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Mahler on the Jumbotron: the Berlin Philharmonic in Taipei
For Westerners who wonder aloud whether Asia might save classical music’s declining fortunes in the West, Friday night is the sort of thing they have in mind. When the Berlin Philharmonic kicked off Taipei’s weekend with a gripping rendition of
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I Drink, Therefore I am: The Truth about Alcohol and Creativity
Have you ever wondered why so many creative people are associated with alcohol? Beethoven, Vincent van Gogh, Elvis Presley, Andy Warhol, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, are but a handful of many who have been known for their creative output and
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Bringing Chinese musicians closer to the world stage
Amid all the talk of China’s growing appetite for classical music, there are now concrete examples of just how promising this scene is. The New York Philharmonic recently signed an agreement with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to collaborate on a
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Analogue to Digital Conversion
The advent of storing music digitally allowed consumers to carry a significant library of music on a player little larger than a CD. For the classical listener, with an ear to fidelity and musical quality rather than portability, new developments
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Sala Sao Paulo: travelling in music
The main concert hall in Sao Paulo is housed in a converted train station. The station still works – it serves line 8, which crosses the city. As you approach it, in the decadent downtown area, Julio Prestes Station appears
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Conversation with Szymanowski Quartet
Oct 10, 2011 Karol Szymanowski Nocturne and Tarantella, Op. 28 (arr. M. Skoryk) – Nocturne Szymon Laks String Quartet No. 3 – I. Allegro quasi presto Concerts in Hong Kong Oct 8, 2011 Szymanowski String Quartet No.2 Mozart Divertimento K.136
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Franz Schubert’s Illness: The Melancholy of an Autumnal Sunset
“I am the most unhappy and miserable person in this world… my health will never improve, and in such despair, things will only become worse instead of better…” – Franz Schubert Austrian Composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828) is enshrined as the
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“Thank Brazilian pianists”
Recently, in Sao Paulo, I lived through a perfect example of the surreal music scene in Brazil. It was a wintry Sunday afternoon. We went to Sala Sao Paulo, the concert hall home to the Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra
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