Month: July 2022

Soaked in Mozart

In 1787, a 17-year old Beethoven left his home in Bonn, Germany and traveled to Vienna with the express purpose of meeting and studying with Mozart, the greatest composer in Europe. Whether Beethoven actually met Mozart is debatable--the famous quotation attributed to Mozart ("Stanzi, Stanzi, watch out for that boy. One day he will give … Continue reading Soaked in Mozart →

Classical Music IV: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

THE great debate in music is whether Beethoven was a Classical or Romantic composer.  Heck, I had to write a paper on this very question for my high school music theory class.  I took the position that Beethoven had clearly been a Classical composer at the start of his career, but by 1803 had evolved … Continue reading Classical Music IV: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) →

The Greatest Hits of Bel Canto

I don’t intend to delve into more bel canto in future sessions, so let’s get the greatest hits out of the way here, even if most of these were composed during what I consider to be the Romantic Period.  To me, they sound purely classical in any event. First up is Donizetti’s Fille de Regiment … Continue reading The Greatest Hits of Bel Canto →

Classical Music III: Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (1792-1868)

I really am not a Rossini fan, but I include him here because of his importance in the development of bel canto opera. The trinity of great bel canto composers are Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini. As my tastes have evolved, I find myself avoiding the entire bel canto genre absent a singer that compels attendance … Continue reading Classical Music III: Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (1792-1868) →

Interlude: A Bit of History

This unassuming building in Florence, just south of Santo Croce and a block off the Arno doesn’t even have a plaque to commemorate what transpired here. While it appears to be simply subdivided into apartments today, back at the dawn of the High Renaissance, this was the Palazzo Bardi. Designed in the 15th century by … Continue reading Interlude: A Bit of History →