They were classmates, but never friends. The relationship between the two celebrities appears strange from the outside. They are almost the same age, coming from the same stratum of intelligentsia – military nobility, students of the same professors of the Moscow Conservatory. Rachmaninoff and Scriabin were almost the same age, but they were dissimilar … Continue reading “When Titans Collide: Rachmaninoff and Scriabin’s Interwoven Fates”
The ‘Holy Fool’ Mussorgian
The music of Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, author of the masterpieces Boris Godunov, Khovanshchina, and Sorochinskaya Yarmarka (The Fair at Sorochyntsi), strikes with dramatic truth and simplicity of presentation. His work is characterised by ingenuity and innovative techniques combined with folk traditions. However, due to alcohol addiction, the composer failed to realise his full potential. Modest’s … Continue reading “The ‘Holy Fool’ Mussorgian”
The Evolution of Dress Code in Classical Music: Tradition vs. Self-Expression
The world of classical music has traditionally upheld a strict dress code, predominantly characterised by black and white uniforms that have been the norm for centuries. As society progresses, the understanding of identity and artistic expression also shifts, creating opportunities for female, non-binary, and transgender musicians to challenge traditional norms and expectations in the music … Continue reading “The Evolution of Dress Code in Classical Music: Tradition vs. Self-Expression”
Marie Pleyel and the Fight for Female Recognition in 19th Century Music
Marie Pleyel, born Marie Félicité Denise Moke on September 4, 1811, in Paris, was a virtuoso pianist and composer whose contributions to the world of music remain significantly underrepresented in historical narratives. Despite being a celebrated figure in her time, Pleyel’s legacy has often been overshadowed by her male counterparts, resulting in a lack of … Continue reading “Marie Pleyel and the Fight for Female Recognition in 19th Century Music”
Two-Piano Arrangements of W.A. Mozart’s Keyboard Sonatas by Edvard Grieg
In his critical essay Mozart and His Significance for Our Time, Edvard Grieg wrote: Many contemporary composers have attempted to modernise Mozart in order to rekindle public interest in his music, especially among audiences whose tastes have been dulled by excessive seasoning. A difficult task! I, too, have attempted to give some of Mozart’s piano … Continue reading “Two-Piano Arrangements of W.A. Mozart’s Keyboard Sonatas by Edvard Grieg”
Feodor Chaliapin: The Great Wanderer
Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin (1873–1938) was born into a poor peasant family in Kazan, where his parents had moved from Vyatka province in search of work. As a child, the future tsar-bass sang in a church choir, where his beautiful voice was quickly noticed. There, he also learned to read music. However, his father was against … Continue reading “Feodor Chaliapin: The Great Wanderer”
The Grimaces of Fate: Giuseppe Verdi
On a May morning in 1831, a young man of an unusual appearance entered the building of the Milan Conservatory: he had rough peasant hands, yet his gaze was intensely spiritual. The professors were astonished: not only was he an overage applicant (the conservatory admitted students up to the age of 14, and he was … Continue reading “The Grimaces of Fate: Giuseppe Verdi”
The London Harbour of Nikolai Medtner
After the 1917 Revolution, not only writers, artists, philosophers, and theatre practitioners emigrated from Russia, but also internationally renowned musicians. Among them were Sergei Rachmaninoff, Igor Stravinsky, and Nikolai Medtner. Nikolai Medtner spent 16 years in England from 1935 to 1951, where his life ultimately came to an end. Before deciding to settle permanently in … Continue reading “The London Harbour of Nikolai Medtner”
Alexander Borodin – A Familiar Stranger
On November 12, 1833, in Saint Petersburg, at 9 Gagarinskaya Street, a boy named Alexander was born. His father was Luka Gedianov, a 60-year-old Georgian prince, and his mother was Avdotya Antonova, a 24-year-old housekeeper and the daughter of a soldier [1]. According to the laws of the time, an illegitimate child could not be … Continue reading “Alexander Borodin – A Familiar Stranger”
John Field’s Legacy in the Irish Musical Landscape
‘Have you heard? Clementi has arrived! How can you not know Muzio Clementi? He’s the famous entrepreneur, pianist, and composer!’ The news of the arrival of the renowned musician instantly spread throughout musical Saint Petersburg in December 1802 [1]. There were plenty of people eager to acquire pianos from the ‘Clement Collard’ company and take … Continue reading “John Field’s Legacy in the Irish Musical Landscape”