In classical music, the Romantic Era lasted from around 1810 to around 1910. That century gave us some of the most famous symphonies in the repertoire. Nineteenth-century composers like Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Dvořák, Schubert, Mahler, Rachmaninoff, and others elevated the symphony
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Berlioz’s Benvenuto Cellini and Roman Carnival Overture September 30th, 2023Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) was a master of orchestration and his 1844 book on the subject was the standard not for years, but for decades after his death. He lived his life with his heart on his sleeve and works such -
The Seven Saddest Chopin Nocturnes September 30th, 2023 We, classical music lovers, can be a moody bunch, and sometimes we just get in the mood to listen to sad piano music. And when it comes to sad piano music, Frédéric Chopin always delivers, especially when it comes to -
On This Day
30 September: Mozart’s Magic Flute Was Premiered September 30th, 2023The Theater auf der Wieden, located in the then-suburban Wieden district of Vienna existed only for 14 years, between 1787 and 1801. For most of this period, the director of the theater was the German impresario, dramatist, actor, singer, and -
Are We Really Obsessed With Quality September 29th, 2023 Let’s address one of the elephants in the music room; do we really recognise and pay attention to quality nowadays? Do we even understand what it is? How many of us can recognise high from low levels of quality? How -
Clara Haskil: The Pianist Who Played Through Brain Surgery September 28th, 2023 Clara Haskil has been trumpeted as the quintessential pianist’s pianist, and yet many music lovers don’t know who she is. It’s time to fix that. Today we’re looking at the incredible true story of the life and tragic death of -
On This Day
28 September: Alina Ibragimova Was Born September 28th, 2023Violinist Alina Ibragimova is known for her gripping performances delivered with grandeur and ease. Above all, her intellectual focus, architectural sweep, and the sheer beauty of her tone are shared in interpretative humility that conveys the emotional depths of the -
Vladimir Feltsman
New Performing Edition of The Well-Tempered Clavier September 27th, 2023Vladimir Feltsman is one of the most brilliant and versatile pianists and musicians of our time and a renowned Bach specialist. His recent contribution, a new performing edition of J.S. Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, is going to be released under -
Sending Sounds: Phonopostal, Fonopost, and PathéPost September 26th, 2023 More poking around the Gallica site and we happened on a section that deals with sound that can be sent – but using the post instead of the internet. One of the early inventions for communicating via sound was the