Tom Huizenga

Gods And Monsters: 5 Unforgettable Wagner Moments

Tom Huizenga — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:08:00 +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 — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:10:00 +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.

Music We Love Now: Three Must-Hear Piano Albums

Tom Huizenga — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:30:00 +0000

The young Austrian pianist Ingolf Wunder shines in Mozart, Jorge Federico Osorio reintroduces an intoxicating Mexican concerto and Elisveta Blumina reveals the gentle side of Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov.

The Conductor Who Gained Power By Giving It Up

Tom Huizenga — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:09:00 +0000

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

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

Maria Callas On The Move: A Diva Does D.C.

Tom Huizenga — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:02:00 +0000

As one door closes, another opens. Last week, we shut down operations at our old Washington, D.C, headquarters; today, we walked into a brand-new building.

Making the move wasn't easy. In 14 years, I'd acquired an impressive amount of stuff, from LPs autographed by Placido Domingo and Tom Jones to books like The Essential Guide to Dutch Music. And did I really need three staple removers?

Still, there's one object — or should I say "person" — I've relied on throughout the years.

Can Yo-Yo Ma Fix The Arts?

Tom Huizenga — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:42:00 +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.

Marches Madness: Rubbing Aladdin's Lamp

Tom Huizenga — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:29:00 +0000

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

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.

Live At Carnegie Hall: Jonathan Biss and The Elias String Quartet

Tom Huizenga — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:29:00 +0000
In October, pianist Jonathan Biss set out on a vision quest, a season-long immersion in music by Robert Schumann. Biss and the members of England's Elias String Quartet have been exploring Schumann and associated composers in cities throughout Europe and North America, including a Carnegie Hall concert webcast live on this page (and at WQXR) Tuesday, April 2 at 8 p.m.