As a mythological character, Hercules is one who has always captured our attention. Famed for his strength and for his adventures around the known world, he’s caught the attention of writers and musicians for centuries. The stories and feats of
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Messian’s L’Ascension and Puccini’s Suor Angelica ; “Taiwan Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra” April 9th, 2012 When Lü Shao-chia (呂紹嘉) returned from the Staatsoper Hannover for the directorship of the NSO, he inherited an ensemble already steeped in Austro-German music and musicianship, on account of both the education of many orchestra members and the directorship of -
Johannes Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 April 6th, 2012 Among the great composer-musicians of the nineteenth century, Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) stands as somewhat of an anomaly. In an age that worshiped flamboyant personalities and in which composers strove to break from tradition in radical new ways, Brahms was a -
Seeing with the Heart!
Antonio de Cabezón and Louisa Nuñez de Mocos March 31st, 2012Antonio de Cabezón Tiento XXV de sexto tono Pavana Italiana The immediate consequence of a rather messy political game of conspiracy and intrigue involving his own mother saw Charles V ascend to the throne of both Castile and Aragon in -
Boosting China’s Cultural Power March 29th, 2012 One can’t help but notice the new major policy unveiled in 2011 and continuing well into 2012 – the supreme importance of strengthening Chinese culture. At the end of last year, President Hu published an essay in which he drew -
9 Justice Drive
Admiralty, Hong Kong March 28th, 2012A mere 15 years ago, Hong Kong proudly escaped the shackles of British colonial rule and happily pledged its allegiance to an even more aggressive ruler in the north. There were no cries for independence or democracy, no calls for -
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Ulnar Nerve Entrapments March 27th, 2012 Injuries among musicians occur mainly due to overuse. Repetition, excessive force, poor posture, awkward positions, and little respite from our wonderful profession when stirred into the mix, is a recipe for disaster. Half of the injuries seen in musicians are -
An Unstoppable Talent March 23rd, 2012 Stravinsky Symphony No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 1 (1907) At age nine, Russian musician Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975) was already a music prodigy. His parents took him to his first opera performance when he was five, only to find -
Javier Perianes March 14th, 2012 The acclaim accorded to the pianist Javier Perianes by audiences and critics alike confirms his status as one of Spain’s most exciting new artists. Hugely popular with Spanish audiences, he has a growing international reputation.