Teaching and Learning Writing

greg-roper

Don’t miss our symposium on Teaching the Arts Classically, October 7 on the University of Dallas campus. Dr. Gregory Roper, Associate Professor and Chair of the English Department at University of Dallas, will present “Teaching and Learning Writing Through the Ancient Method of Imitation.” Here’s … Read more

Friday Performance Pick – 141

leonard-bernstein

Bernstein, Overture to Candide Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) sprang to fame in 1943 when he found himself conducting the New York Philharmonic on short notice. He had studied with the top names in the music world at Harvard and the Curtis Institute and had just been … Read more

Why Go to Bratislava

“Why are we going to Bratislava?” Someone asks the question on this route every time we board our luxury coach to leave Vienna. Why aren’t we driving straight to Prague? That’s the city that most of us came to see. Prague is coming, yes! But … Read more

Friday Performance Pick – 140

Hildegard von Bingen, Caritas abundat Hildegard von Bingen (c. 1098-1179) is one of the earliest composers we can identify by name. A saint, doctor of the church, mystic, and abbess, she experienced visions throughout her life. She eventually recorded her visions and left a significant … Read more

Ravishing Radishes Refresh Remembrances

radishes

Let me tell you about the radishes here in Budapest. Maybe you have such radishes where you live, but, for me, radishes this big and tasty come only from the “paprika capital” of the world: Hungary. Eating Hungarian radishes is like biting into an apple—juicy … Read more

Jenny Joins In

Teaching Arts Classically / October 7 In case you need one more reason to attend the upcoming “Teaching Arts Classically” conference on October 7, we are pleased to announce that Jenny Dickinson will join us to speak on beauty in architecture. The conference will be … Read more

Back to the Encyclopedia

encyclopedia-britannica

They’re back on the shelf: my set of Encyclopedia Britannica, 14th edition. Bound in brown leatherette with gilded letters, they date from 1966 and weigh a ton. We almost tossed them during our last two moves. Instead, whether due to inertia or wisdom, they stayed … Read more

Friday Performance Pick – 138

monet-sunrise

Debussy, Sonata for Cello and Piano When you think of the music of Claude Debussy (1862-1918), you might conjure up big washes of sound—the kind of sonorities you would find in his seascape La Mer. Or perhaps you think of the ethereal and bucolic Prélude … Read more