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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George Bridgetower
The Biracial Violinist Who Inspired Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata July 28th, 2023Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata is one of the most famous pieces of violin music ever written – and yet it was named for a violinist who never even played it! Had Beethoven not entered into a feud with George Bridgetower, the -
What’s With Mozart, Again July 27th, 2023 Mozart’s music brings me such bright emotions. Regardless of his works; the genres, the styles, or the instrumentation. Excitement, lightness, joy, beauty, simplicity, positivity — I can recall feeling one if not a combination of these emotions whilst listening to -
On This Day
27-28 July: Antonio Vivaldi Died July 27th, 2023Antonio Vivaldi’s operatic opportunities in Venice were rapidly drying up in 1739. As the famous letter from Charles de Brosse relates, “Vivaldi is an old man with a mania for composing. I have heard him boast of composing a concerto -
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26 July: Angela Hewitt was Born July 26th, 2023Pianist Angela Hewitt is probably best known for her cycle of Bach recordings, a project started in 1994 and finished in 2005. To complete her mission, she added a recording of Bach’s The Art of the Fugue in 2014. Angela -
Music Can Ameliorate Virtual Reality Experience July 26th, 2023 Virtual reality (VR) has applications spanning an array of industries. Although manufacturers of headsets are investing to produce the most efficient devices, people wearing virtual reality goggles can experience symptoms of cybersickness. A recent research from the University of Edinburgh -
On This Day
24 July: Richard Strauss’ Friedenstag Was Premiered July 24th, 2023Premiered on 24 July 1938 at the National Theatre Munich, Friedenstag (Day of Peace) is arguably the least known of Strauss’ opera and in many respects the least characteristic. In fact, this serious, rather earnest treatment of war is certainly -
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23 July: Domenico Scarlatti Died July 23rd, 2023Domenico Scarlatti’s final years are “of a contrast between a striking show of vitality, which saw him continue to father children up to the for the period advanced age of 64, and a creative mood of introspection which produced the -
The Shock of the Not-So-New
George Antheil’s Violin Sonata No. 1 July 23rd, 2023For 21-year-old George Antheil (1900–1959), Europe was going to be his launch on the world. He declared his intention of being an ‘ultramodern pianist composer’ and set out to conquer the world. His first solo recital was in London in