The solo violin has long been acknowledged as the perfect instrument to express emotions like love, longing, heartbreak, rapture, and romance. The Romantic era lasted from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century and produced numerous works that
Latest article
Spotlight
-
Misia Sert – Muse and Patron to Poets, Painters and Musicians (II) July 10th, 2016 As Madame Alfred Edwards, Misia was showered with jewels by her husband, and lived in opulent surroundings served by butlers and footmen; at heart still a bohemian, she considered her new situation a ‘golden cage’. She was flattered by her -
St. Peter: The oldest church in Salzburg July 9th, 2016 For countless visitors to the city of Salzburg, the Cathedral is one of the city’s major tourist attractions. The Frankish missionary Rupert founded the church in 774, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart received his baptism there on 28 January 1756. However, -
How You Should Feel in the Key of E flat minor July 8th, 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 -
Drowning in Passion
Enrique Granados and Clotilde Godó Pelegrí July 7th, 2016On 28 July 1894, Amparo gave birth to the first of their six children. With his family rapidly expanding, Enrique was desperately trying to secure a steady source of income. Various applications to conservatories in Barcelona and Madrid came to -
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,