THE MAGAZINE
Inside Handel’s Beehive: If Classical Pieces were Animals
In advance of Earth Day this Monday, imagining well-known classical pieces as animals offers new ways of bringing music to life!
From Mozart's "Lick My Ass" Canon to Scarlatti's Composing Cat: Humour in 17th Century Classical Music
Modern conceptions of “classical” music often describe composers like Mozart and Haydn as posh, stuck up, or boring. Humour in the classical era (1750-1810) may not have been as witty or as obvious as modern day comedy, but the blatancy of some of the references that historians have uncovered will shock you!
¡Viva Flamenco! From Spain’s Margins to its Center Stage
Think of Spanish culture, and chances are you are thinking of bullfighting, tapas - and flamenco. Flamenco is one of the most popular symbols of Spain, but for centuries, it was confined to the margins of Spanish society. It was the art of the Gitanos, the Roma (Gypsies) of Spain. Until dictator Franco decided to push flamenco centre stage.
Pablo Picasso in Music: “Formes en l’air” by Artur Lourié
How can you possibly read this music score? Arthur Lourié’s “Formes en l’air” (1915) is dedicated to Pablo Picasso, an artist Lourié admired for his artistic boldness. It’s a powerful interpretation of Picasso’s Cubist paintings in sound.
Eating the Opera: The Recipes Behind Three of Italy’s Most Celebrated Composers
Good music isn’t made on an empty stomach. Discover the stories behind the culinary pastimes of three of the most celebrated composers of the 19th century, Gioachino Rossini, Giacomo Puccini, and Giuseppe Verdi through three recipes they left behind.
Sumina Studer, Violinist and Music Entrepreneur: London’s Hidden Music and Art Spots
Award-winning violinist and music entrepreneur Sumina Studer is a true citizen of the world who has captured the hearts of millions on her various social media platforms. She has now made London her home. TWoA talked to Sumina about her favourite music and art spaces in London, and about social media in the arts and de-pressurising classical music.
Tiffany Poon, Pianist: A Rising Star on Her New Album “Diaries: Schumann”
Pianist Tiffany Poon is about to launch her solo album Diaries: Schumann. Hong-Kong born, but New York-based, Tiffany is an artist with a mission: to demystify classical music by emphasising the human side of it. Her more than 323K subscribers on YouTube prove she’s on to something. TWoA talked to Tiffany about her first mini-toy keyboard, life and, of course, Schumann.
Three Curious Facts about Franz Schubert and his ‘Winterreise’
Austrian Composer Franz Schubert was born on 31 January 1797 in the deepest winter, making it particularly appropriate that one of his most famous compositions is set in winter. But beware – Schubert’s Winterreise from 1827 is no cheerful homage to Austrian winter joys. If you are looking for a composition to mirror your own depressing thoughts on a cold, dark winter day, look no further!
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “The Nutcracker Suite”
It’s difficult to image the holiday season without The Nutcracker, but are you looking for a change? We suggest you listen to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s jazz version of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite.
“X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City Shares the Transformational History of Black American Activist, Malcolm X
What do you think of when you hear “opera”? Perhaps you envision a stuffy concert hall, filled with elderly people listening to old classical music sung in a European language as they fall asleep. The 2023-2024 season at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City begs to differ. “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” stands proudly amongst a more traditional performance schedule. The audience included an overwhelming number of students and young members. Not one person was sleeping by the end.
Happy Thanksgiving! Aaron Copland and Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring
Of all the holidays associated with America, Thanksgiving is by far the most uniquely American one. So, if you are looking for a ballet or a classical music piece to get you into the mood for turkey, stuffing and pie, enjoy our feature about Aaron Copland and Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring.
Benal Tanrısever, Pianist and Educator: Music Starts with the Imagination
Benal Tanrısever is a Turkish pianist and music educator. She completed her musical education at The Juilliard School in New York and performed at Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonic before founding BT Music and Performing Arts, a music and performing arts school in Istanbul,Turkey. TWoA talked to Benal about her journey from Istanbul to New York, her experience at Juilliard, and her philosophy of learning and teaching music.
Finding Magic in Music: Haruki Murakami
Music is one of the magical aspects of Haruki Murakami’s books. His songs are always in alignment with the story line. We see his protagonists usually sitting in the kitchen, listening to classical music or jazz. If you want to feel like a character from Murakami’s beautiful books, listen to some of the pieces that belong to his stories.
How to Become a Cello: Royal Ballet Principal Marcelino Sambé in Cathy Marston’s “The Cellist,” Royal Ballet, 20 October – 2 November 2023
Cathy Marston’s one-act ballet “The Cellist” tells the tragic story of star cellist Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987). TWoA spoke to Royal Ballet principal Marcelino Sambé, who created the part of “The Instrument” – Jacqueline du Pré’s cello. Sambé is performing the part again in the Royal Ballet’s current run of the ballet.
Listen to Jacqueline du Pré!
Legendary cellist Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987) once said: “Playing lifts you out of yourself into a delirious place.” See for yourself where the sound of her music might take you!
A Musical Response to Terrorism: Michael Gordon’s “The Sad Park”
French writer Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables, once said: “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” But can you create a musical response to evil?
Birmingham Royal Ballet: “Black Sabbath - The Ballet”
A ballet with heavy metal music performed by a symphony orchestra? No way? Think again: Birmingham Royal Ballet just premiered its fastest selling show ever: Black Sabbath - The Ballet.
Narrow Escape from the Nazis: Max Bruch’s “Kol Nidrei”
German composer Max Bruch was Christian, but his moving Kol Nidrei for cello and orchestra convinced the Nazis that he must have been Jewish. Read on to find out more.
How Was Your Summer?
Maybe you are already back to your studies and your summer holidays feel like a distant memory. Or maybe you are still gearing up to return to school. Either way: to make the transition a bit more fun, we’ve asked four of the artists we interviewed over the past year to share some of their favourite summer 2023 moments with us, and to give us a hint of their plans for the year ahead!
In Honour of Hawaii: Queen Lili’uokalani’s Songs
During the month of August, the world watched in horror as wildfires spread over the paradisiacal Hawaiian island Maui, devouring its capital Lahaina. Let’s hope for a better future for the island by taking comfort in the songs written by Hawaii’s last monarch, Queen Lili’uokalani, a truly remarkable woman. Read on to find out more about her story.