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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Connecting with Proust: A Conversation with Steven Isserlis October 3rd, 2016 Cellist Steven Isserlis will be in Hong Kong in October as part of his Asian tour through South Korea, China, and Japan. The entire Asian tour has been entitled ‘Proust and Music’ and in a recent conversation with the cellist, -
Minors of the Majors
George Gershwin: Three Preludes October 3rd, 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! -
Muses and Musings
Therese or Heinrich? Franz Schubert and the Grob Children October 2nd, 2016Nothing stokes the fire of adolescence and the enormous physical and psychological changes that occur during the teenage years quite like the teenage girl and/or boy next door. Franz Schubert spent his formative years in Lichtental, the ninth district in -
An Artist at the Opera: Ivan Bilibin October 2nd, 2016 The Russian illustrator Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin took his love for Russian folklore into his designs for the stage, creating clear, finely edged sets. His first illustrations were commissioned by the Russian government for a series of Russian folk story books. -
Joseph Moog October 1st, 2016 On taking risks and the piano’s limits Performing the ‘Mount Everest of piano pieces’ (Brahms’ mighty Second Piano Concerto) in Hong Kong this October, Joseph Moog talks with me about lesser-known composers, and how far the piano repertoire can be -
Patriotism and Nationalism VI: South Africa and Belgium September 30th, 2016 For many countries, their National Anthems are symbols of their place in the world. They may reflect many different aspects of a country, sometimes listing nature’s bountiful beauties, sometimes giving an encapsulated history of a country, or reflecting a particularly -
Steve Reich September 29th, 2016 “All great music is contemporary” On 18 January 1973, Michael Tilson Thomas introduced Four Organs, scored for four Hammond organs and maracas by aspiring composer Steve Reich to New York audiences. Scheduled alongside music by Mozart, Bartók and Liszt, audience -
Love Songs for Claire September 28th, 2016 In the summer of 1936, the French composer Oliver Messiaen (1908-1992) was on holiday on the shores of Lac de Laffrey. He had a summer home here and it would be the place where he wrote the majority of his