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 Inspiration of Imagination – Fairy Tales January 23rd, 2019 They are so familiar, the characters in the fairy tales and we know of their attributes: the loneliness of Cinderella before her triumphal return, the bravery of Little Red Riding Hood, the cleverness of Hansel and Gretel, and so many -
Weill: Lady in the Dark
Premiered Today in 1941 January 23rd, 2019Liza Elliot (mezzo-soprano) is a successful editor of a popular fashion magazine. Nevertheless, she is highly uncomfortable with the success-oriented and male-dominated society. Liza is also conflicted about the love interests in her life, and she can’t decide between her -
Extreme Danger! There is an Opera in Town January 22nd, 2019 Fromental Halévy (1799-1862) composed roughly forty works for the Parisian state. And while La Juive of 1835 turned out to be his most successful work, Charles VI might be the most dangerous opera in the repertoire. Composed in 1843, it -
At the Center of the Musical Universe
Franz Schubert II January 21st, 2019Greatness will invariably recognize greatness! And Franz Liszt’s efforts and commitment on behalf of forgotten masterpieces set a powerful trend in the 19th century. As such it is hardly surprising that Franz Schubert occupied a central place in Liszt’s transcriptions -
The Organist and the “Virgin Queen” January 20th, 2019 She was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, and everybody knew her as the “Virgin Queen.” Elizabeth I (1533-1603) had various suitors, but in the end she was never swept away by her emotions that -
Music. And Silence January 20th, 2019 “Music is the silence between the notes” Attributed to Debussy and also Mozart “…..the pauses between the notes – ah, that is where the art resides” Artur Schnabel “Music starts in the silence” Stephen Hough, pianist -
Chinoiserie in Motion: Chao Kang January 19th, 2019 Louis Henry (1784-1836) was an exceptional French dancer, choreographer and ballet master. Born in Versailles, he started his career at the Paris Opera in 1803 but quickly got into heated competition with Louis Duport and Auguste Vestris. Vicious infighting forced -
Mozart: “Prague” Symphony KV 504
Premiered Today in 1787 January 19th, 2019Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had contemplated a journey to London in the autumn of 1786. However, his father Leopold strongly objected, and he even refused to look after Mozart’s children. As such, instead of going to London, Mozart accepted an invitation