Sometimes – often! – learning a new piece of music can feel like ascending a steep mountain. The first few weeks, when the piece is still very new, can be an uphill slog as you cope with note-reading and learning,

French pianist Henriette Faure (1907-1985) made the music of Maurice Ravel sing on the performing stage. One of the first to play his music in public, she made recordings of his works from the 1930s to 1950, but died before

Despite the fact that epilepsy has appeared in medical history as early as 400 BC and an estimated 50 million people around the world are affected by it1, there are still many misconceptions that surround the condition.

Wilhelm Petersen-Berger (1867-1942) was a feared and controversial music critic for a Stockholm newspaper from 1896 to 1930. He hated the music of Arnold Schoenberg and his followers, and fought tooth and nail against the increasing influence of modernism in

Frederick Delius’ opera A Village Romeo and Juliet leaves in a puzzle with the title – is this a tragedy of young love like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, or does the addition of ‘A Village’ make it something else?

“Wise artists seek out critical evaluations.” –The Musician’s Way As musicians it is important for us to receive endorsement for our work. This may come from teachers and mentors, colleagues, friends and family, critics and audience members: whatever its source,

It’s a sunny afternoon in Delhi and I am wandering around the Qutub Minar with my cousin sister, who asks me about the origins of the minaret. Before I can answer, a confident voice pipes in and prattles off the