The Great Classics

In 1931 Ottorino Respighi began composing the music for his most ambitious theatre work: Belkis, regina di Saba. The ballet describes the journey of Belkis, the Queen of Sheba, to Solomon, the King of...

The Russian ballet director Sergei Diaghilev commissioned many composers to write music for the theatre. This was what caused Serge Prokofiev to compose the four part Scytische Suite (also known as Al...

The year 2004 marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Antonin Dvorák. In 1879 Dvorákwrote this Polonaise as a commission for thecommittee organising the festivities for theirfamous national dance...

The year 2004 marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Antonin Dvorák. In 1879 Dvorákwrote this Polonaise as a commission for thecommittee organising the festivities for theirfamous national dance...

Antonin Dvorak, dessen Todestag sich im Jahr 2004 zum 100. Mal jährt, schrieb 1879 die Polonaise im Auftrag des Komitees, welches die Festlichkeiten zu der damals weithin berühmten Veranstaltung, die...

Festive Overture was composed in 1954 to commemorate the 37th birthday of the October Revolution of 1917. With this overture Shostakovich shows his brighter side, in contrast to his melancholy 10th sy...

Preludes and overtures were often written to set the mood of Viennese folk plays and therefore might be used for more than one production. Such was the case for Poet and Peasant, which introduced a co...

French composer Léo Delibes (1836-1891) was primarily known for his operettas and short comic operas. He was also famous for the ballet Coppelia from which arranger Wil van der Beek has transcribed th...

French composer Léo Delibes (1836-1891) was primarily known for his operettas and short comic operas. He was also famous for the ballet Coppelia from which arranger Wil van der Beek has transcribed th...