Composer Max Richter wants people to doze off during his latest composition, SLEEP, which he calls an “8-hour lullaby.”
Why Composer Max Richter Wants To Put You to Sleep
Star Soprano Karita Mattila’s Secrets to a Long, Successful Career
Finnish soprano and two-time Grammy Award winner Karita Mattila is celebrating her 33rd season as a professional performer. What are the secrets to her enduring success?
From YouTube to Lyric: Composer Jimmy López on His Operatic Debut
“I’ve been working towards this my whole career,” Lopez said excitedly as he observed summer technical rehearsals for Bel Canto.
WFMT’s Favorite Beach Reads
If you need recommendations for what to read when you’re relaxing on the beach, look no further; our staff shares their favorite books about music.
Quiz: Are You Secretly French? You Might Be If Get More Than 14/20 On This Music Quiz
Think you know French music? From the salon to the symphony hall, from the opera to the ballet, the French have given us some great music. But, how much French music do YOU know? Allons-y!
“Gopher Tuna” — What ‘Carmina Burana’ Really Sounds Like
Carl Orff’s famous Carmina Burana, a scenic cantata based on medieval poems, is one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music. We’ve all heard it countless times. But, do you know what the text says? The poetry muses on life, death, fortune, and of course, drinking, gluttony, gambling, and sex. Since the text is in Latin, you may not …
Signifyin’ in Song: How the Sounds of Slavery Changed Music Forever
Music and dance provided an outlet for enslaved people to express their sorrow, though often their cries of pain sounded quite the opposite to slave owners.
9 Living Black Composers You Need To Know
If you’re not familiar with these 9 composers, we’ve got 2 things to say: 1. You’re missing out on a lot of great music. 2. Now’s your chance to catch up! June is African-American Music Appreciation Month, and while you shouldn’t limit your appreciation of music by African-American composers to the month of June, it’s a nice excuse to explore …
How One Chord Changed the World: “Tristan” at 150
If you’re a music lover, you may have heard of the so-called “Tristan chord” from Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde. Audiences were stunned to hear this infamous harmony when the opera premiered on June 10, 1865 in Munich, Germany. As Tristan turns 150, let’s take a look at what makes the Tristan chord so unique. The “Vorspiel,” or Prelude, to Tristan begins with with a “dissonant” chord. The terms “consonance” …
What If Nina Simone Had Been a Classical Pianist?
Before Nina Simone became one of America’s most iconic jazz musicians, she wanted to have a career as a classical pianist.