THE MAGAZINE

The Killer History Can’t Escape: How a 300-year-old Outlaw Became an Internet Meme
Classical Music Hector Wolff Classical Music Hector Wolff

The Killer History Can’t Escape: How a 300-year-old Outlaw Became an Internet Meme

A man with a pistol at his hip and a flash to his grin, appears in the streets of London, the smoky cabarets of Berlin, the jazz clubs of New York, the neon glow of late-night Los Angeles; and wherever he goes, there’s a song to his name. This is Macheath: From John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera in 1728 to the pixelated memes of the 2010s, his grin has survived, carrying with it a sharp edge of satire and mischief.


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Étoile: What Does it Mean to Put Dance on Screen?
Dance Hannah Lipman Dance Hannah Lipman

Étoile: What Does it Mean to Put Dance on Screen?

“When I heard about Amy Sherman-Palladino’s newest dance show, Etoile, I was tentatively optimistic.The pull of Gilmore Girls nostalgia melded with my first love, televised dance — what could be better? As I began to watch, my naive flickers of hope slowly diminished, leaving me in the dark, with more questions than answers. Namely, what is it that makes the dance world so challenging to capture on screen?”


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Anastasia Cheplyansky, Dutch National Ballet: “Studying While Dancing Brought a Lot of Balance Into My Life.”
Dance, Interviews Christina Ezrahi Dance, Interviews Christina Ezrahi

Anastasia Cheplyansky, Dutch National Ballet: “Studying While Dancing Brought a Lot of Balance Into My Life.”

A new school year has begun. If you are close to finishing school, you might have to decide soon between the stage, or further studies. But fear not - you actually might not have to choose. TWoA talked to Anastasia Cheplyansky, Dutch National Ballet, about the benefits of combining dance with serious academic studies at the university level and about her dance journey.

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A Murderous Artist Pardoned by the Pope: Benvenuto Cellini and the Art of Punishment
Art Amanda Martin-Parras Art Amanda Martin-Parras

A Murderous Artist Pardoned by the Pope: Benvenuto Cellini and the Art of Punishment

Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini was an award-winning goldsmith and sculptor lauded by Pope Clement VII. But he was also vengeful and violent, supposedly decapitating the man who killed his brother and stabbing his rival goldsmith Pompeo de Capitaneis to death. Did he receive the punishment he deserved? No. Read on to find out why.

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Minimalist Music: The Joy of Repetition
Classical Music Natalie Tero Classical Music Natalie Tero

Minimalist Music: The Joy of Repetition

“Despite its name, minimalist music actually has a lot going on. Its repetitive nature may have earned it a reputation as monotonous and even boring, but learning how to listen to minimalism, and how to appreciate its complexity, has been one the most enriching musical experiences of my life – and it can be for you too, you only need to know what to listen for.” Find out how.


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Of Fields and Feelings: A Brief History of Landscape Art
Art Maya Stoilova Art Maya Stoilova

Of Fields and Feelings: A Brief History of Landscape Art

For centuries, landscapes were mere backdrops—symbolic, sublime, or decorative. But in the nineteenth century, a revolution took place. Through the Barbizon School and the Impressionists, landscapes captured internal and external reality, sealing transitory beams of light, atmosphere, and sensation into eternity. Read the article to find out more.


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What is the Music of the Spheres?
Classical Music Renée Barbre Classical Music Renée Barbre

What is the Music of the Spheres?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion (the backstory to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings) opens with a creation myth in which a divine council forms the cosmos by singing it into existence. Mortals cannot hear this music, but it is still part of everything they are. Tolkien’s fantasy story is actually based on ancient ideas from our own world.

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Gilles Rico, Stage Director: “I Consider Myself First and Foremost a Storyteller.”
Classical Music, Interviews Christina Ezrahi Classical Music, Interviews Christina Ezrahi

Gilles Rico, Stage Director: “I Consider Myself First and Foremost a Storyteller.”

Opera is not just about the music – it is also a spectacle, a theatrical performance that speaks as much to the eyes as to the ears. But who is responsible for the overall theatrical interpretation and look of a specific opera production? TWoA talked to Gilles Rico, a French stage director who has staged and assisted staging operas at prestigious opera houses across Europe.

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