The love story between Robert and Clara Schumann is often regarded as one of the most romantic in classical music history. Happily for historians, many of their love letters survive. They document their inner thoughts and emotions, as well as
Latest article
Spotlight
-
Centaur pianist Eugen d’Albert:
Half piano, half man October 19th, 2014His mother was British, his father French and his grandmother German! No wonder that Eugen d’Albert (1864-1932) had an identity crisis on his hands! However, the ten-year old quickly pledged his allegiance to Germany, and famously corrected his biography a -
OH The Things Audiences Say! October 18th, 2014 I would be wealthy if I had a quarter for every time someone said, “that’s bigger than you are!” Dragging my cello around on buses, thrusting it under turnstiles, hoisting it onto airplane seats, taking it into stores—always brings on -
Drink some champagne and call me in the morning! October 16th, 2014 On 7 May 1896, Johannes Brahms celebrated his 63rd birthday. Supposedly he opened the festivities by declaring, “If there is anyone here I have not yet offended, I apologize.” Always known for his crusty personality and rustic mannerisms, Brahms was -
The Lord of the Rings Symphony October 15th, 2014 Long before Howard Shore got his hands on writing the score for Peter’s Jackson’s monumental Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, Dutch composer Johan de Meij had taken up the call. His Symphony No. 1, “The Lord of the Rings,” -
And the winner is not Mozart
Salieri fights Mozart at Schönbrunn October 14th, 2014If you come to Vienna as a tourist, you’ll have to visit Schönbrunn Palace. It’s unlikely that you will see all 1,441 rooms—most of them lavishly decorated—but the complex will certainly give you a sense of the splendor and lifestyle -
Old Tears in New Vials October 13th, 2014 In 1997, the Kronos Quartet took a step back in time with their Early Music (Lachrymae Antiquae) [Ancient Tears] album, mixing quartet performances of medieval and Renaissance music with that of 20th century composers. -
Improvisation is Repetition October 11th, 2014 In my previous article, I explained how improvisation is the basis for true creation. While creation implies the origin of something new, the process through which the improvisation leading to it develops is one of repetition. This seems paradoxical, but -
The Terrorist Pianist
Friedrich Gulda: Concerto for Cello October 10th, 2014The genius pianist Friedrich Gulda (1930-2000) was lauded for his extraordinary interpretations of the music of Bach, Mozart, Schubert, and Beethoven. Highly sought after as a piano teacher, his students included Martha Argerich and Claudio Abbado. However, Gulda openly flaunted