First Encounters with La Scala When La Scala reopened in May 1946 after the destruction of the Second World War, Arturo Toscanini conducted a concert that quickly became a symbol of cultural reconstruction in Europe. In the years that followed, the Milan opera house entered a new international phase —…
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The third playlist in our Italian opera series turns to Puccini, presented in chronological order. It begins with the youthful lyricism of the Act I duet from La Bohème, moves to the intimate prayer “Vissi d’arte” from Tosca, lingers in the atmospheric stillness of the “Humming Chorus” from Madama Butterfly, and…
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In the 19th century, many composers began turning toward the unfamiliar — not necessarily to document it, but to imagine it. Romanticism was a period shaped by introspection, emotion, and the power of suggestion. Distant places such as Spain, the Middle East, or Japan were not explored musically in realistic…
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What does triumph sound like in classical music? It isn’t always loud or heroic. Sometimes, it’s persistent. Sometimes, joyful. At times, deeply personal — or carefully staged. This week’s playlist explores four pieces that reflect different kinds of triumph, each in its own way. We begin with Anton Bruckner, whose life…
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During every decade of his career, Karajan had Puccini operas in his repertoire and some of his recordings are looked on as the best of all...
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Karajan conducted many works whose interpretations were considered to be milestones. But even in his repertoire there are few pieces...
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Here you can download the full curriculum vitae of Herbert von Karajan!