Tom Huizenga

Gods And Monsters: 5 Unforgettable Wagner Moments

Tom Huizenga — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:34:11 +0000

How much do you know about Richard Wagner? Probably two unfavorable facts: He wrote very long, grandiose operas and was Hitler's favorite composer. As true as they are, those simple examples barely hint at the complexity of this endlessly creative and confounding artist.

Two centuries after Wagner's birth (he was born in Leipzig May 22, 1813), the man and his music continue to beguile and bewilder fans, detractors and critics.

Moms In Opera: Women On The Edge

Tom Huizenga — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:58:36 +0000

We love mothers for all the Hallmark reasons: for their compassion and patience, not to mention giving birth. But some moms aren't exactly greeting card friendly — and none less so than those who live in the opera house.

This is opera, after all, so we expect the outrageous. But operatic moms seem to be disproportionately portrayed as murderers, harpies or generally women on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Your Normas, Medeas, Butterflies, Queens of the Night and Clytemnestras.

But dads are found in all kinds of touching musical moments.

The Conductor Who Gained Power By Giving It Up

Tom Huizenga — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:26:02 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opolY2qTzpc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z9uChJl4iM

Can Yo-Yo Ma Fix The Arts?

Tom Huizenga — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:17:56 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWsdrjUhol4

Vespers, Habaneras And Early Morning Walks: New Classical Albums

Tom Huizenga — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 00:37:00 +0000

Robert Frost's famous poem "The Road Not Taken" begins with the line: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood." Frost's traveler must choose between them. But slide that metaphor over to the world of classical music and you will discover hundreds of paths to explore.

The Good Friday 5: Musical Passion Stories You Must Hear

Tom Huizenga and Anastasia Tsioulcas — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:03:00 +0000

For Christians around the world, this week, leading up to Easter Sunday, is one of the most meaningful in the religious calendar. The dramatic story of Jesus' final days, as related in the four Gospels of the New Testament, has been meaningful for composers, too, and a rich source for many musical settings of the Passion story. J.S. Bach is still the benchmark when it comes to composing Passions. His St.

Marches Madness: From Trash Can To Flagpole

Tom Huizenga — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:47:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U40OIESDwlU

Marches Madness: Mahler's Twisted Nursery Rhyme

Tom Huizenga — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:55:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNfsxeyBMGo

Music We Love Now: New Albums Of Bach, Beethoven And Brahms

Tom Huizenga — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:24:00 +0000
New albums of music by the "Three Bs," Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, prove that going back to basics has its advantages. Hear a sweet-toned violin concerto, an audacious piano sonata and a solo cello suite caressed by a lute.
Copyright 2013 NPR.

Marches Madness: Freshly Squeezed Oranges In 4/4 Time

Tom Huizenga — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:34:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q0toEhKRWk