A man in an oversized tuxedo emerges from backstage. He walks slowly but steadily, bows briefly with a stern, expressionless face, takes his seat and produces some of the most profound music on the piano in a dimly lit hall

The Maccabees, composed in Vienna between 1872-4, was Anton Rubinstein’s (1829-1894) most successful opera. Premiered on 17 April 1875 at the Hofoper in Berlin, reviewers considered opening night the greatest triumph the city had witnessed since L’Africaine ten years before.

Over the centuries, it has often been quite common for composers to endorse the role of music critics. Many composers, particularly in the past two centuries, have adopted this activity as one of their primaries. In fact, it is probably

There’s a situation that’s familiar to most humans on the planet – you’re feeling annoyed, angry, or anxious, and you can feel pressure on mental, emotional, and even physical levels until you hear a tune, the tune. Your favorite song

George Frideric Handel started work in his oratorio Jephtha on 21 January 1751. He was already well advanced in the score, setting the final chorus of Act 2, “How dark, O Lord, are thy decree,” when he was suddenly forced

Love classical music? Need some reading material? Want to read some great books about classical music? We’ve got you covered! Here are sixteen books about classical music that you should read: The Rest Is Noise, by Alex Ross This 2007

Specialising in 19th-century Italian opera, Sondra Radvanovsky is a widely-celebrated interpreter of the bel canto, verismo, and the works by Giuseppe Verdi. A winner of several voice competitions, Radvanovsky’s luscious voice, sounding depth, and exquisite colour, are matched by her

Erik Satie and Thelonious Monk are two of my favourite artists, and this is no surprise as if one pays close attention, they are both very similar in their approach to music — and perhaps in their own lives too.