Beethoven was most performed composer of 2016
Statistics from the classical music events listing site Bachtrack show that Ludwig van Beethoven topped the list of the most performed composers of last year. … Read more
CLASSICAL
Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie opens this week
Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie concert hall, which experienced a number of lengthy delays during construction, is finally scheduled to open later this week with a concert on … Read more
Black Sabbath guitarist becomes choral composer
There seems to be something of a trend of rock stars moving into the classical music realm over recent times. The latest example comes from … Read more
Listen to the first ever recording of Beethoven’s Fifth
The unmistakable opening to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony has become so embedded in popular culture that it is hard to imagine it any other way. The … Read more
Canadian firm becomes largest provider of classical music television programming
Canadian-based Stingray is to become a leading player in classical music programming for television after it bought out German-based Unitel. Unitel operates the premium TV … Read more
Violinist Julia Fischer receives Germany’s highest civilian award
Violinist Julia Fischer was awarded Germany’s Federal Cross of Merit, the highest civilian award in the country, last month. The prize was a recognition of … Read more
11-year-old composer debuts opera in Vienna
British composer Alma Deutscher, aged 11, debuted her first opera in Vienna on Thursday. The retelling of Cinderella won high praise and a standing ovation … Read more
Stradivari’s distinctive sound may be down to a bath
Researchers have come up with another answer to the ongoing riddle of what it is about the violins manufactured by Antonio Stradivari that makes them … Read more
Norwegian airline prevents musician from boarding plane prior to Christmas
Budget airline Norwegian denied German violinist Elia Kaden boarding on one of its flights two days prior to Christmas. Kaden was flying from Oslo to … Read more
Legendary conductor Zubin Mehta to retire from Israel Philharmonic
Indian-born conductor Zubin Mehta, whose career stretches back over six decades, will retire from his position as musical director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in … Read more
Various artists: Ashville Symphony sessions
The Asheville Symphony Orchestra has teamed up with several talented musicians from its North Carolina hometown to produce the Asheville Symphony Sessions, an album showcasing … Read more
Trombonist with Andre Rieu Orchestra dies after heart attack
Ruud Merx, a trombonist who has performed with Andre Rieu’s Johann Strauss Orchestra for over 20 years, died last week after suffering a heart attack … Read more
Mozart and Clementi’s legendary piano contest
The piano contest between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Muzio Clementi on Christmas Eve 1781 has gone down as one of the greatest duals of musical … Read more
Apple Music introduces option to sort tracks by composer
Apple Music has introduced a feature on one of its recent updates to allow users to sort their music by composer. While it is not … Read more
The four most famous notes in music were heard for the first time today in 1808
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony with its iconic opening (depicting fate knocking at the door) was debuted on 22 December 1808 at Beethoven’s akademie concert in Vienna. … Read more