Composers Archive

Franz Schubert’s Third Symphony is notably shorter than his first two symphonies. But it also foreshadows ideas that would expand the scale of the symphony. The rushing scale passage of the first movement’s slow introduction …

Lucia Popp made her stage debut as a singer at age 23 at the Bratislava Opera singing Queen of the Night in Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte”. In 1963 Herbert von Karajan heard her sing and engaged …

The young among you will say “Huh???” There was a time, however, well before the widespread use of the Internet, that classical music reached us via the format of the radio broadcast. Long ago, radios …

This symphony is urgent, passionate music in some sections. However, the beginning is soft, murmurous accompaniment waiting for its melody to emerge. Schumann found the work “full of Hellenic grace,” but it is also full …

When I listen or think of Johannes Brahms, the following thoughts enter my mind: Austria; Bad Gastein (Resort area where the composer spent summers); Ah… Clara Schumann whom Brahms loved. The symphonies #2 and 4; …