10 Astounding a Cappella Versions of Classical Music
The term a cappella nowadays is generally assumed to mean a piece of vocal music without instrumental accompaniment, but it wasn’t always this way. The … Read more
LISTS
Six Curious Facts About Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
With a body of work of 169 compositions, whose genres include symponies, concertos, operas, ballet, chamber music and even a choral setting of the Russian … Read more
3 Opera Divas Who Made ‘Tosca’ One of the Most Popular Operas Today
The lead character of Floria Tosca in Puccini’s opera, Tosca, is one of those iconic roles that seems destined for some opera singers. It also … Read more
Ten Things You Should Never Say to Your Piano Teacher
The memories a lot of people have of piano lessons at school makes it easy to forget that some of the greatest composers also spent … Read more
Five Unusual Concerts at the BBC Proms
Since the programme for proms was unveiled, a lot of press coverage has focused on the inclusion of an Ibiza-style clubbing night. The idea of … Read more
Six Interesting Facts About Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)
For a man who left behind volumes of written records and explanations, Prokofiev remains a remarkably mysterious figure in the history of 20th century music. … Read more
Ten Reasons to Thank Your Music Teacher
Many people making a living from music, or even those who carry it on as a hobby, will be able to remember being heavily influenced … Read more
The 16 Most Beautiful Classical Music Pieces Inspired By Flowers
1. Waltz Of The Flowers by Tchaikovsky 2. Le Violette from Pirro e Demetrio by Scarlatti 3. The Tale Of The Stone Flower by Prokofiev 4. A … Read more
World’s Happiest Songs List Released by UN
The common attribute to most hit pop songs is that their subject covers mostly sad emotions from heartbreak to loss and misfortune. Whole genres of … Read more
Ten Sensual Classics because yes, Classical Music Can Be Sexy
We know, we know. As soon as someone mentions “erotic” classical music and sensual classics, you immediately think of Ravel’s Bolero and its joke about … Read more
Top 5 Operas for People who Hate Opera
This list is for those those who cringe at opera’s lengthy runtimes and lachrymose plotlines but have never actually seen a “fat lady” sing. The following … Read more
Honoring Berlioz’s legacy: A selection of seven “psychedelic” Classical pieces
In 1969, Leonard Bernstein presented and conducted “Berlioz takes a trip,” part of the Young People’s concert series.” On that occasion, he discussed and played … Read more
Seven Essential Things to Consider Before Becoming a Musician
Making a career choice can be tough, and it’s no different for musicians. While some will be lucky enough to have been identified as child … Read more
Seven Most Interesting Facts About Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
There are classical composers who represent the 20th century American sound more acutely and specifically than Samuel Barber does, but no other who has come … Read more
How to become a great composer in 10 steps
If you’ve been slaving over your sheet music, listening to non-stop Mozart for some inspiration, or spending hours on end at the piano trying to … Read more