Articles

2698 Posts
archive-post-image
‘Sonic Madeleines’ and Musical Memory Triggers
“No sooner had the warm liquid mixed with the crumbs touched my palate than a shudder ran through me and I stopped, intent upon the extraordinary thing that was happening to me. An exquisite pleasure had invaded my senses, something
Read more
archive-post-image
On This Day
26 December: Donizetti’s Anna Bolena Was Premiered
Anna Bolena: Act I Finale — Anna Netrebko (Met Opera) During an extended apprenticeship lasting the better part of a decade, Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) composed in the region of 30 operas. However, his national and international reputation was firmly established
Read more
archive-post-image
On This Day
25 December: Bach’s Magnificat BWV 243a Was Premiered
Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in E-flat Major, BWV 243a The church of St. Nicholas in Leipzig is named after the patron of travelers and merchants. Construction began around 1165, and originally the church featured twin towers. It was extended and
Read more
archive-post-image
Merry Christmas From Leipzig and Johann Sebastian Bach
Gottfried Vopelius (1645-1715) published his “Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch” (The new Leipzig hymnbook) in 1682. Vopelius was a Lutheran academic and hymn-writer, and he writes in the preface that the hymns are “compiled from the most beautiful and best songs; In
Read more
archive-post-image
LIVE From London
Christmas 2021
The VOCES8 Foundation presents its fifth online festival series “LIVE from London.” Founded in 2020 during lockdown, the festival covers a broad spectrum of modern and contemporary pieces alongside traditional choral Christmas music. A stellar lineup of vocal ensembles and
Read more
archive-post-image
The Unique and Unconventional PH Piano
“An instrument is always beautiful” A grand piano is a striking piece of fine furniture, and even a baby or boudoir grand brings elegance, class and grandeur to a room. The design of the grand piano, as we know it
Read more
archive-post-image
On This Day
23 December: Beethoven’s Violin Concerto Was Premiered
During his formative years in Bonn, Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1828) took organ and keyboard lessons from Christian Gottlob Neefe. Concurrently, he received instructions on the violin and viola from the court musician Franz Georg Rovantini and from Franz Ries, Electoral-Court
Read more
archive-post-image
On This Day
22 December: Giacomo Puccini Was Born
Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was born in Lucca, Italy, on 22 December 1858. He was the sixth of nine children by Michele Puccini and Albina Magi, and his birthplace was on the second floor of the historic
Read more