Beautiful Music

Today’s Beautiful Music is provided by a cellist born more than a century ago. British cello virtuoso Beatrice Harrison plays OMBRA MAI FU (aka the “largo”) by George Frideric Handel with her sister, pianist Margaret Harrison. It was recorded in 1922, so it’s not the finest sound quality, but it’s a lovely performance. You can […]

Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704) was born in Novara, and at age 16 she joined an Ursuline convent. She was a musician, and while she wrote a small number of secular instrumental compositions, the majority of her works were sacred vocal compositions. In addition to her many motets, she also composed this mass — Beautiful Music written

As a music lover — especially if you’re an opera fan — you deserve to know the name Sissieretta Jones. The American soprano’s full name was Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones (January 5, 1868 or 1869 – June 24, 1933), and she was an amazing talent and a trailblazer! Sissieretta Jones was the first African-American woman

Chi-Chi Nwanoku is a trailblazer! She is the Founder, Artistic and Executive Director of the Chineke! Foundation, which supports, inspires and encourages Black and ethnically diverse classical musicians working in the UK and Europe. She is also a double bass player — a founding member of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and its

Today marks one year since my first “Beautiful Music” blog post. The world had just taken an alarming and isolating turn, and as an antidote to social distancing, I felt compelled to reach out and find a way we could come together in our shared love of music. In honor of this anniversary, I am

Barbara Strozzi  (1619-1677) was a Venetian singer and composer, and one of the first women to have her music published in her own name. She published 8 volumes of her own compositions, much of which is vocal music. In addition to reading more about her biography, you can listen to Beautiful Music by Barbara Strozzi

After watching Leonard Bernstein conduct one of his iconic Young People’s concerts, Marin Alsop decided she wanted to be a conductor, too. Even when her violin teacher told her “girls don’t do that,” Ms. Alsop’s mother told her otherwise. Marin Alsop lived up to her mother’s vision, and became the first woman conductor of a

Soprano Nicole Cabell’s velvety tone and brilliant range and facility are such a delight. The California native was not from a musical family, and only started singing in her mid-teens. She quickly discovered her musical gifts, and enrolled in the Eastman School of Music. You can read her bio, linked below, and listen to Nicole

March 8 is International Women’s Day. To mark the occasion today, this is Beautiful Music by one of the earliest documented woman musicians: Hildegard von Bingen. She was not only a composer, she was a Benedictine nun, writer, and philosopher who lived from 1098-1179.  Brigitte Lesne leads the female a cappella ensemble Discantus singing Hildegard’s

American violin virtuoso Melissa White made a splash in 2001 on the radio program FROM THE TOP as a 16 year old who had recently won First Prize in the Sphinx Competition. In the 20 years since, she has attended Curtis Institute and New England Conservatory, and has cultivated her career as a soloist and