classical music & opera
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Distracted from his composing and iconoclasm by the necessity of earning some money, a young Pierre Boulez found work with a Parisian theatre company. Three trips he made with them to South America changed him and his music forever
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Varying background of modern castaways means Radio 4 show features more diverse range of cultures and musical choices
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With its dialogue replaced by rambling psychobabble, Daniel Slater’s semi-staging of Fidelio was frequently peculiar. Luckily, the music - under Vladimir Jurowski - was in safer hands
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The pianist talks about striving for excellence in performance, playing in a barn to sparrows and why music education in schools is so important
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About to turn 80, the composer talks about his slow, taxi-driving road to success, and why he is anything but a minimalist…
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Pamphlet distributed to members who own 1,276 permanent seats offers advice on maximising resale profits on ticketing sites
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Stephen Farr (organ and harpsichord), John Butt (organ), Chloe Hanslip (violin), Nicky Spence (tenor)
(Resonus) -
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Cecilia Zilliacus (violin), Lena Willemark (voice)
(BIS)
facing the music
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Schoenberg, Shostakovich, Abba, Glass and the Legend of Zelda – the conductor tells us about the music and musicians who inspire him
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From sampling, Jordi Savall and Stravinsky, to the wonders of Muse and Vivaldi, the bassoonist on the music that inspires him
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weekly from the archive
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9 March 1971: Meirion Bowen on the scholar, virtuosic musician and crumhorn whizzkid at the forefront of the period-instrument movement, who died tragically young 40 years ago
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From the archive, 23 April 1827: Following the death of Beethoven, the Observer publishes a personal account of the eccentric and prodigiously talented composer
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From the archive, 11 August 1876: The Guardian reports from the very first Bayreuth Wagner festival, presided over by the composer himself.
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Gražinytė-Tyla was the name of the year, Chineke! took off, Levit and Trifonov blazed a trail and ENO delivered opera of the highest standards
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Thrilling concert collaborations, virtuoso opera stagings and the emergence of fresh new stars – our classical music critic’s picks of 2016
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This young Greek conductor’s recordings of Mozart operas have redefined music and changed my life with their profound vision, energy and face-punching force
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The choirmaster who used to sell ice creams on Bournemouth beach is angling for his next Christmas No 1 – and teaching Team GB how to sing the National Anthem properly
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We asked some of the performers involved in the Wigmore Hall’s Schubert song series to choose the lieder that mean most to them
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Photographer Teri Pengilly was given exclusive access to the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday to watch preparations for the biggest night in classical music’s calendar
guides
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Tom Service introduces 50 composers from the contemporary classical music scene
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Our series ends in Berlin, the classical music lover’s dream destination, with Berg, Busoni, Bowie and Bernstein.
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Tom Service's survey of the 50 symphonies that changed classical music
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News Barenboim, Bernstein and the Berlin Phil: Southbank Centre launches 2017-18 season