Douglas McLain

Johannes Brahms composed the Alt-Rhapsodie in September of 1869 as a wedding gift to the daughter of his close friend and confidant, Clara Schumann. The Alt-Rhapsodie is set to several verses of a poe...

Carmen' ist eine der bekanntesten Opern des gesamten Opernrepertoires. Als erste relistisch-naturalistische Oper war sie ein wichtiger Vorreiter der Versimo-Bewegung in der italienischen Oper des spät...

In 1883, a singer named Johanna Richter made a guest appearance in the court theater at Cassel, Germany, where Gustav Mahler was the conductor. As a result of this engagement she entered into a regula...

La danza' is a patter song by Gioacchino Rossini, in 'Tarantella napoletana' time. It's the eighth song of the collection 'Les soirées musicales' which he composed in the years 1830-1835. 'La danza' b...

Verdi composed "Un Ballo in Maschera" for the San Carlo Theatre in Naples where it was to have been staged during the 1858 carnival season. The libretto told the true story of the liberal King Gustavu...

French composer Adolphe Adam composed his opera 'si j'etais roi' (if I Were King) in 1852. Though less popular than 'Le postillon de Lonjumeau', it is often regarded as Adam's finest work. The well-de...

French composer Adolphe Adam composed his opera "Si j'étais roi" (if I Were King) in 1852. Though less popular than "Le postillon de Lonjumeau", it is often regarded as Adam's finest work. The well-de...

Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen (WWV 49) (Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes) is an early opera by Richard Wagner in five acts, with the libretto written by the composer after Bulwer-Lytton's novel of t...

George Gershwin composed his "Cuban Overture" in July and August 1932. Originally was the work titled "Rumba" and was the result of a two-week holiday which Gershwin took in Havana, Cuba in February 1...

'Vanda' (Wanda) is a grand opera in five acts by Antonín Dvorák which was premiered at the 'Provisional Theatre' in Prague on 17 April 1876. The story is about the Polish queen, Princess Wanda, who dr...

'Vanda' (Wanda) is a grand opera in five acts by Antonín Dvorák which was premiered at the 'Provisional Theatre' in Prague on 17 April 1876. The story is about the Polish queen, Princess Wanda, who dr...

'H.M.S. Pinafore' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. 'H.M.S. Pinafore' was Gilbert and Sullivan's fourth operatic collaboration and their firs...

'H.M.S. Pinafore' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. 'H.M.S. Pinafore' was Gilbert and Sullivan's fourth operatic collaboration and their firs...

In 1933 Revueltas composed his brief symphonic poem "Janitzio" named after an island in Lake Patzcuaro, in the state of Michoacán, west of Mexico City, whose population had derived its income largely...

The Helios Overture was composed in 1903 while Nielsen was on holiday in the Greek isles. The piece is said to depict the course of the sun through the sky from dawn to sunset. Even though the piece w...

The Helios Overture was composed in 1903 while Nielsen was on holiday in the Greek isles. The piece is said to depict the course of the sun through the sky from dawn to sunset. Even though the piece w...

In 1883, a singer named Johanna Richter made a guest appearance in the court theater at Cassel, Germany, where Gustav Mahler was the conductor. As a result of this engagement she entered into a regula...

The Ouverture Carnevalesca was performed in Bologna on April 19th of the same year (1913) as part of a ten-city tour. The piece was written shortly before the Sinfonia drammatica (1914) and Ottorino R...

The Ouverture Carnevalesca was performed in Bologna on April 19th of the same year (1913) as part of a ten-city tour. The piece was written shortly before the Sinfonia drammatica (1914) and Ottorino R...

Joaquin Turina (1882-1949) along with Granados, Albeniz and Manuel de Falla, was a defining voice in Spanish music. His music is typically very lyrical and deeply inspired by the rich musical heritage...

Joaquin Turina (1882-1949) along with Granados, Albeniz and Manuel de Falla, was a defining voice in Spanish music. His music is typically very lyrical and deeply inspired by the rich musical heritage...

I Got Rhythm is a song composed by George George Gershwin published in 1930, which became a widely-known jazz standard. The song was introduced by Ethel Merman in the musical Girl Crazy. In 1933, Geor...

I Got Rhythm is a song composed by George George Gershwin published in 1930, which became a widely-known jazz standard. The song was introduced by Ethel Merman in the musical Girl Crazy. In 1933, Geor...

Cesar Franck's symphonic poem, 'Le Chasseur Maudit,' was written in 1883 and first performed in the following year. It is based upon the familiar ballad of Bürger's, 'Der wilde Jäger' ('The Wild Hunts...

César Franck's symphonic poem, "Le Chasseur Maudit," was written in 1883 and first performed in the following year. It is based upon the familiar ballad of Bürger's, "Der wilde Jäger" ("The Wild Hunts...