Baton Music

In 1860 the curtain of the Carl-Theater in Vienna rose on the first production of Offenbach's parody of Greek mythology, 'Orphée aux enfers' ('Orpheus in the Underworld'). Sitting among the audience i...

Beethoven's only opera 'Fidelio' embodies his ideals of heroism and freedom from political oppression. The opera was first produced in Vienna in 1805, under the title of 'Leonora' with the overture no...

Beethoven's only opera 'Fidelio' embodies his ideals of heroism and freedom from political oppression. The opera was first produced in Vienna in 1805, under the title of 'Leonora' with the overture no...

Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) composed the 'Pictures at an Exhibition' in 1874 as a suite of ten piano pieces. The suite is generally acknowledged to be Mussorgsky's greatest solo piano composition, a...

Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) composed the 'Pictures at an Exhibition' in 1874 as a suite of ten piano pieces. The suite is generally acknowledged to be Mussorgsky's greatest solo piano composition, a...

As many composers in those days Johann Strauss also wrote a piece celebrating technological innovation. 'Vergnügungszug' (Pleasure Train) was written for the Association of Industrial Societies Ball a...

As many composers in those days Johann Strauss also wrote a piece celebrating technological innovation. 'Vergnügungszug' (Pleasure Train) was written for the Association of Industrial Societies Ball a...

'Strike Up the Band' is a 1927 musical by George Gershwin. The story satirizes America's taste for war: America declares war on Switzerland over a trivial trade issue. Gershwin's first fully integrate...

'Strike Up the Band' is a 1927 musical by George Gershwin. The story satirizes America's taste for war: America declares war on Switzerland over a trivial trade issue. Gershwin's first fully integrate...

Josef Strauss (1827-1870) was an Austrian composer, son of Johann Strauss ('Vater') and brother of Johann jr. and Eduard. Josef joined the 'Strauss' family orchestra, along with his brothers Johann an...

Josef Strauss (1827-1870) was an Austrian composer, son of Johann Strauss ('Vater') and brother of Johann jr. and Eduard. Josef joined the 'Strauss' family orchestra, along with his brothers Johann an...

The Preludes are short piano pieces by George Gershwin writtenin 1926. Each prelude is a well-known example of early-20th-century American classical music strongly influenced by jazz. Gershwin origina...

Pan and Syrinx' is a nine-minute symphonic poem by Carl Nielsen based on the ancient legend which tells how the amorous god Pan invented the pan flute when following the nymph Syrinx. Syrinx was trans...

Pan and Syrinx' is a nine-minute symphonic poem by Carl Nielsen based on the ancient legend which tells how the amorous god Pan invented the pan flute when following the nymph Syrinx. Syrinx was trans...

José Juventino Policarpo Rosas Cadenas (1868-1894) was a Mexican composer and violinist and was one of the best known Mexican composers of salon music. 'Sobre las Olas' (Over the Waves) is Rosas's bes...

José Juventino Policarpo Rosas Cadenas (1868-1894) was a Mexican composer and violinist and was one of the best known Mexican composers of salon music. 'Sobre las Olas' (Over the Waves) is Rosas's bes...

Julius Fucík was a Czech composer, with over 400 marches, polkas, and waltzes to his name. As most of his work was for military bands, he is sometimes known as the 'Bohemian Sousa'. Today his marches...

Julius Fucík was a Czech composer, with over 400 marches, polkas, and waltzes to his name. As most of his work was for military bands, he is sometimes known as the 'Bohemian Sousa'. Today his marches...

Luigi Arditi (1822-1903) was an Italian violinist, composer and conductor. He began his musical career as a violinist, and studied music at the Conservatory of Milan. Arditi's composed mainly opera's...

Luigi Arditi (1822-1903) was an Italian violinist, composer and conductor. He began his musical career as a violinist, and studied music at the Conservatory of Milan. Arditi's composed mainly opera's...

'Parade' is a ballet with music by Erik Satie and a one-act scenario by the French artist Jean Cocteau composed in 1916-1917 for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and premiered in 1917 in Paris. The c...

'Parade' is a ballet with music by Erik Satie and a one-act scenario by the French artist Jean Cocteau composed in 1916-1917 for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and premiered in 1917 in Paris. The c...

George Whitefield Chadwick (1854-1931) was an American composer. His style is regarded as 'American' but this was overshadowed towards the end of his life when music by Gershwin and Copland became yet...

George Whitefield Chadwick (1854-1931) was an American composer. His style is regarded as 'American' but this was overshadowed towards the end of his life when music by Gershwin and Copland became yet...

Luigi Arditi (1822-1903) was an Italian violinist, composer and conductor. He began his musical career as a violinist, and studied music at the Conservatory of Milan. Arditi mainly composed opera's bu...