and red leaves from the trees and toss them around in