Playlist: Feel-Good Classical Music
From the jubilant to the blissful and everything in between, this longform playlist has something for anyone looking for a classical music mood booster.
Don't Miss a Beat
Maestro Muti’s Most Memorable Chicago Moments
Since Riccardo Muti became the CSO's music director in 2010, Chicagoans have enjoyed many magical moments with the maestro.
10 Composers Who Surprised Us With Their Hidden Talents
Though we tend to remember our favorite composers for their music first and foremost, many of them were virtuosic in more ways than one.
This Video Proves It’s Only a Matter of Time Before Robots Can Play Rachmaninoff
Anyone who’s ever studied a keyboard instrument knows it takes years of dedicated practice to play with accuracy. But one robot is programmed to bypass all of that, as shown in a video on Facebook.
Renaissance Composer Roy Henry Was Also a King – Historians Just Aren’t Sure Which One
One of the most important and complete collections of English sacred music, the Old Hall Manuscript, was compiled between 1415-1421. The volume contains two mass movements – Gloria and Sanctus – written under the name Roy Henry. Since “roy” translates loosely to “king” from Middle French, music historians agree that Roy Henry was an English king with a penchant for ...
This Heart-Shaped Score Just Might Make You Fall in Love with Medieval Music
"Belle, bonne, sage" is a love song whose title translates to "Lovely, good, and wise." And if the score looks like a Valentine’s Day card, the lyrics follow.
You’re Guaranteed to Get “So Emotional” Watching Whitney Houston Sing With Luciano Pavarotti
If you get “so emotional” every time you hear Whitney Houston sing, this video may make you reach for the tissues. This video will have you wondering just what Whitney Houston couldn’t do as a singer. She steals the show from opera powerhouse Luciano Pavarotti, and renowned musicians Sting and Elton John in this video of the singers sharing a ...
Do Yourself a Favor and Watch This Charming Video of BJörk Interviewing Composer Arvo Pärt
Even the biggest Björk fan might not know that she admires Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. However, listening to Pärt’s music, which many describe as “holy minimalism,” and then Björk’s, it’s easy to understand why.
The History of European Music May Owe More to Arab Culture Than We Realize
Ever since the Middle Ages, musicians in Europe eagerly adopted musical traditions from around the world, from as far as the Indian subcontinent to the shores of Northern Africa.
This String Quartet Was Founded at a Taco Truck… Now It’s at Juilliard
In September 2017, violinists Jason Issokson and Clara Kim, violist Dana Kelley, and cellist Joann Whang move to New York to begin a graduate residency at the Juilliard School. The four musicians play together as the Argus Quartet, which formed in one of the most unlikely of places: next to a taco truck.
9 Classic Short Stories Every Classical Music Lover Should Add to Their Summer Reading List
If you’re looking for quick summer reads to add to your list, give these music-themed short stories a try, with everything from Anton (Chekhov) to Zora (Neale Hurston). The best part: they’re all available for free online!
