THE MAGAZINE
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.
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.
Reuniting with Nature: Yo-Yo Ma’s Birdsong
It’s finally summer! The summer holidays are the perfect time to escape into nature. Take your queue from Yo-Yo Ma, the superstar cellist whose boundless curiosity and idealism lead to many unusual projects.
Happy Birthday, Igor Stravinsky! Celebrating an Icon of Twentieth Century Music and Ballet
There are few ground-breaking composers who are also famous for their ballet compositions. If Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Sergei Prokofiev are the only ones who come to your mind, think again: Igor Stravinsky is one of the most important composers of the twentieth century and an icon of modernism, but his most famous compositions were created not for the concert hall, but for the ballet.
In Conversation: Pianists and 2023 Cliburn Junior Competitors Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16) and Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15)
The Third Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival for pianists aged 13 to 17 is taking place 8 – 17 June 2023 in Dallas, Texas. TWoA talked to two of the talented young pianists chosen to compete at the competition: Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16). Both are originally from Seoul, but are now studying piano at New England Conservatory Preparatory School while attending Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Read on to find out about their lives in Korea and the USA.
Ask the Experts: Practice and Competition Advice from Pianists Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16)
The Third Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival for pianists aged 13 to 17 is taking place 8 – 17 June 2023 in Dallas, Texas. TWoA talked to two of the talented young pianists chosen to compete at the competition: Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16). Both study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and attend the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Read on for some practical advice on the triple challenge of practicing, performing and competing.
Maria Callas: La Divina - The Divine
When you hear the word “diva,” the first thing that comes to your mind is probably the image of a temperamental star performer making unreasonable demands. If you are an opera lover, chances are you will think of Maria Callas (2 December 1923 – 16 September 1977), one of the greatest twentieth century sopranos. This year is the centennial of her birth. Who was the artist electrifying audiences around the world? Who was the woman behind the legend?
Christian Spuck and Giuseppe Verdi’s ‘Messa da Requiem’ at Staatsballett Berlin
Christian Spuck’s ballet Messa da Requiem is having a good year. The production has been performed across the globe and recently entered the repertoire of Staatsballett Berlin. But turning an oratario into a ballet is not easy. Read on for more.
Start Spring with Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1
It’s finally spring! The best way to celebrate this magical moment is of course with music. I have chosen the following piece for this season: the second movement (scherzo vivacissimo) of Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19. Want to know why? Read on!
Elaina Spiro, Cello Student at Boston Conservatory: Everyone Has a Different Path!
Elaina Spiro is a young cellist studying with Professor Rhonda Rider at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is in her third year of her undergraduate studies. TWoA talked to Elaina about her life in music and her unconventional path to Boston Conservatory.
Ask Elaina: Efficient Music Practice and Tips on Concert Wear
Elaina Spiro is a third-year cello student at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She has some great advice on efficient music practice and concert wear.
Happy Birthday, Sergei Rachmaninov!
175 years ago, on 1 April 1873, Russian composer and piano virtuoso Sergei Rachmaninov was born on an estate in the Russian countryside. Rachmaninov was one of the first international classical music stars. Read on to find out about his love for figure skating, vacuum cleaners, and his bouts of depression.
‘What is Naatu?’ Indian Film Song Hit Wins an Oscar
On 12 March 2023, the song “Naatu Naatu” from the Indian action drama RRR became the first song from an Indian film to win an Oscar. Read on to find out more about the global dance hit that has gone viral on social media.
John Williams: May the Force be With You!
What do Star Wars, E. T., Indiana Jones, Home Alone, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List and Harry Potter have in common? American composer John Williams composed their iconic film scores! On 8 February 2023, one of the greatest composers in the history of cinema turned ninety-one. Read on to learn some curious facts about some of his best loved film scores.