Three classes just added: Music of grieving, great pianists, art song versus opera

English pianist Benjamin Grosvenor. Photo: Nordic Artists Management

Friends, I’m happy to tell you I have added three more classes to my music appreciation series. I originally scheduled six classes, not knowing how people would receive them. But, based on your wonderful reactions, I’m delighted to add these new classes.

4 p.m. Sunday, March 26: Music of Grieving. What music do we turn to in our time of greatest need? A powerful blow that brings rage and violence? The quiet settling in of pain and sorrow? The waves of anguish that continue through time? Sorrowful music can be some of the most beautiful in the world: Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” “Nimrod” from Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations,” Gustav Mahler’s Adagietto from his Fifth Symphony. Let’s explore music of the gravest beauty.

4 p.m. Sunday, April 30: The Great Pianists. We devote an entire class to the piano and the artists who bring it to life in so many different ways. We’ll admire Artur Rubinstein’s gorgeous sound in Chopin, Sviatoslav Richter’s ferocity in Beethoven, Glenn Gould’s mastery of Bach, Mitsuko Uchida’s pliancy in Mozart, plus the artistry of Martha Argerich, the Norwegian Lief Ove Andsnes, Stephen Hough and Britain’s latest sensation, Benjamin Grosvenor.

4 p.m. Sunday, May 21: Opera Versus Art Song. We explore the human voice on stages both large and small. Franz Schubert, Hugo Wolf, Aaron Copland and William Bolcom give us exquisite moments of intimacy, while Handel, Mozart, Verdi, Puccini and John Adams sweep us up with magnificent power.

Please join us!

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