Few pieces in the symphonic repertory carry the chill factor of the Sibelius Fourth. From its ominous, tritone-laced opening through the finality of its concluding A-minor chords, this is one symphony that scores a near zero in the cuddle factor but ...
Given that 2009 marks the bicentennial of Papa Joe Haydn's death, publishers, performers, and record labels alike have been trotting out a steady succession of Haydn-stuff. That's abundantly good news to those of us in Haydn fandom, which by all righ...
From May 14 through May 19, in four separate venues, the New Century Chamber Orchestra will be playing its last concert of this season, a program entitled "Shadows and Light" -- a study in contrasts, to be sure. The NCCO's uniquely creative...
After lunchtime on a weekday in early March, in a San Francisco church: I was privileged to attend a rehearsal of the New Century Chamber Orchestra, as they prepared a concert featuring piano soloist Anne-Marie McDermott playing Shostakovich and Prok...
Joseph Haydn had every reason to thank providence for his elevated position in musical life. His nearly three-decade service to the Esterházy family had brought him financial comfort, renown, and respect. Director of his own courtly private or...
Shortly after moving to Vienna in 1781 Mozart met the clarinetist Anton Stadler (pictured in the anonymous silhouette to the left), who became a close friend and was to be the recipient of several transcendent late Mozart works—the Clarinet Qui...
German composer Ernst Pepping (1901 - 1981) has received a bit of attention of late, due primarily to a belated recognition of his significance in German church music as well as a smattering of intriguing recordings.Ernst Pepping Pepping's career fla...
