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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- Mapping the Musical Genome
The Waltzing Strauss Family March 19th, 2018The extraordinary dynasty of dance music composers and musicians named Strauss originated in the Hungarian town of Buda. Around 1750, Grandfather Johann moved to Vienna, and his son Franz Borgias operated a small tavern in the suburb of Leopoldstadt. That - Claude Debussy
French Music without Sauerkraut March 18th, 2018Claude Debussy’s friend Paul Dukas candidly wrote “the strongest influence to which Debussy submitted was that of the littérateurs, not that of the musician.” And while most of us have no problems describing Debussy as an “Impressionist,” a term originating -
No Introduction Needed? March 18th, 2018 Thoughts on How to Introduce the Music Appropriately Before a Performance There is a growing trend amongst concert hosts and performers to introduce the music to be performed ahead of the concert, and on radio for presenters to describe the -
Forgotten Cellists: Lev Aronson March 17th, 2018 No-one could have predicted that Lev Aronson, from an impoverished family, interned in concentration camps during World War II, who overcame horrific experiences as a slave laborer —would become principal cello of the Dallas Symphony, and beloved cello teacher. His -
Nemorino in Tokyo – An Interview with Saimir Pirgu March 16th, 2018 In discussing the wide-range of characters he’s sung and his current role, lyric tenor Saimir Pirgu says he likes the roles where he doesn’t die at the end, contrasting his current role of Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore at the National -
Idylls for String Quartet March 16th, 2018 When we think of an ‘idyll’ we think of a peaceful and happy time. In music this doesn’t all have to be set in the happy land of major, we need that darker minor side to set the major into -
Claude Debussy: “I need something to love” March 15th, 2018 The Scottish operatic soprano Mary Garden, who sung the part of “Mélisande” in the original production of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande in 1902, was to later write about the composer, “I honestly don’t know if Debussy ever loved anybody really. - Musical Voices of WWI (1914-18)
Kreisler, Caplet and Hindemith March 14th, 2018In 1910, Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) was at the top of his game! He had just premiered the Elgar Violin Concerto under the composer’s direction at Queen’s Hall in London, and he was revered as one of the finest instrumentalists of
