In classical music, the Romantic Era lasted from around 1810 to around 1910. That century gave us some of the most famous symphonies in the repertoire. Nineteenth-century composers like Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Dvořák, Schubert, Mahler, Rachmaninoff, and others elevated the symphony
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The Boston Symphony at Tanglewood from the Manager’s Perspective: Mark Volpe Interview November 20th, 2016 In 1936, the Boston Symphony’s first program in the Berkshires took place under an enormous tent, with Maestro Serge Koussevitzky at the helm. Fifteen thousand people heard the venerable ensemble in the gorgeous setting but far from ideal venue. Koussevitzky’s -
Musical Giants of the 20th Century: Opera Voices November 20th, 2016 Richard Tucker: First of the great American tenors For several generations of patrons of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, one tenor represented the absolute gold standard: Richard Tucker. It helped that he had immigrant Jewish background (he was born -
Muses and Musings
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: A Rondo for the Baroness Waldstädten November 19th, 2016Full of optimism, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arrived in Vienna in 1781 ready to make his mark on the Viennese musical scene. By sheer coincidence he was introduced to the Baroness Martha Elisabeth von Waldstädten. She was thirty-seven at that time -
Composers and Their Poets: Schubert VI November 18th, 2016 Franz Grillparzer, Ignaz Castelli, and Eduard von Bauernfeld were all friends of Schubert and appear in the 1868 ‘Schubertiade’ drawing done by Moritz von Schwind, where they are standing behind the women on the right side of the picture. -
Are concerts “too long”? November 17th, 2016 British pianist Stephen Hough sparked a lively debate recently by suggesting that classical concerts could be “shorter” to attract younger or new audiences, or to allow venues and musicians to offer two concerts in one evening. He also hinted that -
The First German Requiem November 16th, 2016 When Prince Heinrich II, Count of Reuss-Gera, died on 13 December 1635, he knew exactly what would happen at his funeral as he had designed it all himself. The texts, from scripture and from 16th century writers, such as Martin -
Manuel de Falla November 15th, 2016 Nights in the Gardens of Spain The marriage of Napoleon III to Eugenie de Montijo in 1853 heralded a French artistic fascination with the Iberian peninsular. Some of the best Spanish music of the late 19th century, particularly in the -
Minors of the Majors
Richard Strauss: Macbeth, Op. 23 November 14th, 2016“Minors of the Majors” invites you to discover compositions by the great classical composers that for one reason or another have not reached the musical mainstream. Please enjoy, and keep listening!