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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Cello Concerto Overview: The Should Haves Part II September 8th, 2018 Here are six more cello concertos a cellist should have in their repertoire. Robert Schumann studied the cello as a youngster and although he was unable to continue due to an injury to his right hand he developed a deep -
Schubert: Mass in C major, D. 452
Premiered Today in 1825 September 8th, 2018Ferdinand Lukas Schubert (1794-1859)—older brother of Franz Schubert—was a schoolteacher, organist, and composer. He had some compositional talent, but frequently asked for his brother’s help in his daily work. On occasion, he appropriated his brother’s compositions and passed them off -
The Benefits of Music September 7th, 2018 I was looking at a listing on Buzzfeed, that news-site famous for its viral lists, on ’25 Cheat Sheets for Taking Care of Yourself Like an…Adult’ and noticed a recurring theme: -
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito
Premiered Today in 1791 September 6th, 2018The majority of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s (1756-1791) serious operas were composed for occasions connected to the Austrian ruling house of Habsburg. At the tender age of fourteen, Mozart composed Mitridate, re di Ponto for Milan, a city governed by the -
Carmen La Cubana September 6th, 2018 Entire academic careers have been built on situating the fictional character of Carmen—the heroine in Bizet’s opera—within a feminist context. The battlefield in this war between the sexes is Carmen’s body, and it is fought over by male roles attempting -
François Couperin September 4th, 2018 “I esteem what deserves esteem” In 2018 we celebrate the 350th birthday of François Couperin (1668-1733), a composer described as “the epitome of French music” by both Debussy and Ravel. Couperin was undoubtedly the most famous member of a family -
Meet Violinist Augustin Hadelich September 3rd, 2018 Violinist Augustin Hadelich recently performed a gorgeous rendition of the Beethoven Violin Concerto here in Minneapolis, with the Minnesota Orchestra. I was fortunate that he was able to spare the time to speak with me. -
Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra
Premiered Today in 1912 September 3rd, 2018There is considerable debate across the entire scholarly and social spectrum as to what composer was most influential in the field of Western Classical music. It may, or may not surprise you to learn that Glenn Gould considered Arnold Schoenberg