Hank Reynolds
Rossini, William Tell Overture When I was growing up, there was at least one Classical piece we all knew. Young boys would sing it on the playground along with shouts of “Hi Yo, Silver.” I knew reasonably early on that this piece had been composed … Read more
Beethoven, Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 Beethoven’s first symphony premiered in 1801 when Beethoven was 30 years old. His first two symphonies belong to his early period in which he wrote in a style not far removed from Mozart and Haydn. His … Read more
Scarlatti, Sonata in A Major, K. 113 Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) is best known for his 555 keyboard sonatas. I featured one his sonatas in this series more than three years ago. At this rate, I will need about 1700 years to get through them all. … Read more
Verdi, Va’ pensiero Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Nabucco premiered in 1842 when Verdi was not yet 30 years old. It would establish Verdi’s fame as an opera composer at a time when his own life was filled with loss and despair. The drama centers around King Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar) … Read more
Fanny Mendelssohn, String Quartet (2nd Movement) A couple of months ago, I featured a work by Clara Wieck Schumann, wife of the famous composer Robert Schumann. Today I’m turning to the sister of Felix Mendelssohn, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847). Like Clara, Fanny’s musical aptitude was recognized early. … Read more
Szervánszky, Woodwind Quintet No. 1 (1st movement) Hungarian composers have been well represented in the Friday Performance Picks this year. We have featured Kodály, Bartók, and just a couple of weeks ago Ligeti. Liszt has appeared here several times, although not in 2017. Today I want … Read more
Bellini, Casta Diva The aria “Casta diva” may be one of the best examples of the bel canto style of the early 19th century. It appears in the first act of the opera Norma by Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835). Bel canto, or beautiful singing, generally means an elegant, … Read more
Ligeti, Sonata for Cello Very early in this series I featured a bagatelle by Hungarian composer György Ligeti (1923-2006). It was rather light, short, and humorous—what you might expect of a bagatelle. The Sonata for Cello strikes a very different mood. But I think both … Read more
Reynaldo Hahn, À Chloris The mélodie of the 19th and early 20th century represents in many ways a French version of German Lieder. German Lieder gained prominence with the rise of Romanticism after the turmoil of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. With the … Read more
Merulo, Canzon vigesimaterza a5 and Canzon decimaottava a5 This performance of canzonas by Merulo comes from the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble. You may presume you know all about cornetts but have not encountered a sackbut. But the opposite is more likely true. The sackbut … Read more