Viva Virtuoso Ep. 4 “Drama Queen” Premieres March 23rd
And we’re back, folks!
After a three-month winter break, Viva Virtuoso is back this Spring, with dramatic soprano Shayne Dalva joining us.
Nicolo Paganini, by Richard James Lane (died 1872), published 1831. See source website for additional information. This set of images was gathered by User:Dcoetzee from the National Portrait Gallery.
The Devil’s Violinist and His One String
Nineteenth century composer and violinist Niccolò Paganini remains one of the most influential composers and musicians in history. Paganini was more ‘fondly’ known as the ‘Devil’s violinist’, for both his uniquely brilliant skills and his appearance. (more…)
Anita O'Day at Newport Jazz Festival 1958. Still from Jazz on a Summer's Day by Bert Stern.
‘Maybe I Can Sing’: Remembering the Voice of Anita O’Day
When we hear mention of the great female vocals of jazz, most will tend to think of Ella Fitzgerald and the great Lady Bird herself. Less frequently, we think of Lena Horne and Sarah Vaughn. The true aficionado will have their own favorite great lady of jazz come to mind. One of our favorites is the oft forgotten Anita O’Day. (more…)
What in the world is Philip Glass up to?
While we like nothing better than looking back on the musical marvels of yesteryear, we also frequently wonder why so many contemporary composers and musicians get so little attention in the online world. To remedy that, at least in part, we’ll be sharing what some of our contemporaries are up to here on the blog and in a weekly digest that we’re launching in a couple of weeks. (more…)
From Pearl City to the City of Angels: A Casual Colloquy with Cellist Tao Ni
From China’s Anhui Province to Los Angeles, California, by way of Indiana, Ohio and Alberta, Tao Ni has meticulously molded himself into one of the most talented cellists of our time. Now at home with the L.A. Phil, Tao is a virtuoso in his own right and as versatile as such young talents tend to come.
Tatum, Horowitz and Tea for Two
If you like what you see and enjoy what you hear on the Viva Virtuoso website, give our official YouTube channel a whirl and tell us what you think.
Most know him as one of the jazz greats, while some have flat out called him the greatest jazz pianist ever.
Born in Toledo, Ohio at the turn of the 20th century, Art Tatum, Jr. was almost entirely blind by age four. Not only did this serious impairment not prevent him from having a successful career and very interesting life, it may even have been a contribution to his impeccable hearing and, in turn, his music.
Viva Virtuoso YouTube Picks of the Month November
With the second episode of Viva Virtuoso under our belts, it’s safe to say that we’re all enjoying the experience of creating a variety show web series. Sure, none of us were entirely clear on the hours and hours of work producing the show would involve until we were neck deep in the process. But that hasn’t scared us away. If anything, it has only made us appreciate other musical content that various creators offer up online – and free of charge.
Today, we’re recommending a few more of our favorite YouTube channels, perhaps a little more grateful for the effort put into them than we were before. Though Viva Virtuoso’s production team is in no way affiliated with these channels, we invite you to follow them and on a regular basis. Well worth your time, if you’re into classical masterpieces and all that jazz.