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
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Musicals and Opera: Long-lost Siblings? March 16th, 2014 The statures of musicals and operas seem worlds apart – opera’s for the snobs, musicals are for the masses, right? This is, thankfully, becoming more and more of a hackneyed stereotype, untrue of the current situation. Opera companies are trying -
Representation of the Supernatural in Music March 15th, 2014 From the very beginnings of human memory, witches, ghouls, ghosts and goblins have played a highly significant role in the formation and continuance of stories that have attempted an explanation of natural phenomena and inexplicable cultural conventions. - Extreme Privacy
Jean-Philippe Rameau and Marie-Louise Mangot March 15th, 2014Jean-Philippe Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie, “Ou suis-je?” Jean-Philippe Rameau was extremely tall and thin, “more like a ghost than a man.” He had a sharp chin, no stomach, flutes for legs and his eagle profile was aesthetically so attractive that -
Visions of Arcadia in Music, Art and Literature II March 14th, 2014 In my last article, ‘Visions of Arcadia in Music, Art and Literature I’, I focused on the Arcadian theme in the classical period. Today I will concentrate on its continuation in the 19th century — with the music of Jacques -
In touch with Michael Thomas Foumai March 13th, 2014 Hailed as “the city’s most innovative music experience” by the Financial Times, the Intimacy of Creativity, founded by Chinese-American composer Bright Sheng, begins its fourth cycle this April, to bring together internationally acclaimed performers and composers for creative dialogue and -
Music for the Ides of March March 12th, 2014 Kobayashi Issa beautifully captured the change of season and the idea of rejuvenation and renewal in his spring haiku: Spring breeze— the pine on the ridge whispers it -
The Mozart of the Future? March 12th, 2014 Doing research on many composers (well, actually, anything) often starts with a quick Google search, which inevitably leads to a quick scan of Wikipedia. Oh come on, don’t pretend you don’t do it… Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: A ‘prolific and influential -
In touch with Veritas Vos March 11th, 2014 We sat quietly in a dark room, silent except for the slight hum from the air-conditioners. “Let’s listen,” we were instructed.
