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Recommended by European Mozart Ways
Author Archives: David Nelson
The Unique Story of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
“A grand performance of a new work” is how a prominent Viennese musical newspaper announced a concert of music by Beethoven. Another paper wrote that “anyone whose heart beats warmly for greatness and beauty will surely be present.” It was … Continue reading
Madonna Visits Vienna’s “Mozarthaus”
Yesterday, Madonna, her daughter Lourdes, and some band members visited Mozarthaus Vienna, the museum which was the composer’s residence from 1784 to 1787. I’m glad she was drawn to see where Mozart, who some considered the equivalent of a great … Continue reading
Email from Ondrej Jajcaj, Grave Robber
In my interest in learning more about how the teeth of Johannes Brahms and Johann Strauss, Jr. were stolen, I emailed Mr. Ondrej Jajcaj, who had posted a video claiming to be the robber and who had responded to my … Continue reading
Strauss’s and Brahms’s Stolen Teeth – July 13 update
A colleague of mine who works for the Vienna City Government just verified that the graves of Johann Strauss, Jr. and Johannes Brahms were opened in both 2008 and 2012. The teeth of these composers were missing in both instances. … Continue reading
Brahms’s and Johann Strauss’s Teeth Stolen!
A bizarre event in the musical world occurred in the last few days. Authorities in Austria have reported that someone broke into the graves of Brahms and Johann Strauss, Jr. in Vienna’s Central Cemetery and stole their teeth. The self-confessed … Continue reading
The Strange Story of Haydn’s Missing Skull
In 1820, Prince Esterhazy ordered that Haydn’s remains be transferred from Vienna to Eisenstadt. One of the biggest surprises in all of music must have been when the coffin was opened and Haydn’s skull was missing. The story of the … Continue reading
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Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”: Perfection in Musical Characterization
When asked which of his own operas he liked best, Gioachino Rossini wishfully said “Don Giovanni”. When Tchaikovsky looked at Mozart’s manuscript for the opera, he commented that he as “in the presence of divinity”. Charles Gounod claimed that “Don … Continue reading
Joe Muranyi, clarinettist with Louis Armstrong, dies aged 84
Joe Muranyi, who played clarinet with Louis Armstrong for many years, died earlier this week at age 84. I was fortunate to meet Joe in 2006 when we were both participants in the “Satchmo Meets Amadeus” Conference in Salzburg. I … Continue reading
Day 14 – Travel Day
All trips must come to an end. On Sunday, the group’s ninth day in Europe and my fourteenth, we flew home.
Day 13 – St. Vitus Cathedral and Dvorak’s “Jakobin”
Overlooking Prague is the Prague Castle, and the center of the castle is St. Vitus Cathedral. We started our last full day of the trip with a guided tour of the Cathedral and several other historic building of the castle. … Continue reading