The solo violin has long been acknowledged as the perfect instrument to express emotions like love, longing, heartbreak, rapture, and romance. The Romantic era lasted from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century and produced numerous works that
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Matthis the Painter:
Paul Hindemith and Matthias Grünewald July 14th, 2013Wilhelm Furtwängler had asked Paul Hindemith to write an orchestral work for the Berlin Philharmonic’s 1933/34 season – just at the moment when Hindemith had decided to write an opera based on the famous Isenheimer Altar (now in the Unterlinden -
The Érard of Your Ways!
“Waldstein” and “Appassionata” July 13th, 2013Beethoven’s Transfer of the “Symphonic Ideal” Into His Middle Period Piano Sonatas What had begun as a slight ringing in Beethoven‘s ears around 1789 had progressively turned into partial deafness by 1801. In 1802, while spending the summer in the -
Introduction to Eurhythmics July 12th, 2013 In my last article, I wrote about the importance of listening and how it contributes significantly to one’s musical education and development. I would now like to introduce another educational approach known as Eurhythmics, which incorporates listening as well as -
Paris Ballet Then July 11th, 2013 What was the Paris Opéra Ballet like six decades ago? My Uncle Arnold was posted in France after the Second World War in 1946. A dedicated music aficionado, he could hardly wait for his furlough to attend the ballet. This -
Let’s do the Shimmy!
Hindemith, Bartók and Bach July 10th, 2013Composed in January and February 1920, Paul Hindemith’s third string quartet was described as “brimming with youthful energy…a thrilling, musical event, real ‘new’ music. Here everything is comprehensible and concrete.” First performed at the Donaueschingen Chamber Music Performances in 1921, -
Feng Yi Ting: A Historic Femme Fatale In Luminato Festival July 9th, 2013 Feng Yi Ting on Luminato Fesival’s 2013 playbill attracted me in a similar way that The Infernal Comedy featuring John Malkovich attracted me in 2010. The former was Canadian film and stage director Atom Egoyan’s modern interpretation of the Chinese -
Music and Religion:
Lord have Mercy! July 8th, 2013The Roman Liturgy consists of texts and rites that make up a sacred service. One form of service, inherited from ancient Jewish practices, developed into the liturgy of the Divine Office, also known as the Canonical Hours. The Divine Office -
Quatuor Ebène July 6th, 2013 Classical or jazz? That is the question – Quatuor Ébène ‘We are so jetlag!’ said Mathieu Herzog, viola player from Quatuor Ébène. Great, I thought. In front of me were four handsome Frenchmen, who studied extensively with the Ysaye Quartet