John Paul
Too Clear for Words
“I can no longer tolerate the ‘Reformation’ Symphony, and of all my compositions it is the one I would most like to see burnt. It will never be published.” Such were Mendelssohn’s sentiments and prediction regarding his D Minor Symphony Opus 107, expressed in his letter of 1838 to Julius Rietz, his successor as Municipal
Program Notes: The Nutcracker Suite
The amount of work Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was juggling while he simultaneously labored to complete his last ballet, The Nutcracker, and subsequently the compilation which was to become popularly known as The Nutcracker Suite would amaze us today as much as it overwhelmed the composer himself. The premiere took place in December 1892 in Saint
Program Notes: Carmen
Once upon a time in a faraway land, there appeared a story in La Revue des deux mondes, originally founded as a bi-weekly travel journal depicting lands faraway. The title was Carmen, the writer was Prosper Mérimée. He recounts a journey to Spain, observing exotic cultures and landscapes of which Parisian readers were fond. Carmen’s
A Music Celebration by Ananda Sukarlan
It is often said that music is a universal language. Perhaps this is partly why it has been such a useful tool for socially and politically conscious musicians from Beethoven to Wagner and Liszt to advance their convictions. And so it goes for Ananda Sukarlan. The great musician and composer Ananda Sukarlan. Photo by John
Chamber Music Concerts: Quatuor Bozzini and Dutch Classical Talent
Baroque group Quatuor Bozzini and violin-piano duo Shin Sihan-Anne Brackman will be performing in Jakarta next month. Canadian quartet group Quatuor Bozzini is scheduled to perform their baroque music creations at Teater Salihara. Photo courtesy of Quatuor Bozzini/NOW!JAKARTA Quatuor Bozzini Even the most ardent lovers of traditional classical music can benefit once in a while from a quality
Guide to the Galaxy, Jakarta’s Music and Nightlife Scene
Like our Galaxy, Jakarta is at once filled with exhilarating beauty and things that can end your existence. Take note, for knowledge is key to survival. As metropolitan city, Jakarta's nightlifes combines 24-hours bar and musical performance. NOW!JAKARTA Night Life Jakarta literally never sleeps. No, I do not mean figuratively. The Colloseum may only be
Programme Notes: Bandung Philharmonic Orchestra and Young Steinway Artist Gala Concert
Truly great works transcend the religious and cultural confines of their creator, even transcending the limits of it own form over space and time to ultimately become immortal through infinite renewal. Such can be said about the sequence, Dies Irae. It began life as a poem, previously ascribed to Thomas of Celano (d.c. 1250) although
The Best Music Schools in Jakarta
It must be conceded that the Indonesian government really needs to be A LOT stricter regarding the requirements for founding a music school, and teaching music. I once saw a job ad for a guitar teacher where the music ‘school’ required the candidate to first and most importantly possess independent means of transport, and lastly,
Classical Concerts: Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, and more…
If Haydn had been composing his oratorio “The Creation” in the late 1990s instead of the late 1790s, might he have found something like Stephen Hawking’s public lectures “The beginning of Time” or “Life in the Universe” to be a more compelling subject matter than the Judeo-Christian Creation story? How would that have turned out?
At the Foot of a Willow
Before reading this article, might I suggest listening to Gioachino Rossini’s “Assisa a piè d’un salice”, particularly as sung by Frederica von Stade, or Montserrat Caballé. Read on while, or after. Cellist Samuel DeCaprio and renowned Indonesian pianist Edith Widayani will be performing duo recital titled The Art of Chamber Music – Song Without Words on 20