Not Everyone Loved Antonín Dvořák… Czech composer Antonín Dvořák made invaluable contributions to American classical music. He composed his famous “New World Symphony” in the United States, he taught many future American musicians, and he tried to win respect for certain forms of indigenous American folk music. There was only one problem: We forget that […]
American Classical Music: Origins, Composers & Controversy Read More »
Rossini, Paisiello, and one wild operatic backstory ”Backstabber of Seville” Podcast Transcript Who was originally the Barber of Seville composer? Find out in episode 1, “The Backstabber of Seville.” We tell the little-known stories behind the Paisiello Il Barbiere di Sevilla, and we relate the humble origins of one of the world’s greatest opera legends,
The Barber of Seville Composer: “The Backstabber of Seville” Read More »
Giuseppe Tartini’s devilish inspiration behind his most popular work ”Brought To You By Satan” Episode Transcript In the Spresser Forest outside of Wittenberg, Germany around the year 1516, a man and a few assistants came to a crossroads. It was nighttime, it was eerie, it was desolate. They wanted it that way. The man muttered
Brought To You By Satan: Guiseppe Tartini and the Devil’s Trill Sonata Read More »
The composer loved North America, Indigenous Music, Trains, and … Iowa For the sixth episode of Backstage Podcast, join us as we explore the musical and cultural repercussions of Antonin Dvorak and his visit to the United States. Mrs. Jeannette Thurber, the founder of the National Conservatory of Music of America, was determined to bring
Czech, Please: Antonin Dvorak in America Read More »
Around Halloween every year, we indulge ourselves with little bits of mythology. It’s fun. We listen to “Thriller,” we put on Grim Reaper costumes, we watch a Tim Burton movie here and there. Do the legends hold any real meaning to us? Generally, no. We don’t really think of Death as a malicious tyrant who
Dancing Bones & Xylophones: Some Spooky Fun, Classical Music Style Read More »
The story behind one of Japan’s most iconic 20th century works In this episode we dive into one of Japan’s most iconic 20th century works, the Masao Ohki Hiroshima Symphony. The United States ended WWII by dropping the world’s first Atomic Bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and August
Ghosts of Hiroshima: Masao Ohki’s Hiroshima Symphony Read More »
