Charles-Valentin Alkan was undoubtedly one of the great composers of his day. Chopin, his friend and one-time nextdoor neighbour, was an enthusiastic admirer, while Liszt cited Alkan as the only person in whose presence he felt nervous performing. Many of his keyboard works are notoriously difficult to play, yet all are immaculately crafted.
Radulovic plunges in, his audacious attack and intonational high-wire act almost upsetting the applecart in the oompah-pah finale. The same fearless commitment pays dividends elsewhere: in the jaunty Heifetz arrangement of the Gavotte from the Classical Symphony, for example, or in the spiky march from The Love for Three Oranges.
From unassuming hunks of Carrara marble and limestone, Matthew Simmonds carves realistic, miniature gothic cathedral arches, stairwells, and colonnades. Often based on architectural details of real places, such as cities around Tuscany and Germany's Bamberg Cathedral, the sculptures portray intimate details of corners, vaulted ceilings, arcades, and stairwells that can sometimes be peeked through additional apertures.
I don't want to be working in ballet or opera things where it's like 'Hey, keep this thing alive,' even though it's like no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there.
Our eyes—which we usually think of as purely visual organs—spontaneously dance to the rhythm of what we hear, says study co-author Du Yi, a cognitive neuroscientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. Using a high-speed eye-tracking system, Du and her team were stunned to discover nonmusicians instinctively blinking in sync with the beat structure of Bach chorales.
I took it upon myself yesterday to 'give it to the man' because there is a culture based around outrage. What I was doing yesterday was virtue signaling because... I knew Timothée's goof-up was something that I could leverage in order for people to connect with me and f*ck with me. And it's easy. It's a modern way to garner clicks, likes, approval, all kinds of things.
The youngest person to win the prestigious Marilyn Horne Foundation Vocal Competition, Sierra made her operatic debut at age 16 as the Sandman in Hansel and Gretel. Today Sierra is best known for her roles in Verdi's Rigoletto (as Gilda) and as the lead in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.
When attending the ballet used to mean lining up at the box office or will-call window for a chance to score seats, you can now buy ballet tickets easily online, through the respective company websites or through third-party sites like Stubhub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek.
Black Coffee is one of electronic music's most influential figures. The Grammy Award-winning artist is celebrated for blending Afro-house, deep house and soulful electronic sounds in both his sets and productions, and has been hypnotising crowds at major festivals and iconic venues worldwide for more than a decade.
Nothing is impossible. That was Susan Alcorn's assessment of the potential of the pedal steel guitar, the peculiar instrument that she made her own. Alcorn passed away at 71 in January 2025 as possibly the world's pre-eminent pedal steel player, driven by a vision to bring as much out of it as possible and, in doing so, to gracefully apprehend and interpret whatever music caught her interest.
Formed at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the group blends technical precision with expressive range, moving comfortably between classical staples and contemporary compositions. Their programs often highlight contrast, pairing the clarity and balance of Haydn with modern textures that stretch tone and color.
Metropolis -the tale of an exploited caste of workers breaking free from their oligarchic oppressors by joining together with them to build a new world, as well as an Orpheus-like love story-has famously been in a state of restoration for almost a century, thanks to studio mangling and the ravages of time.
Ghostnote is a fast-growing music startup based in Berlin. Since launching in 2025, our mission has been to create the biggest label you've never heard of. At Ghostnote, we create ambient music universes with their own identities - shaped by shared moods, passions, and repeat rituals. We mix startup energy with a deep love for music, creative design, and community-building.
No matter who Sam Shackleton plays with, you recognize his handiwork immediately: Since he began weaving together North African percussion and dubstep-inspired basslines more than two decades ago, he's developed one of the most distinctive styles in electronic music. He long ago shed virtually all traces of conventional UK bass music, effectively evolving into a genre of one. Dubstep was always a misnomer for his music, which never stepped, but flowed.
The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble will perform Richard Strauss's Metamorphosen among other musical works on Saturday, Jan. 31. Credit: Left Coast Chamber Ensemble If you haven't seen it yet, catch Kala Art Institute's latest exhibition, Bookness, before it closes on Feb. 11. The exhibition explores how the book has evolved as an artistic medium throughout history. There will be a reception for Bookness on Feb. 8 at the Oakland Marriott City Center. 2990 San Pablo Ave. FREE
Dive into the electric world of RON B, a Berlin-based DJ and electronic artist who defies genre boundaries with a distinctly fresh and audacious sound. His latest EP, Confessions at 148 BPM, is a visceral exploration of the deep techno elements that define his post-genre approach, encapsulating the very essence of the city's underground culture. Crafted from the texture of countless nights spent in clubs and on runways, RON B's music captures a spectrum that oscillates between sensuality and high-octane energy.
This past weekend, Berlin was treated to an exhilarating showcase as Lambrini Girls took to the stage for a sold-out performance at Bi Nuu, supported by the equally vibrant Enola Gay. On December 13th, the Brighton-based noise-punk duo delivered a night brimming with dynamic energy and a fearless attitude, truly encapsulating the essence of punk music in a modern setting.
