Roger Niese

Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825 - 1889) was a cornet player, conductor, composer, pedagogue and the first famed virtuoso of the 'cornet à piston' or valved cornet. He was influenced by Niccolò Paganini's vi...

At the end of his life Offenbach composed his opera 'Les contes d'Hoffman', but unfortunately he was not able to finish it. The plot tells the story of the poet Hoffmann telling three of his amorous a...

Eduard Strauss (1835 - 1916) was an Austrian composer who, together with brothers Johann Strauss II and Josef Strauss made up the Strauss musical dynasty. His popularity was overshadowed by that of hi...

As a composer Lehár started with contributions to the opera-genre but the great triumph of his first operetta 'Die lustige Witwe' ('The merry widow') in 1905 made him clear that he had to give his tal...

As a composer Lehár started with contributions to the opera-genre but the great triumph of his first operetta 'Die lustige Witwe' ('The merry widow') in 1905 made him clear that he had to give his tal...

The 'ballata' Questo o quella is sung by Il Duca de Mantua in the first act of Giuseppe Verdi's Opera Rigoletto. Among a group of guests he sings of his love-life: this one or that one, to me it's the...

The 'ballata' Questo o quella is sung by Il Duca de Mantua in the first act of Giuseppe Verdi's Opera Rigoletto. Among a group of guests he sings of his love-life: this one or that one, to me it's the...

The plot of Sullivan's Operetta The Mikado tells the story of Nanki-Poo, son of the Mikado of Japan and the young girl Yum-yum. The song ' The sun, whose rays are all ablaze' is sung by Yum-yum at the...

The plot of Sullivan's Operetta The Mikado tells the story of Nanki-Poo, son of the Mikado of Japan and the young girl Yum-yum. The Trio Three little maids from school is sung in the first act by Yum-...

Giuseppe Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), the greatest Italian opera-composer, composed his opera La Forza del Destino in 1862 and it was first performed in the St.Petersburg Operahouse.The story of 'the P...

Giuseppe Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), the greatest Italian opera-composer, composed his opera La Forza del Destino in 1862 and it was first performed in the St.Petersburg Operahouse.The story of 'the P...

Puccini's Madama Butterfly is different from many operas. It is intimate, devoid of spectacle, taking place completely within a house in Nagasaki. The aria Un bel di vedremo is sung by Butterfly in th...

Puccini's Madama Butterfly is different from many operas. It is intimate, devoid of spectacle, taking place completely within a house in Nagasaki. The aria Un bel di vedremo is sung by Butterfly in th...

Beside his 150 waltzes Johann Strauss composed several operettas of which 'Die Fledermaus' his best contribution to this genre is. The aria Mein Herr Marquis, ein Mann wie Sie is sung in the second ac...

The Danse Bohemienne from La jolie fille the Perth was used in the ballet for the Paris version for Carmen returning to the Paris opera only five years after it's disastrous premiere. Bizet had died a...

The Danse Bohemienne from La jolie fille the Perth was used in the ballet for the Paris version for Carmen returning to the Paris opera only five years after it's disastrous premiere. Bizet had died a...

As a composer Franz Lehar started with contributions to the opera-genre but the great triumph of his first operetta Die lustige Witwe, (The merry widow), in 1905 made him clear that he had to gif his...

As a composer Franz Lehar started with contributions to the opera-genre but the great triumph of his first operetta Die lustige Witwe, (The merry widow), in 1905 made him clear that he had to gif his...

Giuseppe Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) composed his opera Rigoletto in 1851 and together with La Traviata (1853) and Il Trovatore (1853), this opera belongs to the top of Giuseppe Verdi's middle period o...

Giuseppe Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) composed his opera Rigoletto in 1851 and together with La Traviata (1853) and Il Trovatore (1853), this opera belongs to the top of Giuseppe Verdi's middle period o...

La Traviata tells the story of the young and beautiful courtesan Violetta who falls in love with Alfredo, an ordinary and poor young man.She leaves her luxurious live for him and finally offers her lo...

La Traviata tells the story of the young and beautiful courtesan Violetta who falls in love with Alfredo, an ordinary and poor young man.She leaves her luxurious live for him and finally offers her lo...

The Spanish composer Pedro Iturralde (*1929) has to be considered both as pioneer and nestor of Spanish jazz music. Pequena Czarda (little dance) is a virtuoso little solo piece for saxophone and pian...

One of the most influential of German romantic composers is Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826). He is especially known because of his opera's but he composed some masses and a number of solo concerto's...

One of the most influential of German romantic composers is Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826). He is especially known because of his opera's but he composed some masses and a number of solo concerto's...