As I mentioned during her Feast Day, Hildegard of Bingen is clearly one of the most extraordinary women in history, if not the most extraordinary. Her achievements, including standing up to and even actively challenging The Church, and recording her visions and...
The most recent work by R. Larry Todd, one of the foremost scholars of the Mendelssohn family, turns the attention away from Felix and to his older sister, Fanny. The book, entitled Fanny Hensel – The Other Mendelssohn pays credit to the all too often neglected life...
Missy Mazzoli, whose music is described as being “indie classical”, “chamber rock” and “pseudo-classical”, created her own five-piece ensemble in 2007 to perform her compositions. Victoire consists of two keyboards, violin, double bass and clarinet – and all of the...
Hannah Lash is a young and rising composer, whose body of works is impressive considering her age. Her most recent piece, a chamber opera entitled “Blood Rose” and based on the tale of “Beauty and the Beast” will be premiered in New York City tomorrow, September...
The New York Times recently referred to Kaija Saariaho as “the world’s longest-toiling overnight success.” The article by Cori Ellison, makes the reference in regard to the success of Saariaho’s first opera “L’Amour de Loin” at the 2000 Salzburg Festival – a...
It has been 831 years since the death of Hildegard of Bingen, and her music and writings are still making a dramatic impact throughout scholarship and popular culture. To celebrate her Feast Day have a listen to her work performed traditionally:
