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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Music à la “Mode”
The Lydian Kingdom July 6th, 2016Ancient Greek philosophy described the physical world in terms of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Health and spiritual wellbeing depended on a balance of four bodily fluids or temperaments. Phlegmatic temperament was associated with water, choleric with fire, -
Writing for An Angel July 5th, 2016 Right in the middle of writing his opera Lulu, Alban Berg (1885-1935) was also procrastinating on a commission from violinist Louis Krasner. Krasner was born in the Ukraine but moved to America at age 5 and graduated from the New -
Minors of the Majors
Maurice Ravel: Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé July 4th, 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! -
Critical Ear with Sharpened Pen
Bring the East to the West: An Interview with Ken Smith July 3rd, 2016Ken Smith is the Asian cultural critic for the Financial Times. He also covers opera in China for Opera magazine in London and opera in the West for OPERA magazine in Shanghai. A frequent arts commentator or RTHK Radio 4, -
Behzod Abduraimov July 2nd, 2016 Originally from Uzbekistan, pianist Behzod Abduraimov makes his second appearance with the Hong Kong Philharmonic this July, playing Prokofiev’s Third Concerto. ‘My first performance took place back in 2012 playing a recital and in January 2015 I had debuted with -
How You Should Feel in the Key of E flat major July 1st, 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 -
Catalan Passion
Enrique Granados and Maria de los Desamparados Gal y Lloveras June 30th, 2016When pianist Enrique Granados (1867-1916) first appeared on stage on 20 April 1890, critics were simply ecstatic! “Granados will be one of the great artists who always seek applause in pure art, without flashiness and cheap concessions.” Praising the young -
Pleasure and Pain: On Being an Amateur Pianist June 29th, 2016 Practical Tips for Amateur Pianist Alan Rusbridger’s book ‘Play It Again’ (published in 2013) shone a delightful and inspirational light on the world of amateur pianism, but people have been playing music at home and with friends for almost as