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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- In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Franz!
Liszt and Carolyne von Sayn-Wittgenstein November 14th, 2012The differences between Marie Duplessis and Carolyne von Sayn-Wittgenstein could not have been more pronounced. Marie experienced a wretched and squalid upbringing with Daddy selling her into prostitution by age 12. Carolyne Ivanovska, on the other hand, was the only -
Maestros Tales November 13th, 2012 We are so fortunate that we can witness some of the work of legendary maestros of the last century via recordings and YouTube. Oftentimes their reputations are well known among aficionados of orchestral music. We musicians have a history, a -
The Vienna Secession in Art and Music November 13th, 2012 Gustav Klimt started his career as architectural decorator just as the Ringstrasse program of monumental building entered its final phase – in fact, he had been hired to decorate the interior staircase of the Fine Arts Museum. He subsequently became -
In touch with the Caius College Choir November 12th, 2012 Caius College Choir is one of Britain’s leading collegiate choirs. The College was founded in 1348 but the musical tradition stems from the late nineteenth century when the well-known composer of church music Charles Wood became Organist. The choir in -
Mozart in Mannheim II November 12th, 2012 One of the most significant innovations of the Mannheim Orchestra was to standardize the orchestral instrumentation. It normally consisted of strings — first and second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses — and pairs of flutes, oboes, bassoons, French horns, - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, K. 622 November 9th, 2012 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Claudio Abbado Sabine Meyer, clarinet Music Score Watch Live Giovanni Antonini and The Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse Martin Fröst, clarinet Innovations in instrumental design, and the performers who explore these newly found opportunities, frequently spur the
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Mozart in Mannheim I October 31st, 2012 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first visited the city of Mannheim — a little side trip after a performance in Munich — in 1763. Accompanied by his parents and his sister Nannerl, he only stayed for a couple of days before the -
Old Bach meets Old Fritz! October 30th, 2012 Musical Offering, BWV 1079 Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra Ton Koopman Frederick the Great of Prussia, affectionately known as “Der Alte Fritz” (Old Fritz) is generally known as a brilliant military campaigner who established the reputation of Prussian military might. In addition,
