Beethoven was paid £50 and was deaf when he wrote his Symphony No 9 Ode to Joy. Commissioned in 1822 by the Royal Philharmonic Society in the UK, it premiered in the UK in 1825, following its world premiere in Vienna the previous year.
This weekend, a plaque commemorating the UK premiere and its venue will be unveiled at 252 Regent Street in London, which is today home to a bank.
This week, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Richard Tognetti release a new album, Bach | Beethoven: Fugue, that showcases two works of genius by Bach and Beethoven. Recorded live in concert, the album contains selections from The Art of Fugue BWV 1080 by JS Bach and Beethoven’s String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 130 (with Grosse Fuge, Op….
The late neurologist Oliver Sacks described a patient with Alzheimer’s who had little recollection of his life, but who remembered the baritone part to almost every song he had ever sung. “Music,” said Sacks, “was one of the only things that kept him grounded…” For many who were immersed in music during school years, entry…
In a rare collision of programming choices, Sydney choral music fans will be treated to no less than three of J S Bach’s brilliant choral works this Easter. Kicking off the monumental triumvirate on Sunday April 2, the Choir of Christ Church St Laurence performs the Mass in B minor, BWV 232. Written for 5-part chorus with…
Pianist Young Kwon Choi has been awarded the 2012 biennial Albert Paul Landa Scholarship. In a small ceremony at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, presented by Musica Viva, the CEO Mary Jo Capps made the award on behalf of the NSW Government. The award of $25,000 is a travelling scholarship in memory of the…
Christopher Lawrence, ABC ClassicFM broadcaster, author and arts administrator, has joined Sydney Youth Orchestras (SYO) as its Chief Artistic Advisor. Mr Lawrence said he was honoured to join the team alongside Alexander Briger AO, who now resides in Paris to better pursue his international conducting career. Mr Briger remains the orchestra’s Chief Conductor and will…
The Sydney Eisteddfod has selected four outstanding pianists to compete in the final round of its 2022 Kawai Piano Scholarship Final. The four finalists were selected from 20 of Australia’s most talented emerging pianists from whom nine semi-finalists were selected. From this group of nine, four pianists were selected to compete in the final. They…