For as long as composers have been writing music, they’ve been inspired by the mystery, mood, and mythology of the night. We’ve gathered ten pieces of classical music about the night that explore themes associated with the hours after dark,
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Review: Víkingur Ólafsson’s Goldberg Variations November 24th, 2023 One of Víkingur Ólafsson‘s performances, as part of his Goldbergs world tour, took place at Saffron Hall (Cambridgeshire, UK) on November 11th. This was his second and last appearance in the UK. I believe one should be mentally and emotionally -
Leaving it to the Imagination
Anatoly Lyadov: The Enchanted Lake, Op. 62 November 24th, 2023Anatoly Lyadov (1855–1914) was condemned with faint praise: ‘Most recollections of this kind, likeable man suggest that he could have achieved so much more if he had not been so idle.’ A case in point was his commission from Diaghilev. -
The Gürzenich in Cologne November 24th, 2023 The Gürzenich family tree goes back to the Middle Ages, and a castle and village by that name is already mentioned in 1232. Part of the knightly nobility, the family settled in the district of North-Rhine-Westphalia and acquired property in -
Letting It All Go LOUD: Earquake November 23rd, 2023 We discovered an interesting recording the other day, consisting solely of LOUD music. This recording by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Lief Segerstam, is entitled Earquake and where the first issue shows a listener thrown into space clutching his -
Marie Antoinette
Queen of Harps November 23rd, 2023The archduchess of Austria, Marie Antonia Josepha Johanna arrived in France at the age of 14. She became dauphine of France, under the name Marie Antoinette, when she married Louis-Auguste in May 1770. Four years later Louis-Auguste ascended the throne -
On This Day
22 November: Sumi Jo was Born November 22nd, 2023The South Korean lyric coloratura soprano Sumi Jo, actually born Jo Su-gyeong on 22 November, 1962 in Changwon, is known for her Grammy award-winning interpretations of the bel canto repertoire. The conductor Herbert von Karajan praised her as “a voice -
The Angelina Jolie Maria Callas Movie: What Do We Know? November 22nd, 2023 Classical music is having a moment at the movies. From Tár to Chevalier to Maestro, studios have been gambling lately on movies about classical music and classical musicians. Soon we’re getting a new one about the life of legendary soprano -
The 1924 Time Capsule
For the 50th birthday of David Josef Bach November 21st, 2023Time Capsules can be a wonderful thing. Many people and organizations have gone through the trouble of intentionally assembling a cache of goods or information as a method of communication with future people. It gets even more interesting when such