July 12, 1934– Van Cliburn: "I'm not a success, I'm a sensation." When I was a kid, I would study the photos on the covers of my parental units' Van Cliburn albums and I would get that familiar, perplexing tingle of recognition and arousal. I mistakenly thought he had one name: … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Composer, Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
Photograph from TASS, the USSR's version of Fox News, via YouTube May 7, 1840– Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky: "Truly there would be reason to go mad were it not for music." Tchaikovsky was the original nutcracker and the leading composer of late 19th century Russia. He is … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Russian Composer, Modeste Mussorgsky
March 21, 1839 – Modeste Mussorgsky: "Art is not an end in itself, but a means of addressing humanity." The Equity Act of 2021 is the bill just passed by the House of Representatives that prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in … [Read more...]
On the Composer’s 265th Birthday: A Look Back at 1984’s “Amadeus”
Amadeus (1984) is a film directed by Miloš Forman and adapted by Peter Shaffer from his 1979 stage play. It is a fictionalized story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that follows a rivalry between Mozart and Italian composer Antonio Salieri at the court of Emperor Joseph II. It stars … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Composer, Benjamin Britten
November 22, 1913– Benjamin Britten: "It is cruel that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness of pain: of strength and freedom. The beauty of disappointment and never satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature and everlasting beauty of monotony." Although I … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Composer, Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
May 7, 1840- Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky was the original nutcracker and the leading composer of late 19th century Russia. He is beloved into the 21st century for his ballet scores, symphonic poems, symphonies, operas, songs, piano music, and chamber works. He became one of the most … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Composer, Nino Rota
December 3, 1911- Nino Rota At 14 years old & feeling highly romantic, I couldn’t have been more captivated by the Franco Zeffirelli film version of Romeo & Juliet (1968). Most assuredly, … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Composer/Writer, Ned Rorem
October 23, 1923- Ned Rorem: “Anyone can be gay, it's no accomplishment - but only I can be me.” I am really not much of a fan of symphonic or “serious” music, & although I appreciate the craft … [Read more...]
Sara X Performs Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” – WITH HER BOOBS!
Or what I call "Eine Kleine Knocker-Musik." Oh ha ha ha ha ha. Watch model and self-described "tattoo weirdo" Sara X perform Mozart's breast, um, best piece of of work after the jump. What a wonderful way to get young people to listen to the classics! … [Read more...]
Classical with a Twist: “Für Elise” Played Backwards then Played Back in Reverse. Huh?
Fascinating. From the DW: "Classical guitarist Jakob XP Brunnbauer brings an interesting twist to Beethoven's classical masterpiece 'Für Elise' by performing the arrangement backwards and then editing the footage in … [Read more...]
