Operatic Scandals: Controversies and Censorship in 19th-Century Opera
At the very tail end of the 19th Century arrives one of the most discussed and criticized operas. Richard Strauss’s Salomé (Op.54) is a setting … Read more
At the very tail end of the 19th Century arrives one of the most discussed and criticized operas. Richard Strauss’s Salomé (Op.54) is a setting … Read more
Before plunging headlong into the details of this title, let’s just take a moment to appreciate what is meant when the word counterpoint is used … Read more
For tens of thousands of people, going to a gig or concert is a passion. For others, the very idea of standing in a crowd … Read more
When we look back in time to an era so distant as the Ancient Greeks, we can have a large degree of speculation and educated … Read more
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) was a composer who, like many of his contemporaries, drew deep inspiration from his natural environment. His passion for his home country … Read more
Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most celebrated classical composers to ever have lived. His life and his music continue to attract authors who … Read more
Arriving with any certainty at historical facts can prove to be a slippery quest. The earliest accounts of opera being performed in America date back … Read more
Despite what you may feel about technology and its advancements, the idea of an immersive experience using VR in the world of classical music is … Read more
Experiments with electronics stretch back further in time than you might first imagine. Natural human curiosity coupled with the desire to create something unheard of … Read more
Before plunging headlong into the composers themselves, let’s pause and take a brief look at what microtonal music is. For the best part of over … Read more
In a recent article, I gave a broad account of the evolution of the violin with a particular focus on the work of the Cremona … Read more
The following pieces are very much my personal choice of music from this great composer. There are many other astonishing pieces that Beethoven composed that … Read more
There’s an old adage that goes something like history is written by the victors. In the case of Western Cultural history, all too often women’s … Read more
The violin has become such a familiar instrument to us these days that it is perhaps difficult to imagine the humble origins from which it … Read more
During the Renaissance, culture, science, and philosophy experienced a rebirth. As the name for the period suggests, there was a strong move away from the … Read more