All types of music are enhanced by the artistry, dazzling technique and emotional intensity of virtuosos. Yo Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, singers Renée Fleming, Kiri Te Kanawa and label-defying artists Audra MacDonald, Andrea Bocelli, and Bela Fleck have

“The loneliness doesn’t worry me……I spend most of my life alone, even backstage…….I’m there completely alone. I like the time alone….” British pianist Stephen Hough, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs programme

German-born pianist Wilhelm Backhaus (1884–1969) started studying the piano at age 4 with his mother and by 1891, was studying at the Leipzig Conservatory. His private study with Eugen d’Albert in Frankfort, a student of Franz Liszt, was crowned by

The Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra recently performed a series of concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City under the baton of Maestro Daniel Barenboim — nine programs devoted to the nine Bruckner symphonies, which on two evenings were preceded by

I have a theory that we should spend at least a quarter of a century living with our music, studying it, absorbing it, and then only perform it when we are in our 40s or 50s. Unfortunately, this is not

If you live and work in the Asia-Pacific region you surely are familiar with THAAD. The acronym actually stands for “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense,” and represents an anti-ballistic missile system designed to destroy incoming ballistic missiles. The missile carries

Swiss pianist Alfred Cortot (1877¬-1962) began his piano study at the Paris Conservatoire at age 9, taking the premier prix in 1896. He started his concert career in 1897. His love for the music of Wagner led him to Bayreuth,

The Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels hosted a rather special performance on 25 August 1830. William I, Prince of Orange and King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg was celebrating the 15th year of his reign, and