It's all about the classical music composers and their works from the last 400 years and much more about music. Hier erfahren Sie alles über die klassischen Komponisten und ihre Meisterwerke der letzten vierhundert Jahre und vieles mehr über Klassische Musik.
At the Grammys in 1998, the legendary soul singer stepped in – at the last minute – for Pavarotti, who had been due to sing his trademark piece, Nessun Dorma. So obviously she went ahead and performed that aria.
'Nessun Dorma' is one of the most impressive of tenor arias – with an astronomically high top B at the climax of the aria.
It's also an operatic tenor role. Aretha Franklin is, clearly, neither an opera singer, nor a tenor.
Cellist removed from American Airlines flight after buying extra seat for instrument
Cellist removed from an American Airlines flight. Picture: Getty
By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM London
A music student due to travel back to Chicago on an American Airlines flight last week was told to leave the plane, after being told “the aircraft was too small for the cello”.
DePaul music student Jingjing Hu was removed from a flight from Miami to Chicago, despite buying an extra ticket for her instrument.
American Airlines told Hu to leave the plane because her cello, worth nearly $30,000, was too big for the seat.
In a Facebook post that has been shared more than 2,000 times, Hu’s husband Kay Tang posted about his wife’s experience:
“So my wife Jingjing Hu […] is scheduled to fly back to Chicago on American Airlines flight 2457 from Miami today. She is traveling with her cello in a hard case as a cabin baggage. I purchased two round trip tickets for her and her cello on [April 2] on the phone directly from AA and told them specifically that one ticket is for the cello as cabin baggage. I was told it is [absolutely] allowed and she won’t have any problem.
“Just before the flight attendants were about to close the gate, she was told to get off the plane because ‘the aircraft is too small for the cello’. She was assured that she could get on the next flight to Chicago about 1 hour later.
“When she was turning around and leaving the plane, her cello case touched the pilot. The pilot immediately claimed that he was bleeding because of the touch, while apparently there is no blood or injury to be found. My wife then took a picture of him and he was doing the victory sign to her and said ‘this is why we need to get her out’.
“After she got off the plane and trying to find the next flight that was guaranteed, she was told that the next flight was also ‘too small’ for the cello, and they called the police because my wife was ‘not being understandable’. […] Surrounded by three law enforcement officers, my wife was told again that either she purchase first or business class tickets out of her pocket or she could not fly back to Chicago on an American Airlines flight because of Federal Aviation Administration regulations… [sic]
“We are so helpless when facing those giant companies. We demand American Airlines to offer my wife and her cello a flight back to Chicago, an explanation and an apology.”
Jingjing Hu's cello. Picture: Jingjing Hu
After Hu was removed, she found the next American Airlines flight to Chicago was the same size as the previous one, leaving her unable to board again.
American Airlines shortly booked her on a larger plane, scheduled to leave the following day.
Tang updated his post, saying: “At the gate, she was denied pre-board and boarded the airplane in Group 5. She felt very anxious, constantly asked me if she would be kicked off the plane again.
“The flight took off just now as scheduled and she is on the plane.”
Federal regulations allow musicians to carry large instruments like cellos in the cabin, when the passenger buys an extra seat.
American Airlines complies with these regulations, saying on its website that it allows instruments in the cabin as long as they don’t weigh more than 165 pounds and if certain requirements are met, including purchase of a ticket for an additional seat.
Hu’s cello and case weigh around 10 pounds, but she claims she was removed from the plane by law enforcement.
American Airlines said in a statement there was a ‘miscommunication’ about whether the cello met the requirements to fit onboard the aircraft.
“We rebooked our passenger on a flight the next morning on a larger aircraft, a Boeing 767. We provided her a hotel and meal accommodations for the inconvenience. We apologise for the misunderstanding and customer relations has reached out to her,” the statement read.
11 things they didn’t tell you about playing the flute. Picture: Giphy
By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM London
2K
No-one knows what to call you, dogs are scared of you and your arms will always ache. Sorry, fluterers.
Here are the terrible things no one ever told you about playing the flute...
You are haunted by band camp references
"So have you ever actually been to band ca-"NOPE. NO I HAVEN'T.
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Your arms are in a constant state of fatigue
No one ever told you that holding such a small instrument could be so achey.
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No one knows what to call you
Flutist? Flautist? Fluterer? Ah, forget it...
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No one can hear you
Thanks, other orchestra people, for drowning out everything we're playing. You just can't compete with the brass. *sigh*
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You have a love-hate relationship with the piccolo
Sure, composers have written some cracking solos for it. But its ultrasonic squeaks might deafen you first.
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There's a lot of spit.
Every time you lower your instrument, there will be some unwanted leakage. It will probably drip all over your shoes.
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Ledger lines are your enemy
Composers don't care about giving you nice, logical sheet music. Blame them for your misery.
You might feel like you’re going to pass out from all the deep breathing
Thanks to all those composers who assumed you'd never need to breathe (thx Mozart), playing your instrument becomes a health hazard. Avoid outdoor concerts in extreme heats – they are not your friend.
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Make-up is a problem
Beware of the flute beard, flutists. The metal in mouthpieces doesn't react well with make-up, and might turn your chin a lovely bluey-green colour. Start bringing make-up wipes with you, in case of emergency.
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You end up accidentally hitting everyone with your instrument
Who knew such a tiny thing could be such a hazard?
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Dogs hate you
They see your tiny fingers moving. They hear your mouth squeaking. They don't like it. Consider getting a cat instead.
Did you know Grieg is one of Kermit's favourite composers?
This piece is from Grieg's 'Peer Gynt' and it's called 'In the Hall of the Mountain King'. You might recognise it from adverts for Alton Towers.
What's this piece?
In the Doctor's Waiting Room
In the Hall of the Mountain King
In the Banqueting Hall
In the Lobby
2 /7
This is Barber's Adagio for Strings – AND it was famously used in the film 'Platoon'.
Can you name this piece?
It's the Devastatingly Sad Adagio
It's the American National Anthem
It's Barber's Adagio for Strings
It's the soundtrack from Platoon
3 /7
This piece has been used in lots of films and television programmes – but it was made famous by 'The Lone Ranger'. It's from Rossini's opera 'William Tell'
What's this piece?
The Overture from William Don't Tell
The theme tune for the Grand National
The soundtrack from the Lone Ranger
The Overture from William Tell
4 /7
This piece comes from Tchaikovsky's ballet 'Swan Lake' – and it appears in the final scene of both the film and stage versions of 'Billy Elliot'.
What about this one?
It's from Swan Lake
It's from Billy Elliot
It's from The Nutcracker
It's from Sleeping Beauty
5 /7
This opera aria is called 'Nessun Dorma' (which means None Shall Sleep and is from Puccini's opera 'Turandot'. It's been linked with football ever since it was used as the theme tune for TV coverage of Italia '90.
What's the piece?
La Donna è Mobile
Time to Say Goodbye
Nessun Dorma
Match of the Day theme tune
6 /7
There are two correct answers here… this piece is the Dance of the Knights from Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet' AND it's the music used as the theme tune for The Apprentice.
Which piece does this come from?
Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev
Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky
The theme tune for The Apprentice
Dragons' Den theme tune
7 /7
This is the Flower Duet from 'Lakmé', by Delibes. It's perhaps most famous as the music from a British Airways advertising campaign.
