Totally unexpected. In 1971, John Rutter published Fancies, a set of six short pieces for choir and chamber orchestra, on texts taken from Elizabethan poets. Rutter explained, “The ‘fancies’ are the fleeting ideas, dreams and […]
In the summer of 1939 the Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu wrote a field mass for Czech soldiers who were volunterring to fight for France. It’s a fabulous piece, very rarely heard. The post A Martinu […]
Joseph Horowitz has written an 11,000-word essay on Harry Burleigh, the black student who guided Antnin Dvorak down the byways of American music. He made a significant contribution to the 9th symphony, ‘From the New […]
Sarah Dayan is stepping down as first violin of Quatuor Vice, which she co-founded in 2004. She’ll be devoting more time to teaching quartet studies at the Paris Conservatoire. Her successor is Hélène Maréchaux (pic). […]
From the BSO’s season plan: ConcertCue is a web application that helps audiences better appreciate and understand music performed in a live classical music concert. During the performance, musical hints, images, and helpful callouts (i.e., […]
The veteran violinist is not done yet. She is preparing to tour South Korea, the US and Canada, starting September 24, with ‘soulmate’ pianist Kevin Kenner. In a career interrupted by injuries, she is making […]
The outstanding English conductor, a trailblazer in period-instrument orchestras, died today at the age of 91. Along with Christopher Hogwood and John Eliot Gardiner, Roger captured the imagination of new audiences with performances that were […]
Maya Lasker-Wallfisch tells this story about her centenarian mother’s birthday this week: ‘It was a private visit from the King. She´s also very fond of Stephen Fry. He is a great friend. I am delighted […]
It’s the third time the University of Michigan has been forced to fire a music professor for meddling with students. Countertenor David Daniels faced accusations from 20 students, was fired and was later jailed for […]
The Oregon Symphony has just told us that CEO Isaac Thompson will be leaving to become president of his hometown orchestra in Minnesota. He starts there in October. Oregon will be run by an interim […]
