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Visions of Innocence
Chabrier, Stravinsky and Debussy
John Eliot Gardiner Conducts Chabrier, Stravinsky and Debussy With Isabelle Faust Visions of innocence evoke an ethereal glimpse into a world untouched by the burdens of experience, where purity lingers untainted by complexities and disillusionments. These fleeting moments capture the
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From Reviled to Beloved: O Holy Night
Poet Placide Cappeau (1808–1877) was so inspired by the new stained glass windows in his church in Roquemaure, France, that he wrote a poem, ‘Minuit, chrétiens’ in its honour. It’s a powerful poem urging Christians to use midnight as the
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On This Day
23 December: Borodin’s Symphony No. 1 Premiered
We still have conflicting reports as to the actual premiere date of Borodin’s Symphony No. 1. Some commentators place that event on 23 December 1868, while others located it on 4 January 1869. The proximity of these dates suggests that
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Versions of The Lovely Cradle Song: Fauré’s Berceuse
Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924) created his Berceuse in early 1880, first for violin and piano. It was heard by the publisher Julienne Hamelle who immediately snatched it up for publication. The work, for muted violin and piano, has a rocking accompaniment,
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The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Bass Player Orin O’Brien and the New York Philharmonic
It’s difficult today to imagine how one would feel as the first woman member of the New York Philharmonic or any orchestra for that matter. At age thirty-one, in 1966, Orin O’Brien won the position and joined this illustrious group,
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Ten Most-Asked Questions About Leonard Bernstein
The movie Maestro, based on the life of conductor Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre, was released on Netflix on 20 December 2023. Today, we’re looking at data from search engines to find out what questions people are asking
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The Words That Go With the Music
The Wacky World of Erik Satie’s Performance Directions
Erik Satie: Gymnopédies & Gnossiennes Anyone who has ever had the good fortune to look through a score of Parisian composer Erik Satie’s piano works will likely have come away amused, baffled, or even irritated. Satie’s performance directions take us
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Harpsichord vs. Piano
Behind the Keyboard with Mandy Chan Discover Hong Kong harpsichordist Mandy Chan’s insider view about historical technique, interpretation and the performer you should seek out. Friends often seek personal advice about how to build the perfect classical music playlist, particularly
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