Classical Music: where to start ? Part 6

19th April 2026

Carnegie Hall, New York, considered the first classical venue in the ‘New World’

To start, a beautiful piece performed by a beautiful artist. Maurice Ravel’s (France 1875 – 1937) solo piano piece is from 1899.

From France to Spain, a composition by Joaquín Rodrigo (Spain 1901 – 1999). Here, Flamenco legend Paco de Lucía performs this exemplary guitar concerto.

“Let no one sleep” is the translation of ‘Nessun Dorma!‘, an aria from Giacomo Puccini’s (Italy 1858 – 1924) opera ‘Turandot‘. As with Mozart’s Requiem, Turandot was unfinished at the time of the composer’s death.

Now we leave Europe, the Old World, with Antonín Dvořák (Czech 1841 – 1904) for the 4th Movement of his 9th Symphony, written in New York, 1893.

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Classical Music: where to start ? Part 5

5th April 2026

Some Renaissance flute music to start, from Erasmus Widmann (Germany 1572 – 1634). I know very little about this composer, I discovered him serendipitously whilst searching for some Mediaeval music. Helena is from a collection of Galliards (lively dances).

Now to the ballet, and Sergei Prokofiev (Russia 1891 – 1953) with his iconic Dance of the Knights.

Gregorio Allegri (Italy 1582 – 1652) composed his Miserere circa 1638, and legend states that it was performed exclusively at the Sistine Chapel, and then only during Holy Week (in April). Now, this has been refuted, other copies were available outside the Vatican, and other performances took place, even in London.

A further legend has it that a young Mozart heard the piece once, possibly twice, and transcribed the entire work, note perfect. Again, this is questioned by historians but it remains a wonderful story and, as the film says, “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” [1]

Gustav Mahler (Austro-Bohemia 1860 – 1911) mostly wrote symphonies, and song-cycles. His symphonies are often large-scale; his 8th Symphony had over 1 000 performers on its premiere.

The famous Adagietto is delicate, mystical and hauntingly beautiful. As mentioned in the previous blog, I hear a distinct influence from Beethoven’s final String Quartet in F Major Op 135.

[1] From the John Ford film ‘The Man who Shot Liberty Valance’ 1962.

Classical Music: where to start ? Part 3

22nd March 2026

Starting with a titan of Classical Music – Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany 1685 – 1750).

From such a wide and canonical repertoire, I’ve selected something a little different; a sonata extract but played on a traditional Swedish instrument, the nyckelharpa. Andante indicates a moderate tempo, a walking pace.

The next selection is the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, a one-act opera, a contrast to Wagner’s gargantuan musical dramas. Pietro Mascagni (Italy 1863 – 1945) composed this major work in 1890.

Zbigniew Preisner (Poland born 1955) is closely associated with Polish film director Krysztof Kieślowski for whom he composed several soundtracks (notably the ‘Three Colours’ trilogy).

Requiem for my Friend from 1998 is a tribute to the director.

The first time I heard our final selection, I thought it was from a film soundtrack, possibly a Michael Nyman piece. I was therefore very surprised to discover that it was 200 years old.

The Piano Trio No. 2 was one of Franz Schubert’s (Germany 1797 – 1828) last compositions. I’ve selected the second movement, another Andante, inspired by a traditional Swedish folk song.

Classical Music: where to start ? Part 2

15th March 2026

Part Two starts with a guitar transcription of a piano suite by Enrique Granados (Spain 1867 – 1916), Spanish Dances, Number 2 ‘Oriental’ Op 37.

I usually hear this played by two guitarists, but I was very impressed by this solo performance by Sawa Yamamoto.

The second piece is a sinfonia, an instrumental introduction to an opera or oratorio. The composer is the German-born George Fridrick Handel (1685 – 1759), who became a naturalised British subject.

Vespers are evening prayers, held at sunset. One of my favourites is from Sergei Rachmaninoff (Russia 1873 – 1943). Here we have number VII Hexapsalmos from his Vespers Op 37.

Listening to a whole symphony can be a tad challenging, so here is one short section from Brahms (Germany 1833 – 1897), the third movement from his 3rd Symphony