Classical Music
Modern conceptions of “classical” music often describe composers like Mozart and Haydn as posh, stuck up, or boring. Humour in the classical era (1750-1810) may not have been as witty or as obvious as modern day comedy, but the blatancy of some of the references that historians have uncovered will shock you!
Think of Spanish culture, and chances are you are thinking of bullfighting, tapas - and flamenco. Flamenco is one of the most popular symbols of Spain, but for centuries, it was confined to the margins of Spanish society. It was the art of the Gitanos, the Roma (Gypsies) of Spain. Until dictator Franco decided to push flamenco centre stage.
How can you possibly read this music score? Arthur Lourié’s “Formes en l’air” (1915) is dedicated to Pablo Picasso, an artist Lourié admired for his artistic boldness. It’s a powerful interpretation of Picasso’s Cubist paintings in sound.
Good music isn’t made on an empty stomach. Discover the stories behind the culinary pastimes of three of the most celebrated composers of the 19th century, Gioachino Rossini, Giacomo Puccini, and Giuseppe Verdi through three recipes they left behind.
Award-winning violinist and music entrepreneur Sumina Studer is a true citizen of the world who has captured the hearts of millions on her various social media platforms. She has now made London her home. TWoA talked to Sumina about her favourite music and art spaces in London, and about social media in the arts and de-pressurising classical music.
Pianist Tiffany Poon is about to launch her solo album Diaries: Schumann. Hong-Kong born, but New York-based, Tiffany is an artist with a mission: to demystify classical music by emphasising the human side of it. Her more than 323K subscribers on YouTube prove she’s on to something. TWoA talked to Tiffany about her first mini-toy keyboard, life and, of course, Schumann.
Austrian Composer Franz Schubert was born on 31 January 1797 in the deepest winter, making it particularly appropriate that one of his most famous compositions is set in winter. But beware – Schubert’s Winterreise from 1827 is no cheerful homage to Austrian winter joys. If you are looking for a composition to mirror your own depressing thoughts on a cold, dark winter day, look no further!
It’s difficult to image the holiday season without The Nutcracker, but are you looking for a change? We suggest you listen to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s jazz version of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite.
What do you think of when you hear “opera”? Perhaps you envision a stuffy concert hall, filled with elderly people listening to old classical music sung in a European language as they fall asleep. The 2023-2024 season at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City begs to differ. “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” stands proudly amongst a more traditional performance schedule. The audience included an overwhelming number of students and young members. Not one person was sleeping by the end.
Of all the holidays associated with America, Thanksgiving is by far the most uniquely American one. So, if you are looking for a ballet or a classical music piece to get you into the mood for turkey, stuffing and pie, enjoy our feature about Aaron Copland and Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring.
Benal Tanrısever is a Turkish pianist and music educator. She completed her musical education at The Juilliard School in New York and performed at Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonic before founding BT Music and Performing Arts, a music and performing arts school in Istanbul,Turkey. TWoA talked to Benal about her journey from Istanbul to New York, her experience at Juilliard, and her philosophy of learning and teaching music.
Music is one of the magical aspects of Haruki Murakami’s books. His songs are always in alignment with the story line. We see his protagonists usually sitting in the kitchen, listening to classical music or jazz. If you want to feel like a character from Murakami’s beautiful books, listen to some of the pieces that belong to his stories.
Cathy Marston’s one-act ballet “The Cellist” tells the tragic story of star cellist Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987). TWoA spoke to Royal Ballet principal Marcelino Sambé, who created the part of “The Instrument” – Jacqueline du Pré’s cello. Sambé is performing the part again in the Royal Ballet’s current run of the ballet.
Legendary cellist Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987) once said: “Playing lifts you out of yourself into a delirious place.” See for yourself where the sound of her music might take you!
French writer Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables, once said: “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” But can you create a musical response to evil?
A ballet with heavy metal music performed by a symphony orchestra? No way? Think again: Birmingham Royal Ballet just premiered its fastest selling show ever: Black Sabbath - The Ballet.
German composer Max Bruch was Christian, but his moving Kol Nidrei for cello and orchestra convinced the Nazis that he must have been Jewish. Read on to find out more.
Maybe you are already back to your studies and your summer holidays feel like a distant memory. Or maybe you are still gearing up to return to school. Either way: to make the transition a bit more fun, we’ve asked four of the artists we interviewed over the past year to share some of their favourite summer 2023 moments with us, and to give us a hint of their plans for the year ahead!
During the month of August, the world watched in horror as wildfires spread over the paradisiacal Hawaiian island Maui, devouring its capital Lahaina. Let’s hope for a better future for the island by taking comfort in the songs written by Hawaii’s last monarch, Queen Lili’uokalani, a truly remarkable woman. Read on to find out more about her story.
It’s finally summer! The summer holidays are the perfect time to escape into nature. Take your queue from Yo-Yo Ma, the superstar cellist whose boundless curiosity and idealism lead to many unusual projects.
There are few ground-breaking composers who are also famous for their ballet compositions. If Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Sergei Prokofiev are the only ones who come to your mind, think again: Igor Stravinsky is one of the most important composers of the twentieth century and an icon of modernism, but his most famous compositions were created not for the concert hall, but for the ballet.
The Third Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival for pianists aged 13 to 17 is taking place 8 – 17 June 2023 in Dallas, Texas. TWoA talked to two of the talented young pianists chosen to compete at the competition: Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16). Both are originally from Seoul, but are now studying piano at New England Conservatory Preparatory School while attending Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Read on to find out about their lives in Korea and the USA.
The Third Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival for pianists aged 13 to 17 is taking place 8 – 17 June 2023 in Dallas, Texas. TWoA talked to two of the talented young pianists chosen to compete at the competition: Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16). Both study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and attend the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Read on for some practical advice on the triple challenge of practicing, performing and competing.
When you hear the word “diva,” the first thing that comes to your mind is probably the image of a temperamental star performer making unreasonable demands. If you are an opera lover, chances are you will think of Maria Callas (2 December 1923 – 16 September 1977), one of the greatest twentieth century sopranos. This year is the centennial of her birth. Who was the artist electrifying audiences around the world? Who was the woman behind the legend?
Christian Spuck’s ballet Messa da Requiem is having a good year. The production has been performed across the globe and recently entered the repertoire of Staatsballett Berlin. But turning an oratario into a ballet is not easy. Read on for more.
It’s finally spring! The best way to celebrate this magical moment is of course with music. I have chosen the following piece for this season: the second movement (scherzo vivacissimo) of Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19. Want to know why? Read on!
Elaina Spiro is a young cellist studying with Professor Rhonda Rider at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is in her third year of her undergraduate studies. TWoA talked to Elaina about her life in music and her unconventional path to Boston Conservatory.
Elaina Spiro is a third-year cello student at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She has some great advice on efficient music practice and concert wear.
175 years ago, on 1 April 1873, Russian composer and piano virtuoso Sergei Rachmaninov was born on an estate in the Russian countryside. Rachmaninov was one of the first international classical music stars. Read on to find out about his love for figure skating, vacuum cleaners, and his bouts of depression.
In advance of Earth Day this Monday, imagining well-known classical pieces as animals offers new ways of bringing music to life!