THE MAGAZINE
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “The Nutcracker Suite”
Holiday traditions have a way of wearing thin. In their 1960 Nutcracker Suite, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn offered an antidote to seasonal fatigue, recasting Tchaikovsky’s familiar melodies in swing, brass, and wit. The result is not parody but reinvention — a reminder that even the most canonical works can still surprise when filtered through a different musical imagination.
“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
Anthony Davis’s X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X brings American history to the Metropolitan Opera with urgency and force. Sung in English and led by a commanding Will Liverman, the opera reframes the life of Malcolm X as a modern, politically resonant work—one that feels unmistakably of the present.
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
For pianist and educator Benal Tanrısever, music is not about flawless execution but imaginative communication. Trained at The Juilliard School and shaped by an international performing career, Tanrısever speaks with TWoA about education, ambition, and why music should belong to everyone—not just professionals.
Finding Magic in Music: Haruki Murakami
Music is one of the magical aspects of Haruki Murakami’s books, shaping their rhythm, mood, and sense of unreality. From jazz records playing in dim kitchens to classical works that unlock memory and introspection, sound becomes a narrative device as powerful as language itself. In this TWoA essay, Melis Seven traces how Murakami’s lifelong relationship with music informs his writing—blurring the boundaries between listening, dreaming, and storytelling.
How to Become a Cello: Royal Ballet Principal Marcelino Sambé in Cathy Marston’s “The Cellist,” Royal Ballet, 20 October – 2 November 2023
What does it mean to dance an instrument rather than a character? In this TWoA interview, Marcelino Sambé discusses creating the role of “The Instrument” in The Royal Ballet’s The Cellist, choreographed by Cathy Marston. Reflecting on loss, embodiment, and musical intimacy, Sambé reveals how movement, sound, and emotion merge in this haunting tribute to cellist Jacqueline du Pré.
Listen to Jacqueline du Pré!
Few musicians have left a mark as indelible as Jacqueline du Pré. In this TWoA listening feature, Christina Ezrahi revisits du Pré’s iconic interpretation of Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, conducted by Daniel Barenboim. Instinctive, emotionally raw, and deeply human, the performance captures the essence of an artist whose playing continues to move listeners decades on.
A Musical Response to Terrorism: Michael Gordon’s “The Sad Park”
Can music respond to violence when words fall short? In this TWoA essay, Christina Ezrahi reflects on The Sad Park, a haunting work by Michael Gordon composed in response to 9/11. Built from children’s recorded voices and performed by the Kronos Quartet, the piece transforms memory, innocence, and grief into sound—asking how art can bear witness to trauma without explanation or spectacle.
Birmingham Royal Ballet: “Black Sabbath - The Ballet”
What happens when heavy metal collides with classical ballet? Christina Ezrahi examines Black Sabbath – The Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s audacious new production inspired by the city’s most famous band. Conceived by director Carlos Acosta, the three-act work brings the music of Black Sabbath to the stage—blending orchestral power, industrial history, and contemporary choreography to reach audiences far beyond the traditional ballet world.
Narrow Escape from the Nazis: Max Bruch’s “Kol Nidrei”
One of the most moving works in the cello repertoire nearly vanished under Nazi rule. In this TWoA essay, Christina Ezrahi traces the extraordinary history of Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei, a composition rooted in Jewish liturgy that was later banned by the Nazis who falsely believed its composer to be Jewish. A reflection on music, memory, and survival in the shadow of persecution.
In Honour of Hawaii: Queen Lili’uokalani’s Songs
In moments of loss, music can become an act of remembrance and resistance. Editor Christina Ezrahi turns to the songs of Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hawaii’s last sovereign ruler, whose compositions preserved language, identity, and hope in the face of colonisation and exile. Written in freedom and in imprisonment, her music continues to resonate as a testament to cultural resilience and dignity.
Reuniting with Nature: Yo-Yo Ma’s Birdsong
What happens when music listens back to nature? Yo-Yo Ma brings his cello into forests and open landscapes, creating a quiet dialogue between human sound and birdsong. From his Our Common Nature initiative to his collaboration with composer Anna Clyne, this piece explores how music can reconnect us—with the natural world and with one another.
Happy Birthday, Igor Stravinsky! Celebrating an Icon of Twentieth Century Music and Ballet
Think ballet, think modernism. In this TWoA birthday tribute, we revisit how Igor Stravinsky transformed twentieth-century music through ballet—from The Firebird and The Rite of Spring to his defining collaborations with George Balanchine. A story of scandal, innovation, and the birth of neoclassical ballet.
In Conversation: Pianists and 2023 Cliburn Junior Competitors Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16) and Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15)
Ahead of the 2023 Cliburn Junior Competition, TWoA speaks with rising pianists Saehyun Kim and Seokyoung Hong about moving from Seoul to the US, artistic individuality, and finding freedom beyond competition.
Ask the Experts: Practice and Competition Advice from Pianists Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16)
How much should you really practise? How do you stay calm on stage? In this TWoA expert guide, Cliburn Junior pianists Seokyoung Hong and Saehyun Kim share honest advice on competition pressure, mental practice, and trusting the music—cloud-gazing included.
Maria Callas: La Divina - The Divine
A century after her birth, Maria Callas still defines the word “diva.” A TWoA portrait of the voice, discipline, and vulnerability behind opera’s most enduring legend. Beyond the jewels and scandals, this is the story of an artist who changed how opera feels, sounds, and is remembered.
Christian Spuck and Giuseppe Verdi’s ‘Messa da Requiem’ at Staatsballett Berlin
Christian Spuck’s Messa da Requiem brings Giuseppe Verdi’s monumental score to the ballet stage in a stark, visually arresting production. Premiering at Staatsballett Berlin at a pivotal moment in Spuck’s career, the work confronts life, death, and collective ritual through massed bodies and choral force. At its best, music and movement fuse into a gripping total artwork; at its weakest, Verdi’s soaring score resists choreography altogether.
Start Spring with Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1
Spring doesn’t always arrive with birdsong and baroque clichés. In Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1, spring feels restless, sparkling, and alive with movement. The scherzo’s quicksilver energy captures thawing landscapes, sudden growth, and nature waking up mid-stride. Less obvious than Vivaldi, but just as vivid—this is spring with a modern edge.
Elaina Spiro, Cello Student at Boston Conservatory: Everyone Has a Different Path!
There is no single route to becoming a musician — and Elaina Spiro knows this better than most. From discovering the cello by chance to finding purpose through illness, practice, and performance, her story challenges the myth of the “perfect” musical path. In conversation with TWoA, the Boston Conservatory cellist reflects on resilience, mentorship, mental health, and the healing power of music.
Ask Elaina: Efficient Music Practice and Tips on Concert Wear
How do young musicians practice smarter — and dress for the stage without distraction? In this practical Q&A, Boston Conservatory cellist Elaina Spiro shares her method for turning lessons into focused, efficient practice. From recording strategies to cultivating positive self-talk, her approach puts the mind at the centre of musical growth. She also breaks down the often-overlooked art of concert wear — thoughtfully, honestly, and with performer-tested insight, exclusively for TWoA.