Does Beethoven’s #9 or Mozart’s #41 Inspire You More? Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is the ultimate inspiration for many lovers of classical music. After all, it is Beethoven’s world-changing final symphony that brings in a chorus and soloists for the final movement for...

What is the one piece you really need to hear on Inauguration Day . . . today? We would like to invite you to take three minutes and listen to our choice. It is Stars and Stripes Forever, the most famous march by John Philip Sousa. If you are a member of Classical...

What kind of music is optimistic? Love duets from operas are. In them, two people who are crazy about each other see a bright future ahead. Even though the course of their true love will not run smooth (an opera needs a plot, after all), at the moment everything looks...

By Barry Lenson Prepare to be surprised when you listen to the new 2-CD release of Eleonor Bindman playing her piano arrangements of Bach’s Cello Suites. Ms. Bindman’s arrangements faithfully include the notes you will find in the original Bach, but have become works...

Eric Coates, a composer who lived from 1886-1957, is usually characterized as “a composer of light English music.” Is that correct? Is that fair to him? We are not so sure. We think we would replace the adjective “light” with “happy,” “nostalgic” and “charming.” But...

The Scherzo from the Concerto Symphonique No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra by Henry Charles Litolff Henry Charles Litolff (1818-1891) was a well-regarded French pianist, composer, and music publisher in his day. Among his compositions are five Concertos Symphoniques for...