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Thus Spoke Friedrich Nietzsche
Piano Music
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) is primarily known as a philosopher who published some groundbreaking books. “Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None,” was published in four volumes between 1883 and 1885, and it spawned a number of philosophical
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On This Day
22 November: Kent Nagano Was Born
American conductor and opera administrator Kent Nagano is renowned for interpretations of clarity, elegance, and intelligence. He excels at complex late nineteenth- and twentieth-century scores, and he is considered a Messiaen and Mahler specialist. Nagano is passionate about introducing concert
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The Label that Shaped Classical Music
Deutsche Grammophon. Or DG. Even those who are not familiar with classical music recognise it as a gauge of quality. It is recognisable instantly, thanks to its yellow stamp, but mostly thanks to the impressive catalog of works that it
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Frank Martin (1890-1974)
A Spiritual Tribute
On 21 November 2024, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Frank Martin, one of the foremost composers of the 20th century. Born in Switzerland, Martin had access to both French and German musical traditions, and he eventually
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Five Women in Tchaikovsky’s Life
Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky had complicated relationships with women. On one hand, for many years, his career was financed by a single wealthy woman, who he poured his heart out to in letters. On the other hand, his gayness meant
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On This Day
20 November: Anton Rubinstein Died
Anton Rubinstein, Russian pianist, composer, conductor and teacher, was one of the greatest pianists of the 19th century. His playing was compared with Liszt’s, and he combined a prodigious technique with musicianship, scholarship, and a richly poetic temperament. Anton Rubinstein
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On This Day
18 November: Elim Chan Was Born
In 2014, Elim Chan won the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition as the first female conductor to win the competition in its history. “When I won that competition,” she explained, “history wasn’t something that came into my mind straight away…
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Ten of the Rockiest Marriages in Classical Music History, Part 2
Today, we’re continuing our exploration of ten unhappy marriages from classical music history. Last time, we looked at the marriage stories of Leonard Bernstein, Gabriel Fauré, Richard Wagner, Gustav Mahler, and Joseph Haydn. Today, we’re ready to resume our countdown.
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