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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Extra, Extra: Daniel Stern tells all!
Franz Liszt and Marie d’Agoult III August 28th, 2012Franz Liszt Annees de pelerinage, 2nd year, Italy, S161/R10b In the second volume of his “Years of Pilgrimage” (Deuxième année: Italie), Franz Liszt musically recalls some of the emotionally fulfilling days traveling in the company of his lover Marie d’Agoult. -
Daniel Gottlieb Steibelt August 27th, 2012 Harp Concerto Sonata for 2 organs in G major During the first half of the nineteenth century, the piano became all the rage as a powerful and expressive concert instrument as well as the parlor instrument par excellence. Technical changes -
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (1899-1901) / Willem Mengelberg: Concertgebouw Orchestra, 1939 August 23rd, 2012 Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 4 in G major The notated musical score requires not only realization, but also interpretation. In many cases, conductors will work with composers to clarify certain passages or to obtain a sense of musical meaning. However, -
In touch with Han Feng August 21st, 2012 From the stunning red backdrop that opens Anthony Minghella’s Madame Butterfly, first staged at London’s ENO (2005) and then at The Met (2006), it is perfectly natural for dazzled audiences from worldwide to imagine the most complicated setting of the -
Cynthia Lawrence August 14th, 2012 Pavarotti’s partner on stage Listening to Cynthia Lawrence singing ‘Un bel di’ on her website reminds me of the late Mirella Freni. If one’s art is a reflection of the person, Cynthia is just as warm and expressive as her -
Giacomo Puccini: Madame Butterfly August 13th, 2012 You may not be able to name the title but you must have heard the famous soprano aria “Un bel dì vedremo” from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly or Madama Butterfly. In this article, let us revisit the inspirations and -
A Tale of Discovery August 12th, 2012 It was early 2009 and I was searching for a way to distract my father and myself after the recent death of my mother. My father loved to “talk shop.” Little did I know that I would stumble upon an -
Theme and Variation in Music and Art August 10th, 2012 Frederic Rzewski “The People United Will Never Be Defeated” (1975) Stephen Drury, piano J. S. Bach Goldberg Variations BWV988 (1741) Glenn Gould, piano (1955) Beethoven 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120, “Diabelli Variations” (1819)