Mitropa Music

Often, individual parts of operas become very successful, independent instrumental pieces. An outstanding example is the Anvil Chorus from Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il Trovatore. Thanks to its symphonic...

In 1854, Verdi was in Paris to compose I vespri siciliani (1855), a commission from the Theatre of the Opera. The composer soon became intolerant to the requests of the French 'Grand Opéra' as he cons...

In 1854, Verdi was in Paris to compose I vespri siciliani (1855), a commission from the Theatre of the Opera. The composer soon became intolerant to the requests of the French 'Grand Opéra' as he cons...

Ernani (1844), Giuseppe Verdi's fifth opera, is based on the homonymous tragedy by Victor Hugo. Verdi's success with Ernani, as well as Nabucco and I lombardi alla prima crociata, can be ascribed to t...

Ernani (1844), Giuseppe Verdi's fifth opera, is based on the homonymous tragedy by Victor Hugo. Verdi's success with Ernani, as well as Nabucco and I lombardi alla prima crociata, can be ascribed to t...

For the first draft of the libretto of Un ballo in maschera (1859), Giuseppe Verdi drew his inspiration from the grand-opéra Gustave III by Auber, an opera performed for the first time in Paris in 183...

For the first draft of the libretto of Un ballo in maschera (1859), Giuseppe Verdi drew his inspiration from the grand-opéra Gustave III by Auber, an opera performed for the first time in Paris in 183...

A technique much employed by Verdi is to alternate main scenes of a drama with others which allow the listener to relax temporarily. These moments are often entrusted to the choir (as in the case of t...

A technique much employed by Verdi is to alternate main scenes of a drama with others which allow the listener to relax temporarily. These moments are often entrusted to the choir (as in the case of t...

The Gran Finale from the second act of Verdi's famous opera Aida, composed in 1869, is a complex part of the drama as in one single scene many different characters, allwith contrasting emotions, appea...

2006 celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birthday of possibly the greatest composer that has ever lived, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). With a prolific output of symphonies and concertos as...

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the death of the legendary Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, Stefan Schwalgin has produced Grieg as you have never heard him before. He has brought his music into...

The celebrated Austrian composer Josef Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) owes his fame predominantly to his symphonies, his masses, his Te Deum, his string quintets and his devotional church music, including...

The Barber of Seville is based on the first of Beaumarchais' (1732- 1799) two sequential plays, The Marriage of Figaro being the second, although unusually the overture does not contain any themes fro...

In the monumental overture to the opera La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie) Gioachino Rossini employs themes from the opera itself in order to prepare the audience for the material to come. The overt...

Camillo De Nardis' Il giudizio universale (The Universal Judgement) was awarded first prize at the Competition for Band Composition held in Naples. This composition was inspired by Verdi's Requiem wit...

The title refers to the historical period that marked the transition between the baroque and classical styles. Rococo music is characterised by a profusion of ornaments, by graceful elegance and light...

Antonio Capuzzi (August 1, 1755 - March 28, 1818) was an Italian violinist and composer who studied violin with Nazari and composition with Bertoni. In 1805 he moved to Bergamo, where he was professor...

Franz Liszt's 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies are characterised by melancholy, great expressiveness and wonderful gypsy rhythms. No. 2 is the best known of all, mainly thanks to the use of various passages fo...

All men are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and are to meet one another in a spirit of brotherhood. This article 1 of the Universal Declaration o...

All men are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and are to meet one another in a spirit of brotherhood. This article 1 of the Universal Declaration o...

Thomas Doss orchestrated this inspiring and very playable transcription of Christus factus est (WAB 11), the motet written by Bruckner in 1884, for wind orchestra. After Messe für den Gründonnerstag f...

Mein Zaubergarten is a collection of short, atmospheric fantasy pieces. The 16 individual pieces are interconnected in terms of their content, but don't necessarily need to be played straight through....

Gerald Oswald has made a fine arrangement of the second (Andante) and third (Rondo) movements of the concerto to feature the euphonium, accompanied by the piano. The solo part is also available in an...

Reverie is a small piece of music for a euphonium player. A dear friend and colleague of mine commissioned the work, to whom Reverie is also dedicated. The work commences with a dream-like melody and...