Shostakovich Violin Concerto and Bartok’s The Miraculous Mandarin

Shostakovich Violin Concerto and Bartok’s The Miraculous Mandarin

"Banned" and "boycotted" - whether by the state or by the public, "official" disapproval has long had the power to change composers' careers and their lives.

Ravel's Alborada del gracioso

Ravel – Alborada del gracioso

Ravel's Alborada del gracioso is a jester's song to his lady—a poignant love song surrounded by a miniature musical comedy.

Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8

Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 is, in many ways, his most Bohemian - full of blue skies, but with dark shadows that make the sunshine that much brighter.

Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier

Der Rosenkavalier was Richard Strauss's "Mozart opera," and its sparkle, wit, sentiment and infectious music- especially the waltzes - cemented his standing at the top of the operatic world.