Which is Which?

Not everybody can decide if the violin is modern or Stradivari. In other words, modern violin or old Italian violin. When people who do not play the violin listen to two violins and have the question: Which is which? placed before them, not everybody can answer correctly.

My friend, Claire, and I listened to two violins. One was Stradivari and the other one was modern. Claire and I answered correctly . . . . . . . alright, I'll admit. Claire plays the violin, but we still answered correctly. If you go to this website, you can read the post and listen to the two types of violins and decide for yourself which one is the Stradivari and which one is modern.

Does anybody know Paganini? He was a virtuoso violinist. His violin is treasured. Nicolo Paganini was the son of Antonio and Teresa Paganini. He was born in Genoa Italy in 1782.
Some people, unlike myself, consider classical music boring and very stupid. I think that classical music musicians should be known by absolutely everybody like Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson.




Written By: Rubina H.

Anna Netrebko Sings Don Giovanni in La Scala Teatro!

I am back to Don Giovanni. It is like an obsession of Don Giovanni around the whole world. Anna Netrebko, a primadonna in the operatic world, sang Donna Anna in the production of Don Giovanni in La Scala. The La Scala Teatro opened its season with Don Giovanni. The cast consisted of these people:

Anna Netrebko : Donna Anna

Don Giovanni: Peter Mattei

Il Commandatore: Kwangchul Youn

Don Ottavio: Guiseppe Filianoti

Donna Elvira: Barbara Frittoli

Leporello: Bryn Terfel

Mazetto: Stefan Kocan

Zerlina: Anna Prohaska

If you wish to read the synopsis, click here: http://anna-netrebko.blogspot.com/

You can also see videos of the opera through that link.

Anna Netrebko sang in Anna Bolena, by Donizetti, with Elina Garanca in the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Written By: Rubina H.

Mozart's Death

December 5, 1791 was Mozart's date of death. For those of you who have no idea who Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is, he was a great composer in the classical era. His full name is Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. Do not even attempt to memorize that name. Mozart himself signed all of his works as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Look at the picture with the signature on it to get an idea.

Mozart lived to only 35 years. He had one son and a wife. His last opera that he wrote was The Magic Flute or Der Zauberflote.

This is his signature.

Written by: Rubina H.

Frederica Von Stade's Retirement in the Herbst Theatre

Frederica von Stade is one of the best mezzo-sopranos that were born, She retired yesterday, on Saturday, December 3, 2011. You could buy tickets to the Herbst theatre and watch Frederica von Stade and many others sing. The people that were there were Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, (dramatic soprano), Susan Graham, (mezzo-soprano), Susannah Biller,(Soprano), Zheng Cao,(mezzo-soprano), Richard Stilwell,(baritone), and Sameul Ramey,(Bass). Sir Thomas Allen was also supposed to come but he could not make it. Instead of him, Marilyn Horne!

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is also a world wide known opera singer. She sang and played the role of Donna Elvira in the movie, Don Giovanni.

Susan Graham sang Xerxes in this seasons Xerxes at the San Francisco Opera.

Since Sir Thomas Allen could not make it to the retirement party, SF Opera director, David Gockley read a letter that Sir Thomas Allen sent to Frederica von Stade.

All of the singers there sang something. The accompanist, John Churchwell, was a composer and most of the singers there sang something that he composed. For example, Mr. Churchwell composed a series of songs, based on the poetry that Frederica von Stade wrote herself, about Ferderica's daughter Lisa.

For once in my life, I saw Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in real life!!! I am going crazy right now!

By: Rubina H.

Who Are the Top 10 Composers?

Student: Rubina

The New York Times has launched an editorial package about the top 10 composers. Watch the videos, read the article, and write a feature article. What is writer Anthony Tommasini trying to do with his series of stories? Which composers does he highlight this week and why? For you, what is the most interesting highlight or aspect of each composers? Of the musicians presented this week, how would you rank each?

Because your article is a feature story, you should include more than just the basic elements and facts of a news story. How might you make these composers especially relevant to Hillwood Herald readers? As a musician, what does classical music mean to you?

Remember to include a photo for each composer, as well as captions and research credits.