Baton Music

In 1876 Tschaikowsky composed his ballet 'Swan Lake' Op. 20. Despite its initial failure, it is now one of the most popular of all ballets. 'Swan Lake' was premiered by the Bolshoi Ballet on 4 March 1...

In 1868 Jacques Offenbach's opéra bouffe 'La Périchole' was premiered in Paris. The title character of this three act opera is based on Micaela Villegas, a beloved 18th century Peruvian entertainer an...

In 1868 Jacques Offenbach's opéra bouffe 'La Périchole' was premiered in Paris. The title character of this three act opera is based on Micaela Villegas, a beloved 18th century Peruvian entertainer an...

Forty six years after having composed his first 'Fest Marsch' op. 49, Johann Strauss, wrote a second work with this title, 'Fest Marsch' op. 452. This march was one of the two musical tributes on the...

Forty six years after having composed his first 'Fest Marsch' op. 49, Johann Strauss, wrote a second work with this title, 'Fest Marsch' op. 452. This march was one of the two musical tributes on the...

Charles Martin Loeffler (1861-1935) was a significant American composer of the generation who came into prominence before the First World War. His compositions were influenced by César Franck, Ernest...

Charles Martin Loeffler (1861-1935) was a significant American composer of the generation who came into prominence before the First World War. His compositions were influenced by César Franck, Ernest...

The 'Verbrüderungsmarsch Opus 287' is one of Johann Strauss' numerous marches. The march is rather unknown but nevertheless a very grateful piece. Dutch arranger Jos van de Braak transcribed the Verbr...

The 'Verbrüderungsmarsch Opus 287' is one of Johann Strauss' numerous marches. The march is rather unknown but nevertheless a very grateful piece. Dutch arranger Jos van de Braak transcribed the Verbr...

Gershwin's opera 'Porgy and Bess' contains many songs that have become popular in their own right, becoming standards in jazz and blues in addition to their original operatic setting. One of those is...

Gershwin's opera 'Porgy and Bess' contains many songs that have become popular in their own right, becoming standards in jazz and blues in addition to their original operatic setting. One of those is...

Vincenzo Bellini, was one of the three great composers of the belcanto-era. However, besides his opera's his instrumental output is limited. The Concerto for Oboe in E-flat major, most likely composed...

The 'Andante e Rondo Ungarese', was written in response to the success of Carl Maria von Weber's 'Bassoon Concerto' and was requested by the bassoonist in the Munich Orchestra, Georg Friedrich Brandt....

The 'Andante e Rondo Ungarese', was written in response to the success of Carl Maria von Weber's 'Bassoon Concerto' and was requested by the bassoonist in the Munich Orchestra, Georg Friedrich Brandt....

'Il Convegno' (in Italian 'the meeting' or the 'appointment') for two clarinets and piano was composed by Amilcare Ponchielli in 1857. 'Il Covegno' is in three sections, linked by cadenzas and other c...

The 'Pomp and Circumstance Marches' are a series of marches for orchestra composed by Sir Edward Elgar. They include some of Elgar's best-known compositions. The most famous of Elgar's 'Pomp and Circu...

The 'Pomp and Circumstance Marches' are a series of marches for orchestra composed by Sir Edward Elgar. They include some of Elgar's best-known compositions. The most famous of Elgar's 'Pomp and Circu...

'Non ti scordar di me', is one of De Curtis' later songs, written in 1935 for a movie of the same title, featuring the tenor, Beniamino Gigli, who helped make many Italian songs famous. Unlike a major...

'Non ti scordar di me', is one of De Curtis' later songs, written in 1935 for a movie of the same title, featuring the tenor, Beniamino Gigli, who helped make many Italian songs famous. Unlike a major...

The music for Johann Strauss' Operetta 'Der Zigeunerbaron' is regularly performed today. The orchestral pieces that Strauss furnished from the work were also well-recognised, among them, the sparkling...

The last movement of the 'Piano Sonata No. 11', marked 'Alla Turca', popularly known as the 'Turkish Rondo' or 'Turkish March', is often heard on its own and is one of Mozart's best-known piano pieces...

The last movement of the 'Piano Sonata No. 11', marked 'Alla Turca', popularly known as the 'Turkish Rondo' or 'Turkish March', is often heard on its own and is one of Mozart's best-known piano pieces...

The 'Funeral March of a Marionette' (Marche funèbre d'une marionnette) is a short piece by Charles Gounod. It was written in 1872 for solo piano and orchestrated by the composer in 1879. The 'Funeral...

The 'Funeral March of a Marionette' (Marche funèbre d'une marionnette) is a short piece by Charles Gounod. It was written in 1872 for solo piano and orchestrated by the composer in 1879. The 'Funeral...

In autumn 1913, the directors of Vienna's Carltheater commissioned Puccini to compose a Viennese operetta. After confirming that it could take the form of a comic opera with no spoken dialogue in the...