Suzanne Bona

Today’s Beautiful Music is a favorite performance of a favorite composition — it’s something I return to over and over for its extraordinary loveliness. It’s Francois Couperin’s captivating Les Baricades Mïstérieuses performed by lutenist Thomas Dunford and harpsichordist Jean Rondeau. I especially love the restrained, yearning quality they impart to this mysteriously beautiful piece.

Last week, the versatile and innovative singer and conductor Barbara Hannigan was named as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. The Canadian-born soprano forged her professional music career as a singer first, and then began conducting too. She is known for performances in which she tackles both roles concurrently, and today’s

Today’s Beautiful Music is FROSTIANA — a charming and lovely setting by American composer Randall Thompson of 7 poems by Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken, The Pasture, Come In, The Telephone, A Girl’s Garden, Stopping By The Woods on a Snowy Evening, and Choose Something Like a Star. Exultate Choir and Orchestra, conducted by

Chinese-American composer and violinist Chen Yi blends Chinese and Western traditions in her music. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Central Conservatory in Beijing, and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Columbia University in New York. She is currently on the faculty of the Conservatory at the University of Missouri –

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Violin Sonata #9 op.47 is commonly called by its nickname, the Kreutzer Sonata. Beethoven dedicated it to French violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer (1766-1831) who, by the way, didn’t even like the technically challenging composition! The Sonata is ALSO referred to as the Bridgetower Sonata, because it was originally dedicated to violinist George Bridgetower

Today’s Beautiful Music selection is a concert by the Winnipeg Singers. In April 2024 they performed a program called THEIR VOICES RESOUND, which celebrated the work of Canadian Women Composers. They include Ruth Watson Henderson, Ramona Luengen, Luara Hawley, Lavinia Kell Parker, Jocelyn Morlock, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Eleanor Daley, Kathleen Allan, Diane Loomer, and Sarah

Jean-Baptiste Lully was the toast of the town in France during the Baroque era. The French King loved Lully, and today’s Beautiful Music is a live performance of an excerpt from the composer’s comédie-ballet LE BOURGEOIS GENTILHOMME. (Side note — you may notice that the conductor is not waving a baton to lead the group.

There is such great energy in this May 2023 performance of a movement from the Concerto for violin and cello by Leopold Hoffman. Today’s Beautiful Music features cellist Kristína Chalmovská, violinist Alfia Bakieva, and Solamente Naturali led by Miloš Valent. From the looks on their faces, their exchanged glances, and their overall physicality, it’s a

In the 16th and 17th centuries, missionaries went to South America and brought their European musical traditions and instruments. Today’s Beautiful Music is a full concert of music from those missions — sacred music featuring Florilegium with a variety of soloists. Most of the music is anonymous, but also included is music that was brought

I recently learned of musician Lilian Saba. She is an Argentine composer, pianist, and teacher, and her artistry is captivating. Today’s Beautiful Music is Lilian Saba the performer, playing the piano and collaborating with Marcelo Chiodi, who is playing a variety of flutes, including panpipes. Their easy, genial rapport is as delightful to watch as