#romantic composer

[composer-smash-or-pass]

Smash or pass: Tchaikovsky?

Smash

Pass

Voting ended onDec 14, 2024

[lesser-known-composers]

Albert Dietrich (1829–1908) - Piano Trio No. 2 in A Major, Op. 14: II. Adagio, ma non troppo ·

Aldo Orvieto; Dora Bratchkova; & Michel Dispa

[opera-ghosts]

OTD in Music History: Conductor and composer Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911) dies of pneumonia (which was almost certainly induced by a bad case of bacterial endocarditis) at a Viennese sanitorium. After a legendary 10 year reign as the Director of the Vienna Court Opera, Mahler left Vienna for America and made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in January 1908, presenting Richard Wagner's (1813 - 1883) "Tristan und Isolde" (1865) to great acclaim. Mahler's first season at the Met was a triumph, and, upon his return to Austria in Summer 1908, he promptly composed "Das Lied von der Erde" ("The Song of the Earth"). In his second season at the Met in 1909, however, Mahler had to share the podium with a young superstar: Arturo Toscanini (1867 - 1957). Tensions created by this situation ultimately led Mahler to resign the position and instead accept the conductorship of the New York Philharmonic. Back in Europe for the Summer of 1909, Mahler quickly completed his Ninth Symphony. Mahler found his only season with the Philharmonic extremely taxing, and, after the season ended with heavy financial losses for the organization, he retreated once more to Europe for the Summer of 1910. It was during that break that Mahler worked on his unfinished Tenth Symphony, completing the Adagio and drafting four more movements. Shortly after he returned to New York in late October 1910, Mahler began suffering from a severe sore throat; he gave his final concert on February 11, 1911, while suffering from a temperature of 40 °C (104 °F). After weeks confined to bed, he was diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis – which was often fatal before antibiotics -- and sailed back to Europe... PICTURED: An uncommon c. 1920s real photo postcard, showing the middle-aged Mahler in profile. This photo was one of a famous set that was taken of Mahler towards the end of his tenure in Vienna.

[magnumx-opus]

here’s Franz Liszt, joining the composer gang ✨ a friend told me to draw my interpretations of more historical figures so I think I will !!

[happiestpenguin]

Upon my expressing my astonishment to Seyfried, at this extraordinary method of directing, he related to me a tragi-comical circumstance that had occurred at Beethoven's last concert at the Theatre "an der Wien." Beethoven was playing a new Pianoforte-Concerto of his, but forgot at the first tutti, that he was a Soloplayer, and springing up, began to direct in his usual way. At the first sforzando he threw out his arms so wide asunder, that he knocked both the lights off the piano upon the ground. The audience laughed, and Beethoven was so incensed at this disturbance, that he made the orchestra cease playing, and begin anew. Seyfried, fearing, that a repetition of the accident would occur at the same passage, bade two boys of the chorus place themselves on either side of Beethoven, and hold the lights in their hands. One of the boys innocently approached nearer, and was reading also in the notes of the piano-part. When therefore the fatal sforzando came, he received from Beethoven's out thrown right hand so smart a blow on the mouth, that the poor boy let fall the light from terror. The other boy, more cautious, had followed with anxions [sic] eyes every motion of Beethoven, and by stooping suddenly at the eventful moment he avoided the slap on the mouth. If the public were unable to restrain their laughter before, they could now much less, and broke out into a regular bacchanalian roar. Beethoven got into such a rage, that at the first chords of the solo, half a dozen strings broke. Every endeavour of the real lovers of music to restore calm and attention were for the moment fruitless. The first allegro of the Concerto was therefore lost to the public. From that fatal evening Beethoven would not give another concert.

Louis Spohr’s Autobiography: translated from the German p. 186 - 187

[dopamine-droplets]

Made a new thumbnail because I thought it was time for something more interesting.

No instruments were harmed in the making of this image. 

[thewondermentofillustration]

P.S. Krøyer - Edvard Grieg Accompanying his Wife, 1898, oil on wood Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907) was a Norweigan pianist and composer. He was a major figure in the romantic period. His most famous works include Piano Concerto in A minor and Peer Gynt.

[panfrycek]

portrait