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.
Austrian composer and conductor Gustav Mahler became popular in the late 19th century for his emotionally charged and subtly orchestrated symphonies.
Synopsis
Born on July 7, 1860, Austrian composer and conductor Gustav Mahler served as director for the Vienna Court Opera from 1897 to 1907. He later led the New York Metropolitan Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra. He wrote 10 symphonies during his career, which became popular for their 20th-century techniques and emotional character. He died in Vienna on May 18, 1911.
Early Life
Gustav Mahler was born into an Austrian Jewish family on July 7, 1860 in Kaliste, Czech Republic. Mahler and his 11 siblings grew up in Jihlava, where pronounced ethnic divisions made him feel like an outsider. With music serving as an outlet, he began singing and composing on the accordion and piano at the age of 4 and gave his first recital at 10. When he was 15 years old, Mahler entered the Vienna Conservatory. During his years at the school, he began composing a piece where he felt he was able to truly develop his voice, Das klagende Lied. Ultimately, he turned to conducting after graduation, believing it to be a more practical career choice.
André Rieu donates £360k to provide music lessons for children. Picture: Getty
By Maddy Shaw Roberts
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The Dutch violinist made the generous donation to a youth foundation, which provides music lessons for children whose families can’t afford them
André Rieu has donated €425,000 (£360,000) to provide music lessons for 1,000 children living in his hometown in the Netherlands.
The Dutch violinist and conductor donated the money to Jeugdfonds Cultuur Limburg, a culture and youth foundation in the province of Limburg.
With music increasingly disappearing from schools, Rieu says, children today are learning to make music far less than before.
“I would like to give these children the pleasure of making music,” said the maestro. “My orchestra members and I know how much fun it is to make music every day, and to make millions of people happy with music night after night.”
André Rieu playing a full-size violin as a child. Picture: Beeld Privéarchief Rieu
“We were all given the chance to have music lessons since our childhood and were fortunate to learn how to play an instrument,” he continued.
“So, we may understand better than anyone else what it means if you do not get that chance to be involved with music as a child.”
According to Jeugdfonds Cultuur Limburg, it costs €425 (£365) to provide one child with music lessons for a year. The foundation plans to use its recent generous donation to open an ‘André Rieu Fund’, which they hope to use to draw more sponsors.
Earlier this year, Rieu offered to replace €20,000 worth of stolen instruments, which were taken from an orchestra for the mentally disabled. He said: “My heart broke when I read [the news]. I want them to be able to perform again very soon.”
We met Sir Elton at his old alma mater to talk music education, his ‘mystical’ song-writing process and how the Royal Academy of Music has changed since 1958...
“It was so intimidating then,” Sir Elton tells Classic FM’s Tim Lihoreau, as they meet in a room behind reception at London’s Royal Academy of Music. “It smelt of fear.”
The great pianist and singer has just hosted a Q&A with students of the Academy, which he attended as a Junior Exhibitioner from the tender age of 11.
But by 16, the young Reggie Dwight had decided to quit his classical roots to pursue a career in rock ‘n roll. And, rather hearteningly, he still puts his enormous success down to those early years spent playing scales in a practice room.
“In those days, the Academy meant classical music and nothing else – certainly no rock ‘n roll. That was the devil’s music. But without my training, I never would’ve been able to write the songs I’ve written.
“I’m so grateful for my classical training. I played Chopin and Mozart and Debussy, and to be part of the choir was incredibly fulfilling. Singing in a choir is such a moving, life-affirming experience.”
Sir Elton John speaks to Classic FM’s Tim Lihoreau at the Royal Academy of Music. Picture: Classic FM
Today, eight Royal Academy students a year are on the Elton John Scholarship – a fund reserved for exceptional young musicians who would otherwise be unable to afford the fees.
There was a rather lovely moment during the Q&A when four of those students stood up and spoke about what they had achieved thanks to their star sponsor. This of course begged the question: what does Elton make of the dwindling presence of music in today’s schools?
“Music was one of the few O Levels I managed to get,” Sir Elton tells Tim.
“A lot of schools [now] have taken music out of the curriculum and I find that really appalling, because music is so inspiring and for kids that have the ability or want to play music, there’s no outlet for this in schools anymore. It’s tragic.”
Watch Taron Egerton and Elton John’s magical duet at 'Rocketman' Cannes premiere
Credit: Getty Images
Sir Elton has famously enjoyed a long-lasting relationship with the keyboard. The story goes that as a teenager at the Royal Academy of Music, he played a note-perfect rendition of a four-page Handel composition, completely by ear (for any Rocketman fans out there, the moment is replicated in the movie but replaced with Mozart’s better-known Rondo alla turca).
But that isn’t the only great musical relationship Elton has enjoyed throughout his professional life. His arrangement with songwriter Bernie Taupin is, Tim suggests, a somewhat mystical one.
“It’s very mystical. There’s no rhyme or reason. It exists, I don’t question it,” Elton replies. “It sounds very cliché but it’s like a gift from God.
“I look at his lyrics, as I’m looking at them a film appears, I finish the lyrics, I puts my hands on the keys and then I go from there. Usually, the first four or five chords I play determine what the song’s going to do. And I have no idea where it comes from.”
Sir Elton John singing 'Candle In The Wind' at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. Picture: Getty
After around 60 years of playing for other people, it would be easy to assume that Sir Elton got over any feelings of stage fright decades ago.
