Six Interesting Facts About Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)
For a man who left behind volumes of written records and explanations, Prokofiev remains a remarkably mysterious figure in the history of 20th century music. … Read more
LISTS
Ten Reasons to Thank Your Music Teacher
Many people making a living from music, or even those who carry it on as a hobby, will be able to remember being heavily influenced … Read more
The 16 Most Beautiful Classical Music Pieces Inspired By Flowers
1. Waltz Of The Flowers by Tchaikovsky 2. Le Violette from Pirro e Demetrio by Scarlatti 3. The Tale Of The Stone Flower by Prokofiev 4. A … Read more
World’s Happiest Songs List Released by UN
The common attribute to most hit pop songs is that their subject covers mostly sad emotions from heartbreak to loss and misfortune. Whole genres of … Read more
Ten Sensual Classics because yes, Classical Music Can Be Sexy
We know, we know. As soon as someone mentions “erotic” classical music and sensual classics, you immediately think of Ravel’s Bolero and its joke about … Read more
Top 5 Operas for People who Hate Opera
This list is for those those who cringe at opera’s lengthy runtimes and lachrymose plotlines but have never actually seen a “fat lady” sing. The following … Read more
Honoring Berlioz’s legacy: A selection of seven “psychedelic” Classical pieces
In 1969, Leonard Bernstein presented and conducted “Berlioz takes a trip,” part of the Young People’s concert series.” On that occasion, he discussed and played … Read more
Seven Essential Things to Consider Before Becoming a Musician
Making a career choice can be tough, and it’s no different for musicians. While some will be lucky enough to have been identified as child … Read more
Seven Most Interesting Facts About Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
There are classical composers who represent the 20th century American sound more acutely and specifically than Samuel Barber does, but no other who has come … Read more
How to become a great composer in 10 steps
If you’ve been slaving over your sheet music, listening to non-stop Mozart for some inspiration, or spending hours on end at the piano trying to … Read more
Six Must-Haves of Newly Released Albums
• Héroïque: French Opera Arias – Bryan Hymel and the Prague Philharmonia, Cond. Emmanuel Villaume The popularity and artistic success of American tenor Bryan Hymel … Read more
Music by the Moonlight: the Greatest Moon-Inspired Classical Masterpieces
The earliest depiction of the Moon is a 5000-year-old rock carving at Knowth, Ireland, and it would be wrong not to mention Vincent van Gogh’s … Read more
Six Most Interesting Facts About Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Even though Ravel’s music was innovative, he did not follow the trend towards atonality Schoenberg pioneered. But, rather, applied the aesthetic of the New French … Read more
A Girl on the Podium: How Female Conductors are Breaking New Ground
These are words you do not expect to hear from a young, professional conductor in 2013. Yet, the minted maestro of the Oslo Philharmonic, Vasily … Read more
The 10 Greatest Violin Players of All Time
The violin’s long history, going back five centuries, as well as its musical versatility, are two major challenges when trying to come up with a … Read more