Max Steiner was born in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt in the Hotel Nordbahn and came from a wealthy theatre dynasty that was friends with many composers. Sein Großvater Maximilian Steiner war unter anderem Direktor am Theater an der Wien, und sein Vater Gabor Steiner arbeitete in Wien ebenfalls als Theaterdirektor. Mit einem […]
Gone with the Wind – Max Steiner on the 50th Anniversary of his Death Weiterlesen »
Many smaller and bigger names are celebrating an anniversary in 2022. In any case, there are so many that one could fill several concert programmes. Perhaps one or the other name can be found on their programme? A little rummaging and research is always worthwhile. 450th birthday: Moritz of Hesse,
The Regents of the Year 2022 Weiterlesen »
For countless people, spring is the most beautiful of all seasons. The well-known German poet Johann Gottfried Herder (1744 – 1803) sums it up when he says: “What spring did not sow, summer cannot ripen, autumn cannot reap and winter cannot enjoy”. Many composers have taken up this season and
Next spring is sure to come Weiterlesen »
The song “Music” was not necessarily universally recognised after its release; too epic, too much drama. Nevertheless, the song wrote music history. The song has strong contrasts, changes of rhythms and actually only few lyrics: “Music was my first love – and it will be my last”. The song speaks
Music was his first love: John Miles has died. Weiterlesen »
When one thinks of Stephen Sondheim, one hardly associates him with Bernstein’s “West Side Story”. Sondheim was brilliant as a composer as well as a lyricist, and so he provided the texts for this opera. He called Johann Sebastian Bach his model as a composer. He once claimed to have
Send in the Clowns – a song has faded away Weiterlesen »
Derjenige, der beim Kartenspiel verliert, hat das “Bummerl”. Wer im Leben verliert, hat das auch, sagt man in Österreich. Jetzt hat das “Bummerl” auch seinen Macher erreicht: am 22. November 2021 verstarb der Liedermacher und Musiker Horst Chmelar. Horst Chmelar was a dazzling figure in the Viennese music scene. He
Ana hot always the Bummerl – a song has faded away Weiterlesen »
“Hardly any other British composer has contributed more to overcoming the boundaries between “U” and “E” music than Malcolm Arnold. Most music and cinema lovers will know him as the composer of the music for the film “Bridge on the River Kwai”, for which he deservedly won an Oscar.In addition
Sir Malcolm Arnold: a border crosser of music Weiterlesen »
The Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis has died at the age of 96. For many Greeks, he is considered “The Voice of the People”, as he was also politically engaged and critically voiced during Greece’s chequered history, which was marked by war, dictatorship and austerity measures. Theodorakis was considered the best-known
Mikis Theodorakis died Weiterlesen »
Joseph Kreines is a respected composer, conductor and educator who has had an illustrious musical career in Florida and elsewhere. Born in Chicago in 1936, Kreines celebrates his 85th birthday this year. Reason enough to take a closer look at his life and work. After his musical education in his
Happy Brithday Joseph Kreines! Weiterlesen »
On 21 August 1968, the so-called Prague Spring was put down with the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the troops of the Warsaw states. This was an attempt to reform political life in what was then Czechoslovakia. The US composer of Czech origin, Karel Husa, reacted to the invasion at the
An Act of Resistance: Music for Prague 1968 Weiterlesen »
