Philippe Jaroussky & L’Arpeggiata: Icônes du Seicento

Accompanied by the early music ensemble L’Arpeggiata, French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky sings 17th-century arias from the Italian composers: Icônes du Seicento (Icons of the Seicento). The word Seicento simply refers to Italian history and culture during the 17th century. The Seicento saw the end of the Renaissance movement in Italy and the beginning of the Counter-Reformation and the Baroque era. The word Seicento means “six hundred” (sei = six, cento = hundred). Italian art during the 17th century was predominantly Baroque in essence.

Continue reading “Philippe Jaroussky & L’Arpeggiata: Icônes du Seicento”

Maria Callas’ London Farewell Concert with Giuseppe di Stefano (1973)

Maria Callas’ “London Farewell Concert” at the Royal Festival Hall with the Italian operatic tenor Giuseppe di Stefano, 1973. They were accompanied by English pianist Ivor Newton, who was particularly noted as an accompanist to international singers and string players.

Continue reading “Maria Callas’ London Farewell Concert with Giuseppe di Stefano (1973)”

Plácido Domingo & José Carreras: Non Ti Scordar di Me [Don’t Forget About Me]

Plácido Domingo & José Carreras sing “Non Ti Scordar di Me (Don’t Forget About Me)”, for a tribute to their friend Luciano Pavarotti. Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Eugene Kochn.

Continue reading “Plácido Domingo & José Carreras: Non Ti Scordar di Me [Don’t Forget About Me]”

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 [Leonard Bernstein]

Accompanied by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Wiener Philharmoniker), the American composer, conductor, author, music lecturer, and pianist Leonard Bernstein performs Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15. Bernstein also conducts the Vienna Philharmonic. Recorded at the Wiener Musikverein in 1970.

Continue reading “Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 [Leonard Bernstein]”

Maria Callas sings “Voi lo sapete, o mamma” from Cavalleria rusticana

Maria Callas sings “Voi lo sapete, o mamma”, a soprano aria from Cavalleria rusticana, an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a play and short story written by the Italian realist (Verismo) writer Giovanni Verga. Piano: Robert Sutherland.

Continue reading “Maria Callas sings “Voi lo sapete, o mamma” from Cavalleria rusticana”

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 [Maurizio Pollini]

Accompanied by the Staatskapelle Dresden, Italian classical pianist Maurizio Pollini performs Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15. Conductor: Christian Thielemann. Recorded at Semperoper, Dresden in June 2011.

Continue reading “Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 [Maurizio Pollini]”

Arirang (KBS Symphony Orchestra)

One of the most famous symphony orchestras in South Korea, the KBS Symphony Orchestra plays “Arirang”, a Korean folk song. It is often considered the unofficial national anthem of Korea, and in December 2012, the song was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity program by UNESCO.

KBS Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jang Yun-Sung; South Korea Tour Overseas (Tokyo & Osaka); October 3, 2007, at Osaka Symphony Hall in Osaka, Japan.

Continue reading “Arirang (KBS Symphony Orchestra)”