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
Latest article
Spotlight
-
Minors of the Majors
Frédéric Chopin: Grand Duo Concertant August 29th, 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! Chopin arrived in Paris in the middle of September -
Musical Giants of the 20th Century: Violinists August 28th, 2016 During the last century we have been blessed with many exceptional violinists. Ten violinists, musical giants of the 20th Century, truly changed the world of music. Bronislaw Huberman Legendary violinist Bronislaw Huberman was born in Poland in 1882. His extraordinary -
An Artist at the Opera: Maurice Sendak August 28th, 2016 We remember him for Little Max and the Wild Things, but artist and author Maurice Sendak (1928-2012) has shown us more than just Where the Wild Things Are. His stage works include both opera and ballet sets. -
Ravel’s Feline Family August 27th, 2016 In 1921, Maurice Ravel moved to a tiny villa outside of Paris, close to both culture and countryside. He named his cramped cottage “Belvedere.” It was his first house, and his dream house, and the last he ever had. Inside -
Patriotism and Nationalism I: France and the UK August 26th, 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 -
The Many Mountain Kings
Grieg’s Peer Gynt August 25th, 2016In Act II of Edvard Grieg’s music of the play Peer Gynt, our eponymous hero enters the hall of the mountain king. As the scene’s introduction describes: “There is a great crowd of troll courtiers, gnomes and goblins. The Troll -
Mannes School of Music August 24th, 2016 Part of the New School University, the Mannes School of Music resides in New York City, attracting students from all over the globe who dive headfirst into Manhattan and form part of one of the world’s most bustling cultural hubs. -
Serenity, Melancholy, and Tragic Intensity:
Mozart’s Rondo in A minor K511 August 23rd, 2016I first heard this work live about ten years ago, at a concert given in London by the American pianist and noted Mozart scholar Robert Levin. Played on a fortepiano, whose relatively modest voice spoke so elegantly, from the opening