Music is one of the most transcendent art forms that can take us back in time and evoke emotions we have never experienced. The fusion of music and history has unraveled mysteries worth exploring. The story behind Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11, The Year 1905, is a fascinating example of how music can reflect a society’s … Continued
Best known for the famous Hallelujah Chorus, Handel’s Messiah is one of the most performed pieces of classical music in history. Get ready for the Houston Symphony’s annual presentation of this masterpiece. By the time George Frederick Handel began composing Messiah in 1741, he was at the height of his powers, recognized as one of London’s leading … Continued
The idea for a ballet based on Daphnis and Chloe (an ancient Greek love story attributed to Longus) originated with the Russian choreographer Michel Fokine. He first proposed the subject to the Director of the Russian Imperial Theaters, but it was not until Fokine became involved with Sergei Diaghilev’s groundbreaking Ballets russes in Paris that … Continued
In October 1883, Antonín Dvořák wrote to his publisher: “I was recently in Vienna, where I spent very fine days with Dr. Brahms, who had just come back from Wiesbaden,” a picturesque town on the Rhine river in Western Germany. The Czech composer, a good friend of Brahms, continued: “You know, of course, how very … Continued
We’re kicking off Classical Music Month with 10 movies that feature classical favorites! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUt4DfGnyJQ 1. Amadeus (1984) Mozart, Requiem Winner of 8 Academy Awards, Amadeus interweaves the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with that of Antonio Salieri for a gripping meditation on the nature of genius—in all its mysterious, awe-inspiring, unpredictable glory. The film is … Continued
On September 23, 24, & 25, classical superstar Joshua Bell returns to the Houston Symphony to play Sibelius’s sparkling Violin Concerto. In this post, read Joshua Bell’s essay on his Gibson ex Huberman violin. Get tickets and more information for Joshua Bell + Shostakovich 5. The Huberman Violin by Joshua Bell My violin is over … Continued