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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Alexander Grechaninov: A musical Dinosaur? August 3rd, 2016 Alexander Tikhonovich Grechaninov (1864-1956) wasn’t entirely happy to study at the Moscow Conservatory. Although he took composition lessons from Sergey Taneyev and sat in the counterpoint class with Arensky, his initial attempts at composition were judged to be a waste -
Tobias Greenhalgh August 2nd, 2016 Singing and Superheroes About to embark upon a run of Die Fledermaus in the Lehár Festival at Austria’s Bad Ischl, baritone Tobias Greenhalgh talks about his travels to date, education, and work-life balance. -
Bringing the Universe to the Concert Hall August 1st, 2016 The death of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, age 87, on 27 July 2016, brings to an end life of the most famous composer from Finland since Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). He studied at the Sibelius Academy and the Juilliard School before -
Minors of the Majors
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Suite in D minor August 1st, 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! -
Musical Giants of the 20th Century: Pianists July 31st, 2016 Narrowing a list of “great pianists” down to 10 was not an easy task – there are so many who merit inclusion! And readers will inevitably have their own personal list of pianistic heroes and heroines. But I hope this -
An Artist at the Opera: Erté July 31st, 2016 The Russian-born designer Roman de Tirtoff, better known as Erté (from the French pronunciation of his initials R-T), is best known for his art deco fashion designs. He also designed shoes, jewelry, did interior design, and graphic arts. -
Muses and Musings
Sisterly Muse : Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn July 30th, 2016In his famous Tintern Abbey poem, the English Romantic poet William Wordsworth wrote of his sister Dorothy, Of this fair river; thou my dearest Friend, My dear, dear Friend; and in thy voice I catch The language of my former -
How You Should Feel in the Key of F major July 29th, 2016 In our earlier series on C major and minor, G major and minor, and D major and minor, and A major and minor, E major and minor, B major and minor, F sharp major and minor, C sharp major and