Classical Music


Feature Writer: Sarah Canice Funke
Sarah Canice Funke, Alex Funke

"Classical" refers specifically to the music of the late 18th and early 19th centuries but more broadly to music that has endured the test of time and some sort of artistic standard. Whether you enjoy Bach's fugues or Cage's aleatoric music, here you will find a focus on 20th century composers, album reviews, and historical/biographical information about the musicians and symphonies that have left a recorded legacy.

From Wagner to Berlioz, Brahms to Beethoven, Mozart to Handel, Shostakovitch to Stravinsky, we'll review the recordings essential to your library. We'll also feature modern interpretations of the art from Philip Glass to John Adams, John Cage to Steve Reich.

Questions or comments? Send me an email or post in the discussion forum.

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feature articles
Sarah Canice Funke

Alain Trudel Wins Conductor Award

In: Modern Classical Musicians

Alain Trudel--conductor, musician, composer and teacher--is recognized for his work as a Canadian conductor, engaging audiences and advocating Canadian music. more...

New Music "Within Sight of Shore"

In: Classical Music (general)

Halifax composer Scott Macmillan wrote a piece that tells the story of the sinking of HMCS Esquimalt. The piece embodies both patriotic and family history. more...

Piano Work about the Environment

In: Classical Music (general)

Jazz pianist and environmentalist Marian McPartland has written a tribute based on eco-pioneer Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring. more...

British Star Pianist Imogen Cooper

In: Classical Music (general)

Imogen Cooper may not be a flashy performer, but her technique and artistry make her a memorable musician in either solo or chamber performances. more...

Andrew Lloyd Weber Wins Award

In: Classical Music (general)

Known for Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita and other musicals, Andrew Lloyd Weber received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the 2008 Classical BRIT Awards. more...

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Sarah Canice Funke

May 10, 2008

Opera to Replace Gambling Plans?

Opera may be the key to urban renewal in Manchester's eastern side. After plans for a casino fell through, talks begin to discuss building an opera house.


Depending on how talks go between the Manchester City Council and the Royal Opera House, Covent Gardens, tourists to the east side of England's textile city could be watching kings and queens sing on stage rather than counting the royal figures in a deck of cards.

Manchester is looking for a way to rejuvenate the east part of the city and plans for a casino have been tossed. Instead the city councillors are interested in using opera to renew the area, especially because the Royal Opera House's performance of a circus opera--Monkey: Journey to the West--opened Manchester's 2007 International Festival.

The circus opera, a collaboration between the band Gorillaz and opera director Chen Shi Zheng, suggested the possibilities of making opera relevant and engaging for modern audiences.

So far, talks haven't reached the nitty-gritty stage of determining how many jobs would be created or how much revenue would be generated. But the Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, Tony Hall, is excited about the future potential for opera such a project might suggest.

Will hip programming bring in more revenue and create more jobs than gambling? The answer remains to be seen, but we may get a chance to find out if the Royal Opera House comes to Manchester.

For more information, please read the BBC News article.

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