Suzanne Bona

Soprano Laquita Mitchell is such a versatile talent that it was hard to choose which of her lovely performances to share for today’s Beautiful Music. I finally chose her poignant interpretation of the Spiritual, DEEP RIVER, with pianist Dr. Steven Pilkington. This stirringly lovely performance is from November 1, 2020.  Laquita Mitchell also tells a […]

What a pleasure to introduce you to violinist Anyago Yarbo-Davenport! The acclaimed German-born musician is the daughter of American soprano Africa Yarbo-Davenport and the late Austrian conductor Hans Peter Jillich. Her long list of accomplishments includes her position as Assistant Professor of Violin and Coordinator of Violin and Chamber Music at the Pontifical Javeriana University

Les Delices — the Cleveland area period instrument group — provides Beautiful Music today by Mademoiselle Duval. We know very little about the baroque era musician beyond some scant career milestones. In addition to enjoying Les Delices’ performance of a Suite from Mlle. Duval’s only surviving theater composition, Les Genies. You can also use the

Remember when the phrase “September 11th” was just another date on the calendar? But for 20 years now we all recognize it as shorthand for a gut-wrenching tragedy. Anyone who remembers that day remembers exactly where they were, what they were doing, and how they felt when they heard the horrifying news. Today, as we

A listener recently contacted me asking about harpsichordist Scott Ross and his performances of Sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti. The late performer died in 1989 at age 38, but left a legacy of recordings that are revered by fans. Today’s Beautiful Music is Scarlatti’s Sonata nicknamed “Cat’s Fugue” played by Scott Ross. You can read more

  On this date in 1543, 9-month-old Mary Stuart was crowned “Queen of Scots.” Today’s Beautiful Music features the Scottish Early Music Ensemble from their 1984 recording, Mary’s Music: Songs and Dances From the Time of Mary Queen of Scots.       The Queine of Ingland’s Paven – YouTube Le cueur de vous ma presence

  Once upon a time, many long years ago when I first started Sunday Baroque, I remember hearing a charming song that stuck in my mind: IL EST BEL ET BON by Pierre Passereau. It’s a secular chanson from the 16th century, and the text is a conversation between two women about their husbands. Vidita

Today’s Beautiful Music is about an early Black musician — John Blanke — a trumpeter who worked in the royal court in the 16th century. Historians Tony Warner and Michael Ohajuru talk about the musician, whose image is portrayed in artwork and historical documentation, and the role he appears to have had in high society.

Rachel Barton Pine is a marvelous and versatile instrumentalist and an insightful teacher. She plays a wide range of classical (and heavy metal!) music on her violin, and she is also passionate about a rarer instrument: viola d’amore. Today’s Beautiful Music features Rachel Barton Pine giving an introduction to the instrument, with playing examples. Family

This Beautiful Music is provided by Infusion Baroque from their well-crafted and informative series, virtuELLES. This episode features composer Maddalena Lombardini Sirmen who lived from 1745 until 1818. It’s a movement from her Duet #2 for Two Violins, op. 5, and in a feat of multi-tasking it is performed by violinist Sallynee Amawat. I also