Today, 14 January, we commemorate the birthday of Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons, born in Riga in 1943. Among the most distinguished conductors of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, Jansons’ artistry combined intellectual rigour, emotional depth, and ethical seriousness,

Every year on 13 January, a quiet yet vibrant celebration sweeps across the globe. Poetry at Work Day is a day dedicated to revelling in the magic of words, their rhythms, and their sounds. Unlike holidays marked by fireworks or

If you’ve ever had a dog, you know firsthand the devotion, affection, and companionship they provide to humans. Many of the great composers knew the joys of canine companionship, too! Today, we’re looking at the amazing true stories of the

The double bass is often thought of as the foundation of the orchestra: deep, resonant, and usually playing a supportive role. In music as in architecture, foundations rarely find themselves in the spotlight. But over the centuries, a handful of

On 24 January, we mark the birth of one of the most remarkable figures of the German Romantic era. Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann (1776–1822), better known by his pen name, E.T.A. Hoffmann is known as the master of the fantastic

In the world of music, chords are more than just a collection of notes; they are the colors with which a composer paints emotion. Most people learn early that Major sounds “happy” and Minor sounds “sad.” While this simple heuristic

Joseph Haydn, often hailed as the “Father of the Symphony” and the “Father of the String Quartet,” is a towering figure in the history of Western classical music. His wit, structural ingenuity, and expressive depth have captivated audiences for centuries.

Mischa Maisky, born on 10 January 1948 in Riga, Latvia, has become one of the most expressive and influential cellists of the modern era. After studying with the legendary Mstislav Rostropovich at the Moscow Conservatory, Maisky’s remarkable tone, emotional intensity, and communicative