Today we look at a composer who has been called the “English Mozart.” Born into a famous family, Samuel Wesley died on this day in 1837. Continue reading “On This Day… October 11”
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The Puzzle of our lives
This title is directly ripped off a post by Jason Heath, who in turn directly ripped it off an article by Doug Yeo. They are both well worth a read. Continue reading “The Puzzle of our lives”
On This Day… October 10
Today we look at one of the Romantic period’s most influential composers of opera. He wrote classics such as Rigoletto, Nabucco, La Traviata and Aida. Giuseppe Verdi, born on this day in 1813 Continue reading “On This Day… October 10”
On This Day… October 9
Today we look at a French composer, who was also a pianist, organist and conductor. He wrote a number of pieces that would become very popular, as well as works of incredible quality. Camille Saint-Saëns, born on this day in 1835. Continue reading “On This Day… October 9”
On This Day… October 8
I think this is the first chance that I’ve had to showcase an Australian as part of this series, and it just so happens that he was born, on this day, in Perth, my home town. A Noted composer of classical music in Australia, Carl Vine’s work has also been performed all over the world. Continue reading “On This Day… October 8”
On This Day… October 7
In doing this series, sometimes it’s been hard to find information out about someone. But today I had a wealth of choices, all top notch as well. I could’ve chosen Cristobal de Morales, who died on this day and was the leading composer of Spanish masses in his day. Or I could’ve chosen Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit, who was born on this day in 1936. Instead, I decided to go with one of the world’s greatest performers, who has performed music in almost every known style. Happy Birthday Yo-Yo Ma, who turns 53 today. Continue reading “On This Day… October 7”
On This Day… October 6
Today we look at a pivotal moment in music history, the beginning of the baroque. On October 6, 1600, Jacopo Peri’s opera Euridice was premiered. This is the earliest known surviving opera, and is used by many historians to mark the beginning of the Baroque period. Continue reading “On This Day… October 6”
On This Day… October 5
Today we head over to France, and a composer who was one of the early originators of the operetta form. Though born in Germany, he spent most of his working life there, dying in Paris on the 5th of October, 1880. He is Jacques Offenbach. Continue reading “On This Day… October 5”
On This Day… October 4
Another performer today, and this time one who is most widely known for his two fantastic recordings of the same piece – both at the beginning and the end of his career. However, he was an incredible pianist in all styles of music. Today, we look at Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, who died on this day in 1982. Continue reading “On This Day… October 4”
On This Day… October 3
Today we move away from the composers and look instead at a conductor. The late 18th and early 19th century brought about a move away from composers as conductors and started to see conductors rise as prominent figures in their own right. Today we look at a man considered by many to be Britain’s leading conductor of Choral works, Sir Malcolm Sargent, who died on this day in 1967. Continue reading “On This Day… October 3”
Ben Clapton 