Classical Music Entertainment Online

Classical Music Entertainment Online It's the year 2012 and we can now access an astounding variety of music performance through the internet. Audio and video streams abound in classical music. The internet offers opportunities to experience performance on demand, in stereo, from some of the most prestigious venues anywhere. These performances feature conductors, performers and arrangements by artists not long ago appreciated by only those able to afford to go to a live performance.

So we're going to take a look at what's out there. We're going to navigate some of the on-line content and point you to some of the orchestras, their musicians, and of course, their best performances, recordings and concerts.

Our searches are going to assume we are seeking an introduction to the genre. We'd like to know what a few of the best symphony orchestras are. Is there an orchestra in your area? Perhaps you can get involved as a volunteer or become acquainted through their website. Is there a site or two which might have a background on the orchestra, its performances, performers? Do they have any mp3's or streaming audio available on-line? Are there streaming videos available? Are there radio stations broadcasting performances in the category you're interested in? The answer to most of these questions is yes. So let's get started and see what we find.

Classical Music Entertainment Online

classic music entertainmenr

 

The first thing we'll do is a keyword search in Google for top symphony orchestras. In case you've wondered, a philharmonic orchestra is the same as a symphony. The term philharmonic includes all of the people and activities involved in supporting the orchestra. According to a recent survey by music critics, The Berlin, Royal Concertgebouw of Amsterdam. Vienna and London Symphonies are amongst the elite in the world. Next, let's enter each symphony into Google and see what we come up with in terms of history and background on these famous orchestras. For more information and links to these orchestras, check out my site link at the bottom of the page.

The Swedign Royal Concertgebouw of Amsterdam (Royal Symphony) has several sites pertaining to its makeup, history and heritage. The orchestra was started in 1888 and has become famous as a leading orchestra. It has established relationships with several of the world's best composers including Mahler, Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Rachmoninov. The Berlin Symphony has a very thorough website. On it you will find bios on all 128 musicians, insights in to the workings of its many smaller chamber groups and ensembles and how the orchestra participants mentor young musicians along the way. You will also find an on-line magazine featuring podcasts and interesting articles. The Vienna Symphony is closely associated with the history of Western music. Vienna is the home of Mozart and Beethoven. The orchestra was founded over 160 years ago. Their website carries information on all aspects of the symphony. Like all great orchestras, the London Symphony Orchestra features some of the most talented musicians playing today. Shortly, we will discuss a few of the musicians you'll find bios of, available at each of the sites. The London Symphony is over 100 years old. It is owned by its musicians and it was one of the first orchestras to make gramophone recordings.

Classical Music Entertainment Online

I live in Peterborough, North of Toronto. We have a very accomplished orchestra here in Peterborough for a city of it's size, under the direction of Michael Newnham. The Toronto Symphony is currently under the direction of Peter Oundjian. It has been in operation for over 80 years and it is housed in the brilliant Roy Thompson Hall. To find the nearest symphony to where you live simply type in the city and orchestra into Google. Chances are they have a website.

The musicians of the great orchestras are among the most talented anywhere. Tim Hugh is the principal cellist of the London Symphony. Paul Silverthorne is the principal Violist. They have both taken part in many LSO recordings and. as with many others, they play independently in addition to their work with the symphony. Their bios are available on the LSO website. Guy Braunstein, a student of Pinchas Zukerman, is the first violinist of the Berlin Philharmonic. Andreus Blau has been the principal flute player with the symphony since 1969 and has played under such great conductors as Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado, Yehudi Menuhin and David Oistrakh. He has had many students of whom many have gone on to play with other orchestras.

Classical Music Entertainment Online

Associated with most of the great symphony orchestras are tremendous concert halls. Many of these halls can be experienced through virtual tours on-line and indirectly by catching a symphony concert on Youtube. The Berlin Philharmonie is an example. The building went up in the early 1960's and has become an example of acoustic and architectural design for other halls around the world. As I mentioned earlier, the Toronto Symphony is housed in Roy Thompson Hall, designed by architect Arthur Ericsson. This glass building underwent extensive renovations in 2002 to enhance its acoustics by adding an inner level of wooden cladding. By all reports the reconstruction was very successful.

The internet is teeming with opportunities for you to listen to streaming audio, full stereo classical music through radio stations. You will find a link to a site with over 150 such stations at my link, Symphonia1 at the bottom of the page. In addition to radio stations, mp3's can be found for download, both for a fee and at no charge. Again, see my site for details.

In the streaming video category, scores of high resolution, full stereo performances are now available online. Performances are found in some of the great concert halls and so you can go for a virtual visit any time you like. My approach to searching for performances has been to simply enter the name of a piece, composer or orchestra. You will find a variety of great performances are available for any of the symphonies I have mentioned and dozens more for orchestras from around the world. Links to several performances are available by visiting my link at the bottom of the page.

Finally, we would be amiss to leave out music education. Let's not forget that music is for everyone at any age. There are teachers in your area who would love to sign you up to learn to play an instrument. The internet provides so many resources and so much support for learning to play. You can listen or watch pieces played and use them as resources for you practicing. You can join chat groups with players interested in your instrument. You can download sheet music and a variety of educational materials.

Classical Music Entertainment Online

The world of classical music performance has never been so accessible. If you're new to the genre, here's a place to get acquainted. If not, I hope I have pointed you in the direction of some new resources. In any case, the musicians, recordings, and performances of classical music are out there for you to explore.