Know Your Composer
It has been said that a performance of Ravel’s Boléro begins every 10 minutes somewhere in the world. The Russian dancer Ida Rubinstein, a close friend and financial supporter of Ravel, commissioned the piece. Originally, it was part of a ballet production and first performed on 22 November 1928
News
With a series of select Indian and Western classical music concerts, the NCPA-Citi Online Edition celebrates a cherished association through stellar performances The National Centre for the Performing Arts and Citi go back a long way in their shared cherishment of culture. This association that has endured and only grown
Opinion
One of the most important elements of music making, and one that I find is somewhat undervalued in the general conversation around performance, is the role played by our awareness during singing; that is, where our attention lies as performers while we are playing or singing. My own observations with
A concerto is a type of musical composition that features a solo instrument, such as a piano or violin, accompanied by an orchestra. It typically consists of three movements with the soloist and orchestra interacting and engaging in musical conversation. The concerto has a rich history and has evolv
Music Education
The audience waits excitedly: some are masterclass veterans and some are new to the experience; some have copies of the music on their laps, some have the music in their heads. There are teachers, parents and other young players; there is an atmosphere of hushed reverence and expectation. The young
Opinion
The fact that music has an impact on humans, plants, and animals is already discovered and proven. However, some people doubt it, although music is a great tool to control your emotions and mood. To do this, it is not at all necessary to have a special music taste or
Know Your Composer
The common image of the struggling artist started with Mr. Ludwig van B. We all know the story of him overcoming his disability to create some of the most uplifting and inspirational masterpieces in music. But we don’t have to be necessarily rich and famous to struggle with adversity;
Opinion
Beethoven has been described as ‘the Face of Western Classical Music’. You may have your favourites—Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Bach…but you are still unlikely to dispute that statement, so secure is Ludwig van’s position in the pantheon of music. His music is ingrained in our culture: the opening
News
Many musicians dream of making a record with a symphony orchestra, but few can afford to make it a reality. Thanks to an extraordinary ability to compose melodies that take root in his listeners’ minds and because he has, for years, patiently performed these compositions on stage to the point
News
Astor Piazzolla is universally considered the pre-eminent figure in the history of tango and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His compositions, including beloved and widely performed works such as “Libertango”, “Oblivion”, and “Adios Nonino” have become standards of musical repertoire. Together with the Fundación Astor
Music Education
The advent and popularization of historical performance practice in recent years has led to some wonderful innovations in piano performance. In many circles, Mozart’s original and intimate ideas of phrasing are now readily reinstated and re-legitimized over more long-line Romantic approaches; familiarity with Bach’s ornamentation and practices of
Opinion
I begin this piece by acknowledging that I am a Chinese American concert pianist, AB Harvard, MM Juilliard, DMA SUNY at StonyBrook. I’ve been playing Beethoven nearly my whole life, having lived with his music for over half a century. I’ve spent more hours in his presence than
