The “Théâtre Italien” in Paris premiered Vincenzo Bellini’s final opera I Puritani (The Puritans) on 24 January 1835. Presented just months before Bellini’s untimely death at the age of 33, the opera presents a love story set during the violent

Classical music is often thought of as stuffy, insufferable, and boring. But is it? We’d argue that it’s not. The stereotypes fail to recognize the depth, beauty, and transportive power of classical music. We’re ready to debunk the myth that

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany. He would become one of the most important figures in the history of Western music. Here are some things you should know about him: He always had a troubled home

A film by Jeff Buchanan “When he plays it is as if the keys of the piano were brushed by the wings of angels.” George Sand Author of ‘Winter in Majorca’ Composer Frédéric Chopin and authoress George Sand stayed on

In 2024, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Frank Martin (1890-1974). One of the foremost Swiss composers of the 20th century, Martin was a highly versatile and eclectic composer who spoke with an authentic personal voice that

One of the most frustrating things when it comes to learning about women composers from the Renaissance is that we know they existed, but all of their biographies are very bare-bones. When it comes to these mysterious, super-talented women, we

When it comes to music, few genres have stood the test of time like classical music. It has enthralled audiences for centuries and pulled millions into its orbit. But why has it been so consistently popular? What’s so attractive about

With his character “Manon,” Jules Massenet created a portrait of the eternal feminine. As has been pointed out, this male view of seductive womankind “the generous, ambitious, pleasure-loving good-time girl who delivers the goods and expires of nothing so much