As a mythological character, Hercules is one who has always captured our attention. Famed for his strength and for his adventures around the known world, he’s caught the attention of writers and musicians for centuries. The stories and feats of
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Hilarious and Not So Hilarious Conductorisms! October 7th, 2023 The autocratic conductor is almost a relic of the past. Musicians and music lovers have heard tales of outbursts from Arturo Toscanini, Fritz Reiner, and others. Toscanini can be heard on tape screaming, “You have no ears. You have no -
These Virtuoso Violinists Are Also Virtuoso Pianists: Hear Them Here! October 7th, 2023 Being great at playing one instrument doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be great at another. But over the decades, a handful of fabulous concert violinists have proven to be fabulous pianists, too. Today we’re looking at how these five violinists’ gifts -
Karol Szymanowski’s 9 Preludes Op. 1 October 6th, 2023 One of the most important Polish composers of the 20th century, Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) is a reflection of the most relevant currents and trends in music during his life. Initially fascinated by the music of Chopin and Wagner, Szymanowski’s music -
Emphasizing the Melancholy
Transcription of Schubert’s Winterreise October 6th, 2023Schubert’s song cycle Winterreise has none of the bright optimism of his earlier Die schöne Müllerin. The spring day of ‘Das Wandern’ is now the cold frozen dusk of ‘Gute Nacht’. Our hero starts off isolated, leaving town in the -
On This Day
4 October: Dvořák’s Symphony No. 1 Was Premiered October 4th, 2023An extraordinary premiere took place in Brno, Moravia, on 4 October 1936. Czech conductor Milan Sachs raised his baton to début the 1st Symphony by Antonín Dvořák. A critic wrote, “although the writing was at times awkward, the orchestration is -
Mozart’s Final Muse: Glass Harmonica Virtuoso Marianne Kirchgessner October 4th, 2023 A blind woman steps on a Viennese stage and makes her way to a strange new instrument called the glass harmonica. The sounds it makes are whistle-like and otherworldly. (Eventually, rumors would circulate that playing it or even hearing it -
On This Day
3 October: Carl Nielsen Died October 3rd, 2023The great Nordic countries of Europe have produced two significant composers over the last 150 years. Both were born in 1865, but Denmark’s Carl Nielsen always stood in the shadow of Jean Sibelius. Sibelius came from an upper-middle-class upbringing, while -
Classical Music for Halloween
Fifty Spooky Pieces of Classical Music for October 31st October 2nd, 2023Get into the spirit of Halloween with these bone-chilling pieces of classical music! From hauntingly beautiful melodies to spine-tingling symphonies, this playlist is sure to transport you to a world of ghosts, goblins, and things that go bump in the