Anthony Princiotti
@tonyprinciotti.bsky.social
Conductor, Violinist, Teacher; Longtime Producer of Digital Engagement Materials for @BostonSymphony. Juilliard/Yale grad.
E-mail: [email protected]
Newsletter: http://therefuge.substack.com (new editions on Wednesdays and Sundays)
E-mail: [email protected]
Newsletter: http://therefuge.substack.com (new editions on Wednesdays and Sundays)
Pinned
In this Week's Edition of "The Refuge":
Haydn in London
Retiring a Toxic Title
Telemann and the Art of Crisis Management
Berlioz Enters the Opera Fray
therefuge.substack.com
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Haydn in London
Retiring a Toxic Title
Telemann and the Art of Crisis Management
Berlioz Enters the Opera Fray
therefuge.substack.com
Please Share and Subscribe!
“Most people die with their music still locked up inside them.”
― Benjamin Disraeli
― Benjamin Disraeli
November 30, 2025 at 3:12 AM
“Most people die with their music still locked up inside them.”
― Benjamin Disraeli
― Benjamin Disraeli
How do you get two Flutists to play in tune with each other?
Ask one to leave.
(Thanks, folks; I'm here all week. Try the Soy-Kale Parmigiana.)
Ask one to leave.
(Thanks, folks; I'm here all week. Try the Soy-Kale Parmigiana.)
November 30, 2025 at 3:11 AM
How do you get two Flutists to play in tune with each other?
Ask one to leave.
(Thanks, folks; I'm here all week. Try the Soy-Kale Parmigiana.)
Ask one to leave.
(Thanks, folks; I'm here all week. Try the Soy-Kale Parmigiana.)
The "rivalry" between and Arturo Toscanini was fueled by politically-based media narratives. Toscanini, the objectivist exiled in America, became a symbol of democratic defiance, while Furtwaengler, the mystic subjectivist, became the guardian of a "misunderstood" German culture.
November 30, 2025 at 3:10 AM
The "rivalry" between and Arturo Toscanini was fueled by politically-based media narratives. Toscanini, the objectivist exiled in America, became a symbol of democratic defiance, while Furtwaengler, the mystic subjectivist, became the guardian of a "misunderstood" German culture.
As conductor of the Berlin Phil during the Nazi era, Furtwaengler wanted to support the German and Austrian people by performing the music of their compatriots Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert. Unfortunately, this confirmed Nazi concepts of Germanic cultural superiority.
November 30, 2025 at 3:00 AM
As conductor of the Berlin Phil during the Nazi era, Furtwaengler wanted to support the German and Austrian people by performing the music of their compatriots Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert. Unfortunately, this confirmed Nazi concepts of Germanic cultural superiority.
71 years ago today, the German conductor/composer Wilhelm Furtwaengler died at the age of 68. He was one of the most renowned conductors of the 20th c., and one of the most controversial; his decision to remain in Germany during the Nazi era made him a pariah in many quarters.
November 30, 2025 at 3:00 AM
71 years ago today, the German conductor/composer Wilhelm Furtwaengler died at the age of 68. He was one of the most renowned conductors of the 20th c., and one of the most controversial; his decision to remain in Germany during the Nazi era made him a pariah in many quarters.
“The effect of music is so very much more powerful and penetrating than is that of the other arts, for these others speak only of the shadow, but music of the essence.”
- Arthur Schopenhauer, "The World as Will and Representation"
- Arthur Schopenhauer, "The World as Will and Representation"
November 28, 2025 at 5:33 AM
“The effect of music is so very much more powerful and penetrating than is that of the other arts, for these others speak only of the shadow, but music of the essence.”
- Arthur Schopenhauer, "The World as Will and Representation"
- Arthur Schopenhauer, "The World as Will and Representation"
While Monteverdi was renowned as a composer during his lifetime, he was all but forgotten within a decade of his death. Back then, musical culture prioritized what was new; the concept of "classical" music was notional at best.
Monteverdi's musical revival began only recently, in the 1970s.
Monteverdi's musical revival began only recently, in the 1970s.
November 28, 2025 at 5:17 AM
While Monteverdi was renowned as a composer during his lifetime, he was all but forgotten within a decade of his death. Back then, musical culture prioritized what was new; the concept of "classical" music was notional at best.
Monteverdi's musical revival began only recently, in the 1970s.
Monteverdi's musical revival began only recently, in the 1970s.
On this date in 1643, the Italian composer, singer and priest Claudio Monteverdi died in Venice. His revolutionary art took the polyphonic heritage of the Renaissance and transformed it into the more texturally-stratified, expressively-dissonant aesthetic of the Italian Baroque.
