For as long as composers have been writing music, they’ve been inspired by the mystery, mood, and mythology of the night. We’ve gathered ten pieces of classical music about the night that explore themes associated with the hours after dark,
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In touch with Charles Halka April 2nd, 2013 “Chuchichäschtli.” “I won’t attempt to pronounce that,” I said. “Chuchichäschtli,” Charles Halka, US-based composer, pianist, and one of six composer fellows at the upcoming Intimacy of Creativity 2013, repeated with a laugh. “It’s a Swiss-German word that actually means kitchen -
An Italian Tragedy
Giuseppe Verdi and Margherita Barezzi March 30th, 2013Giuseppe Verdi was a painfully private individual. Details about his romantic encounters are sketchy, and for the most part rely on his own and somewhat inconsistent recollections later in life. We do know, however, that Verdi went to live in -
Arvo Pärt – The Bach of Our Century March 29th, 2013 It is said that Estonian composer Arvo Pärt is the Bach of our century. An unassuming man with furrowed brow, a big bushy salt and pepper beard, and serious contemplative demeanor, this contemporary composer, does not tend to make people -
Reverberating Devotion
The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and Guillaume Dufay March 28th, 2013Guillaume Dufay, Nuper rosarum flores For almost 600 years, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower) has dominated the cityscape of Florence. Build on the site of an earlier cathedral dedicated to Saint -
In touch with Karlo Margetić March 27th, 2013 Karlo Margetić would like to thank fellow composer, Jack Body, for ordering him to apply to the Intimacy of Creativity 2013, because if his friend hadn’t, Karlo would have missed out on what he described as a “fantastic opportunity”. Born -
A Refreshing Experience With
La Cenerentola March 26th, 2013To a novice like me in opera appreciation, the production of La Cenerentola at Palais Garnier on February 27 was a delightful eye opener. It all began with my first visit to Paris in 13 years last month for a -
Please keep theatre to the stage and films to the cinema March 26th, 2013 One of the hottest topics in town was the Shanghai Grand Theatre’s HD film screening of the London National Theatre production of Frankenstein. Tickets sold out immediately. Whispers crossed the city about how brilliant it was. However, this article is -
Musical Ventriloquism
Transcriptions on Bach’s “Chaconne” from Partita No. 2 in D Minor March 25th, 2013Within the enormous variety and diversity of musical compositions, only a select few ever manage to withstand the test of time. One such work is the “Chaconne” from the Partita No. 2 in D minor for solo violin, composed by