Composers Archive

Pianist Sviatoslav Richter was reserved yet unflinching in his pursuit of musical excellence, and in later years capable of imposing idiosyncratic conditions for his eagerly anticipated performances. He was already a legend behind the Iron …

Ludwig van Beethoven’s improvisations that dazzled Vienna were, in a way, rehearsals of the daring musical ideas Beethoven would explore in his symphonies. The first movement of his Eroica Symphony was unprecedented in scale, in …

Whenever I listened to the violinist Christian Ferras, I always heard his amazing tone. Of his two main teachers, René Benedetti taught him technique, and George Enescu broadened his outlook – he was to command …

Mozart’s opera “Die Zaubefloete” is certainly my favorite opera. I love some others, such as the “Marriage of Figaro”, but Zauberfloete is at the very top. Because I have heard this work in both live …

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 was composed in 1785 at the height of his popularity in Vienna. The piece was an immediate success at its February 11 premiere. Following his usual practice, Mozart performed the …