The Maestro of Santoor, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma Passes Away, Keeping a Void in the Classical Music

Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma

Santoor legend Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma passed away last night from a cardiac arrest, leaving a big void in the classical music industry and the hearts of his admirers.   The musical legend and Maestro of […]

‘The planets aligned!’ How Górecki’s Third Symphony stormed the 90s pop charts | Classical music

Ad for Górecki’s Third Symphony that appeared in the Guardian on 22 December 1992

“Oh crikey, what can I get for Harriet?” asked an ad in this newspaper three days before Christmas 1992. Alongside images of albums by Enya, Prince, Madonna and REM was one featuring the silhouette of […]

Othmar Schoeck: Elegie review – a cycle bound by quiet melancholy | Classical music

Schoeck: Elegie album cover artwork

Othmar Schoeck’s song cycles, some with piano, others with instrumental ensemble or full orchestra, represent one of the last great flowerings of the romantic lieder tradition. Outside his native Switzerland at least, his music is […]

McDonald’s Is Using Classical Music To Control Drunk Customers And It’s Apparently Working

mcdonalds-subliminal-meaning-breasts

Shutterstock Without looking at the figures I’d be willing to bet that drunk people account for a massive portion of McDonald’s overall revenue. I can’t tell you the last time I ate McDonald’s let alone […]

Meredith Monk with Bang on a Can All-Stars review – magnetic and precise playfulness | Classical music

‘A composer and performer taking herself just seriously enough.’ (l to r) Allison Sniffin, Meredith Monk, Theo Bleckmann and Kate Giessinger

“I like to leave room for play and growth,” said Meredith Monk recently, talking about how the music she composes never really reaches a definitive, finished state – and there was plenty of play in […]