Classicalexburns
  • About
  • Blog
    • Ballet
    • Brass Band
    • Chamber
    • Choral
    • Concerto
      • Bassoon Concerto
      • Cello Concerto
      • Flute Concerto
      • Harmonica Concerto
      • Harp Concerto
      • Harpsichord Concerto
      • Horn Concerto
      • Oboe Concerto
      • Organ Concerto
      • Percussion Concerto
      • Piano Concerto
      • Saxophone Concerto
      • Trumpet Concerto
      • Viola Concerto
      • Violin Concerto
    • Film/TV Music
    • Opera
    • Orchestral
    • Overture
    • Solo
    • Symphony
    • Video Game
    • Vocal
    • Wind Orchestra
  • Composer of the Month
  • Explore Projects
    • Haydn 104
    • Project Messiah
    • Women of Classicalexburns
    • Explore Hungarian Dances
    • Tchaikovsky Seasons 2021
    • Project Má vlast
    • German Project
  • Interviews, Guest Blogs & Reviews
    • Interviews
    • Guest Blogs
    • Press Releases
    • CD Reviews
    • Concert Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Donate

Opera

Blogs

Jules Massenet ‘Meditation’: From Thaïs

Jules Massenet: Meditation  Context Used as an instrumental en’tract between scenes in Act II of Jules Massenet’s opera Thaïs, Meditation has since become a popular concert piece for violinists around the world. The piece reflects Thaïs, a beautiful courtesan, reflecting on big decisions that are coming their way. The orchestra Read more…

By Alex Burns, 2 weeks2 weeks ago
Blogs

Ludwig van Beethoven ‘Coriolan Overture’: Live or Die

Ludwig van Beethoven: Coriolan Overture Context Composed in 1807, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture was used in Heinrich Joseph von Collin’s tragedy of the same name. The overture received its concert premiere in 1807 at a private concert for Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz. At the same concert Beethoven also Read more…

By Alex Burns, 4 months4 months ago
Blogs

Giuseppe Verdi ‘Libiamo ne’ lieti calici: Raise Your Glasses!

Giuseppe Verdi: Libiamo ne’ lieti calici Context Composed between Il trovatore (1853) and Les vêpres siciliennes (1855), La Traviata was part of Giuseppe Verdi’s ‘middle period’ of composition. Previous to La Traviata came 16 other operas including the ever-popular Nabucodonosor (1842) and Rigoletto (1851). Based at the start of the Read more…

By Alex Burns, 6 months6 months ago
Blogs

Giacomo Puccini ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’: ‘My Love for Which I Suffer’

Giacomo Puccini: O Mio Babbino Caro Context Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca, Italy in 1858 and he was one of nine children. The family was known in Lucca as a local musical dynasty due to the family’s ancestors also being very much involved with music. Puccini received a general Read more…

By Alex Burns, 9 months9 months ago
Blogs

Léo Delibes ‘Flower Duet’: The Prettiest of Petals

Léo Delibes: Flower Duet Context Léo Delibes’ three act opera Lakmé is perhaps this French composer’s most well-known work. Composed between 1881-1882, Lakmé is based on Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti, and Les babouches du Brahamane by Théodore Pavie. Flower Duet features in Act 1 of the opera, Read more…

By Alex Burns, 9 months9 months ago
Blogs

Gioachino Rossini ‘William Tell Overture’: Galloping to Success!

Gioachino Rossini: William Tell Overture Context  Born in February 1792 into a family of musicians in Pesaro, Italy, Gioachino Rossini began to learn the piano from age eight. Rossini became a multi-instrumentalist at a young age, being competent at piano, cello and horn by his late teens. Rossini is most Read more…

By Alex Burns, 10 months10 months ago
Blogs

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ‘The Marriage of Figaro Overture’: High Spirited Beginnings

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Marriage of Figaro Overture Context The overture is very lively and its persistent driven tempo throughout makes this an incredibly thrilling piece of music that has been one of the most played orchestral works since its premiere in 1786. Typically an overture showcases some famous themes/melodies Read more…

By Alex Burns, 12 months12 months ago
Blogs

Franz von Suppé ‘Light Cavalry Overture’: The Fame-Maker

Franz von Suppé: Light Cavalry Overture Context Franz von Suppé’s 1866 operetta Leichte Kavallerie has remained seldom performed since its premiere in Vienna in 1866. However, the overture to the operetta has remained Suppé’s most popular and most performed work. Often heard in concert halls, as well as in film Read more…

By Alex Burns, 1 year1 year ago
Blogs

Léo Delibes ‘Lakmé Prelude’: Open the Show!

Léo Delibes: Lakmé Prelude Context Léo Delibes’ three-act opera Lakmé is perhaps this French composer’s most well-known work. Composed between 1881-1882, Lakmé is based on Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti, and Les babouches du Brahmane by Théodore Pavie. The Prelude to Lakmé is the first purely musical number Read more…

By Alex Burns, 2 years2 years ago
Blogs

Scott Joplin ‘Treemonisha Overture’: A Hidden Gem

Scott Joplin: Treemonisha Overture Context Scott Joplin is remembered for being one of the most memorable ragtime composers of the turn-of-the-century during his lifetime (1868-1917). After Joplin’s death in 1917, ragtime music came out of the ‘mainstream’ line and started to form into the likes of jazz, big band swing Read more…

By Alex Burns, 2 years11 months ago

Posts navigation

1 2 … 4 Next
Categories
Archives
Recent Posts
  • Engelbert Humperdinck ‘Hansel and Gretel Overture’: A Tasty Treat!
  • Morton Lauridsen ‘O Magnum Mysterium’: Ethereal Voices
  • William Grant Still ‘Lyric Quartet’: A Trio of Characters
  • Robert Muczynski ‘A Serenade for Summer’: Atmospheric Season
  • Vítĕzslava Kaprálová ‘Elegy’: A Forgotten Brno Gem

© 2019 Classicalexburns


  • About
  • Blog
  • Composer of the Month
  • Explore Projects
  • Interviews, Guest Blogs & Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Donate
Hestia | Developed by ThemeIsle