But there was one instance of it that he still remembers very clearly – and it was when he famously played ‘Candle in the Wind’ at the funeral of Diana, the Princess of Wales, in 1997.
“It was the only time I really got stage fright,” he tells Tim.
“It was an enormous responsibility, and I’d been singing that song for so many years as ‘Goodbye Norma Jean’, and I had to call on all my professionalism of all my years of playing in clubs and being Elton John to pull that off.
“And I was doing it for all the people outside, all around the world, so I had a teleprompter. I just didn’t want to sing ‘Goodbye Norma Jean’ – I would’ve been garrotted on the spot. And I pulled it off because I had to. You have to man up in situations like that.”
22 November 2019, 16:39 | Updated: 26 November 2019
Violinist Aleksey Igudesman and pianist Hyung-Ki Joo are joined by the Vienna Symphony for this hilarious Vangelis parody.
We’re rarely ones to resist an amusing musical parody, and comedy duo Igudesman & Joo’s recent orchestral take on Chariots of Fire is a hoot.
With violinist Aleksey Igudesman and pianist Hyung-Ki Joo at the front of the stage as soloists, Vienna Symphony orchestra hilariously mimics the iconic slow-motion running scene in the opening of the 1981 film, Chariots of Fire – scored so memorably by Vangelis – by swaying about on stage (watch above).
Igudesman on violin adds the electronic whooshes, which those of you familiar with Vangelis’ track will know, with his own mic’d-up voice.
Meanwhile, Hyung-Ki Joo accompanies the whole spectacle expertly on the piano at the Vienna Konzerthaus.
Igudesman & Joo perform Chariots of Fire with Vienna Symphony. Picture: Igudesman & Joo / YouTube
The fun doesn’t stop there – Chariots soon morphs into Monti’s virtuosic Czárdás, with members of the orchestra – who happen to be still standing up from the swaying antics before – fire off a skilled ensemble arrangement of the flashy piece.
Igudesman & Joo high-five as they leave stage – as would we have done had we been there.
Three quarters of young Brits have never heard of Mozart. Picture: Getty
By Sian Hamer
One in five of those surveyed also believe Bach is still alive.
Three quarters of young people in the UK have never heard of Mozart, a new survey has found.
Of the 18 to 34-year-olds surveyed, one in five said they also believe Bach, who died in 1750, is still alive.
Other classical names which continued to stump young Brits include Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, whose name was recognised by less than one in five people.
One in five 18 to 34 year olds in Britain believe Bach is still alive. Picture: Getty
The survey, conducted by the classical music streaming service Primephonic, also found that just 14 per cent of 20 to 34-year-olds knew that ‘Land Of Hope And Glory’ was composed by Elgar.
By contrast, almost all (94 per cent) of the 2,000 respondents knew of the pop singer Adele.
Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Picture: Getty
Debbie Wiseman, Classic FM’s Composer in Residence, said she was “really saddened” by the survey, but “not at all surprised”.
“Learning an instrument at school and engaging in classical music has been shown to have huge benefits to children in other areas of their academic life and helps them become more effective learners,” Wiseman told Classic FM.
“But, unfortunately, enthusiastic music-making in schools, where pupils are encouraged to participate in orchestras and choirs, are in a minority.”
“Not every child will want to grow up and be a professional musician or composer, but to engage with classical music at a young age should be open to everyone,” she continued.
“Music is inclusive. Music speaks across culture, across class, across language. It seems to be hard-wired into humans. Music is spontaneous, and music can enrich lives forever.
“Classical music should be encouraged and available to all.”
Mozart from soprano Olivia Boen at the incredible Verbier Festival in Switzerland.
Wheelchair-bound pianist stuns social media with her incredible Chopin videos
Credit: Valentina Irlando/Instagram
By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM London
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A year ago, this young Italian pianist couldn’t read music. Now, she’s playing Chopin recitals and storming the Internet with her incredible progress videos.
Valentina Irlando, 13, was born with a rare muscle disease – and has been in a wheelchair for as long as she can remember.
But over the last year, Valentina has found the perfect therapy: playing the piano.
The performance videos are now sweeping the Internet, with her beautiful renditions of Beethoven and Chopin demonstrating remarkably quick progress on the instrument.
“For me playing piano is the best medicine!” she tells Classic FM.
“When I was little, I really liked to ‘play’ the piano that my uncle had at home. Since I was born, my grandfather pushed my parents to buy me a piano because his dream was to have a musician in the family.
“So, for Christmas they gave me a toy piano, I really enjoyed playing with it but after a while I started not using it anymore.”
For a number of years, Valentina lost her love of the piano – but last year, she felt that something was missing from her life. So, she decided to take it back up.
“But I had never learned. When I was little, I did not take lessons. I did not even know the musical notes.”
Over the last year, Valentina has been practising every day, and sharing her progress with her Instagram followers.
Her videos, that have been shared across the Internet – and even liked by the famous French-Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili – are a wonderful demonstration of the power of music.
In many of her videos, Valentina credits her teacher – Credici on Instagram – for always sticking by her.
“I would like to thank my teacher for believing in me and for always supporting me, even when what I wanted to do was impossible,” she writes.
“And to think that a year ago I didn’t even know the musical notes.”