November 28, 2025 at 5:14 AM
On this date in 1643, the Italian composer, singer and priest Claudio Monteverdi died in Venice. His revolutionary art took the polyphonic heritage of the Renaissance and transformed it into the more texturally-stratified, expressively-dissonant aesthetic of the Italian Baroque.
A man's buying a parrot.
Clerk: This one's $1000; it sings Mozart arias.
Man: And the other?
Clerk: $10,000; it can sing Wagner's Ring cycle. There's another out back for $30,000.
Man: Wow; what does it do?
Clerk: Not much; although the other two parrots keep calling him 'Maestro'.
Clerk: This one's $1000; it sings Mozart arias.
Man: And the other?
Clerk: $10,000; it can sing Wagner's Ring cycle. There's another out back for $30,000.
Man: Wow; what does it do?
Clerk: Not much; although the other two parrots keep calling him 'Maestro'.
November 27, 2025 at 3:59 AM
A man's buying a parrot.
Clerk: This one's $1000; it sings Mozart arias.
Man: And the other?
Clerk: $10,000; it can sing Wagner's Ring cycle. There's another out back for $30,000.
Man: Wow; what does it do?
Clerk: Not much; although the other two parrots keep calling him 'Maestro'.
Clerk: This one's $1000; it sings Mozart arias.
Man: And the other?
Clerk: $10,000; it can sing Wagner's Ring cycle. There's another out back for $30,000.
Man: Wow; what does it do?
Clerk: Not much; although the other two parrots keep calling him 'Maestro'.
“When I was a little boy, I told my dad, ‘When I grow up, I want to be a musician.’ My dad said: ‘You can’t do both, Son.”
- Chet Atkins
- Chet Atkins
November 26, 2025 at 4:29 AM
“When I was a little boy, I told my dad, ‘When I grow up, I want to be a musician.’ My dad said: ‘You can’t do both, Son.”
- Chet Atkins
- Chet Atkins
A dress owned by Haydn's wife, Maria Anna (née Keller).
November 26, 2025 at 4:28 AM
A dress owned by Haydn's wife, Maria Anna (née Keller).
On this date in 1760, Franz Josef Haydn married Maria Keller, the eldest daughter of a Viennese wig-maker. Their 40-year marriage was mostly miserable; Maria disliked music and couldn't recognize his genius. He claimed "it made me not indifferent to the charms of other women."
November 26, 2025 at 4:28 AM
On this date in 1760, Franz Josef Haydn married Maria Keller, the eldest daughter of a Viennese wig-maker. Their 40-year marriage was mostly miserable; Maria disliked music and couldn't recognize his genius. He claimed "it made me not indifferent to the charms of other women."
One of the things I find more interesting about Gabriel Faure's famous "Pavane" (originally for solo piano and later for small orchestra with an optional chorus) is its wonderfully strange affect. It has an aura that's at once distant AND affectionate.
November 26, 2025 at 4:27 AM
One of the things I find more interesting about Gabriel Faure's famous "Pavane" (originally for solo piano and later for small orchestra with an optional chorus) is its wonderfully strange affect. It has an aura that's at once distant AND affectionate.
87 years ago today, Robert Schumann's Violin Concerto was premiered - posthumously - in Berlin. Because the piece was written during Schumann's final mental collapse, it was suppressed by his wife Clara after Brahms claimed it was an unworthy reflection of her husband's talent.
November 26, 2025 at 4:17 AM
87 years ago today, Robert Schumann's Violin Concerto was premiered - posthumously - in Berlin. Because the piece was written during Schumann's final mental collapse, it was suppressed by his wife Clara after Brahms claimed it was an unworthy reflection of her husband's talent.
"Unfortunately, Fraulein Sontag ended up vomiting 15 times. With Fraulein Unger, the effect was in quite the opposite direction."
- Letter to Beethoven regarding the effects of some wine the composer had given to a pair of soloists who'd sing in the premiere of his 9th Symphony.
- Letter to Beethoven regarding the effects of some wine the composer had given to a pair of soloists who'd sing in the premiere of his 9th Symphony.
November 25, 2025 at 3:49 AM
"Unfortunately, Fraulein Sontag ended up vomiting 15 times. With Fraulein Unger, the effect was in quite the opposite direction."
- Letter to Beethoven regarding the effects of some wine the composer had given to a pair of soloists who'd sing in the premiere of his 9th Symphony.
- Letter to Beethoven regarding the effects of some wine the composer had given to a pair of soloists who'd sing in the premiere of his 9th Symphony.
