Composer Profile: Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Jean Sibelius’s music remains a testament to his genius and his profound connection to his homeland. His works continue to inspire and captivate audiences, ensuring his place as one of the greatest composers in the history of classical music.
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): A Musical Biography
Benjamin Britten passed away on December 4, 1976, at the age of 63. His influence on 20th-century music, particularly in the realm of opera, remains profound. Britten’s works are celebrated for their emotional depth, technical mastery, and the seamless integration of music and text.
Composer Profile: Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)
His First Symphony, composed as his graduation piece from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in 1925, catapulted him to international fame. The symphony was celebrated for its originality and technical mastery, establishing Shostakovich as a leading figure in Soviet music.
Clara Schumann (1819-1896): A Composer of the Highest Level
Clara Schumann, as you almost certainly know, was the wife of the composer Robert Schumann, who lived from 1810 until 1856. You probably also know that Clara was one of the finest pianists of her era. But you might not know that she was an extraordinary composer too.
Composer Profile . . . Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805-1847): Felix Mendelssohn’s Sister and Much, Much More
Yet even alongside a colossus like Felix, Fanny holds her own. Had she lived in an era when women were not so marginalized, and had she not died at the age of 41, she might have enjoyed the recognition and respect she deserved.
Composer Profile: Jennifer Higdon, American Composer of Beautiful Music
Her music has been hailed by Fanfare Magazine as having “the distinction of being at once complex, sophisticated but readily accessible emotionally”, with the Times of London citing it as “… rooted, yet imbued with integrity and freshness.” The League of American Orchestras reports that she is one of America’s most frequently performed composers.
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