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Recommended by European Mozart Ways
Author Archives: David Nelson
Mayuko Kamio, Virtuoso Violinist
In a time where there seem to be dozens of up-and-coming virtuoso violinists, Mayuka Kamio stands out. The Japanese musician follows in the long list of great musicians from her country, including Seiji Ozawa, Midori, and Shinichi Suzuki. Mayuko was … Continue reading
A Short History of “The Phantom of the Opera”
We all know “The Phantom of the Opera” as a great show on Broadway and other well-known stages, but the story began long before it became a long-running musical. From newspaper to novel to film to two different stage versions … Continue reading
The Many Hats of Emanuel Ax
Pianist Emanuel (Manny) Ax is a wonderful piano player who has toured the world, recorded a huge amount of repertoire, and has collaborated with the finest musicians and orchestras. Manny, it turns out, is far from your run of the … Continue reading
Vienna’s Konzerthaus – Book Excerpt
The following is a draft excerpt from my next book on the musical sites of Vienna which will be published by Doblinger Musik Verlag in Spring 2013. This may not be reprinted or quoted without permission of the author. The … Continue reading
Greensboro on the Danube
The Danube is one of the most historic rivers in Europe. Mozart, the Hapsburgs, Richard the Lionhearted, and the Magyars all traveled on the river, and the cities of Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade grace its shores in its 1785 … Continue reading
Dvořák’s 8th Symphony
Although Dvořák was greatly influenced by Czech folk music, he is often considered more of a “universal” composer than a primarily “nationalistic” one such as Smetana. He wrote significant works for all genres, and some consider him the most important … Continue reading
Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto and its Problematic Beginning
Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto had a very problematic beginning. In 1939, a Philadelphia businessman named Samuel Fels asked Barber to write a concerto for the violinist Iso Briselli. Barber started working on the first two movements in Switzerland, but had … Continue reading
“On the Beautiful Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss, Jr.
On the Beautiful Blue Danube is one of the world’s most beloved pieces of music. Its charm has delighted listeners for more than a century. But, for all its wonder, it had a rather unusual beginning. In the 1860’s, Strauss … Continue reading
Posted in Vienna's Musical History
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Mendelssohn’s 4th Symphony – The “Italian”
Felix Mendelssohn, known as Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in his native Germany, only lived 38 years. His musical abilities were recognized as a young child, and he was even called “an heir to Mozart”. Even in his short life, his output … Continue reading
Handel’s “Water Music” – London 1717
With the focus on London’s Olympics these days, and also of the current presidential campaign, I was reminded of a great piece of music whose first performance was on the Thames almost 300 years ago. In 1717, King George’s popularity … Continue reading
Posted in Classical Music and Performers
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