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
-
Jean-Marie Leclair May 15th, 2014 Murder in the Rue Careme-Prenant In the early morning of 23 October 1764, the violinist and composer Jean-Marie Leclair (1697-1764) was found lying dead in the vestibule of his house in a pool of blood from three vicious stab wounds -
Gabriel García Márquez and Music May 14th, 2014 Nobel Prize–winner and Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez died recently and we were looking traces of him in the musical world. His books and stories brought the realism and magic realism of South American literature to the world. He also -
“New ideas must seek new forms”
Richard Strauss and the Tone Poem May 13th, 2014After grooming his conducting career under Hans von Bülow in Meiningen between October 1885 and April 1886, Richard Strauss was offered the post as third conductor at the Munich Hofoper. Before he took up his post in Munich, Strauss — -
Pop to Classical May 12th, 2014 In 1950, singer Theresa Brewer had a top 10 hit with ‘Music! Music! Music!,’ also known as ‘Put Another Nickel In’ and for one classical composer the song was so prevalent and so annoying that he turned into a piece -
The musical Conversion
Richard Strauss and Alexander Ritter May 11th, 2014There can be no doubt that Lotti Speyer had seriously enflamed the romantic passions of the young Richard Strauss. After a short ten days at the little spa of Heilbrunn, however, the two lovebirds had to return to their respective -
Which musical instrument is a good fit for your child? May 11th, 2014 Nowadays, children are expected to start all sorts of extra-curricular activities even before they can utter ‘ma-ma’ and ‘da-da’. If you haven’t got your act together yet, fret not. Here is a guide to helping you choose the right instrument -
Nature’s Song May 10th, 2014 Mozart’s Divertimento K522 (also nicknamed ‘A Musical Joke’) is said to be inspired from his pet bird, a starling. The awkwardness of the piece is said to mimic the way starlings whistle off-key. Likewise, Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony incorporates the song -
The Supernatural in Music
IX. Witches Sabbath: The Symphonie Fantastique May 10th, 2014The murderous composer lies abed, dreaming fevered dreams about the love that he lost and the evils that he did….or was it all just an opium-induced nightmare? In his 1830 work, the French composer Hector Berlioz wrote a symphony that