There's a tendency to look upon each generation of teenagers as more sophisticated than the last. But when I listen to music Mozart wrote when he was a teen, that notion seems doubtful. It reflects a uniquely subtle emotional awareness and a profound level of psychological insight.
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 AM
There's a tendency to look upon each generation of teenagers as more sophisticated than the last. But when I listen to music Mozart wrote when he was a teen, that notion seems doubtful. It reflects a uniquely subtle emotional awareness and a profound level of psychological insight.
On this date in 1731, J.S. Bach's sacred Cantata "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" ("Wake up, cries the watchmen’s voice") was premiered in Leipzig. The capstone for the 2nd of Bach's annual church cantata cycle, it became one of his most well-known works in the genre.
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 AM
On this date in 1731, J.S. Bach's sacred Cantata "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" ("Wake up, cries the watchmen’s voice") was premiered in Leipzig. The capstone for the 2nd of Bach's annual church cantata cycle, it became one of his most well-known works in the genre.
"It is important to know that my very first work as a composer was a Concerto for Accordion."
- Alfred Schnittke
- Alfred Schnittke
November 24, 2025 at 5:08 AM
"It is important to know that my very first work as a composer was a Concerto for Accordion."
- Alfred Schnittke
- Alfred Schnittke
Schnittke wrote 9 Symphonies....sort of. He had to compose his 9th with his non-dominant hand after a series of strokes left him paralyzed on his right side. Thus the manuscript is hard to decipher. Alexander Raskatov's reconstruction of the piece is - inevitably - controversial.
November 24, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Schnittke wrote 9 Symphonies....sort of. He had to compose his 9th with his non-dominant hand after a series of strokes left him paralyzed on his right side. Thus the manuscript is hard to decipher. Alexander Raskatov's reconstruction of the piece is - inevitably - controversial.
The poly-stylistic character of Schnittke's music, which embraced everything from Baroque period gestures to Boulezian Serialism, has often struck me as a strength and a weakness all at once. Its expressive range is thrilling, but the overall effect can be incoherent.
November 24, 2025 at 5:07 AM
The poly-stylistic character of Schnittke's music, which embraced everything from Baroque period gestures to Boulezian Serialism, has often struck me as a strength and a weakness all at once. Its expressive range is thrilling, but the overall effect can be incoherent.
When Schnittke met the Italian serialist Luigi Nono 1962, he was captivated. Nono was a dramatic figure, loathed for his "monstrous" music and hailed for his fervent communism. Schnittke would grow less fond of what he'd call "the puberty rites of serial self-denial."
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 AM
When Schnittke met the Italian serialist Luigi Nono 1962, he was captivated. Nono was a dramatic figure, loathed for his "monstrous" music and hailed for his fervent communism. Schnittke would grow less fond of what he'd call "the puberty rites of serial self-denial."
There's a tendency to think the repression of Soviet composers was mostly a thing of the past by the 1970s. Not so. Schnittke survived by writing film music; his "serious" works were often denigrated by the government-controlled Composer's Union. The stress undermined his health.
November 24, 2025 at 5:05 AM
There's a tendency to think the repression of Soviet composers was mostly a thing of the past by the 1970s. Not so. Schnittke survived by writing film music; his "serious" works were often denigrated by the government-controlled Composer's Union. The stress undermined his health.
91 years ago today, the Soviet composer Alfred Schnittke was born in the central-Russian city of Engels. The most eminent successor to Dmitri Shostakovich, his wide-ranging output is characterized by the use of traditional forms as frameworks for a highly-eclectic aesthetic.
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 AM
91 years ago today, the Soviet composer Alfred Schnittke was born in the central-Russian city of Engels. The most eminent successor to Dmitri Shostakovich, his wide-ranging output is characterized by the use of traditional forms as frameworks for a highly-eclectic aesthetic.
"One can't properly judge Wagner's opera "Lohengrin" after a first hearing. And I certainly don't intend to hear it a second time."
- Gioachino Rossini
- Gioachino Rossini
November 23, 2025 at 3:10 PM
"One can't properly judge Wagner's opera "Lohengrin" after a first hearing. And I certainly don't intend to hear it a second time."
- Gioachino Rossini
- Gioachino Rossini
On this date in 1890, Dvorak's wonderful Piano Quartet in E-Flat was first performed in Prague. If you compare Dvorak's two works in the genre to Brahms' three, the sense of vastly different world-views is palpable. Dvorak was essentially an optimist; Brahms was, uh, not.
November 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
On this date in 1890, Dvorak's wonderful Piano Quartet in E-Flat was first performed in Prague. If you compare Dvorak's two works in the genre to Brahms' three, the sense of vastly different world-views is palpable. Dvorak was essentially an optimist; Brahms was, uh, not.