Shostakovich is often, in musical circles, called the greatest composer of the twentieth century. Yet the quality of his music is so uneven that, while a third of it is the brain-bombing work of a divine genius, another third is almost worthless, and another third scares young violinists into abandon

20th-century music, Catastrophe, Lyrical, Melancholy, Moody, Pathos, Visceral

Although he died at an early age, Gershwin created a body of work that was not merely extensive, but also enduring. His music is still frequently performed more than 50 years after his death. Gershwin absorbed all the musical developments coming from the jazz world, so it is not surprising that his w

20th-century music, Charming, Epic, Overflowing

Romantic music, Romantic poetry

What is it that makes soprano Maria Callas stand out from all the other outstanding vocalists of her time? What is it that persuades new opera fans to buy her albums, more than 25 years after her death, when other opera singers are forgotten immediately after their retirement? Most people insist that

Classical, Epic, Feminine, Political, Sublime