StarkConductor Blog
The StarkConductor blog has been around since August 2020, and since then a number of articles have come together. To make browsing as convenient as possible, this page is divided into three sections: At the top you can use the search function to find articles. After that, you will always find the 3 most recent articles. Finally, you will find all articles sorted by category.
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Have fun reading!
Jonathan Stark
The 3 most recent articles
Here you will always find the 3 most recently published articles.
The Fight for Recognition (Autumn 2022 Mini-Experience Part 2/4)
Our young musicologist had early success, but it didn’t last. Read here what hurdles he had to overcome at the beginning of his career.
The Groundbreaking Article (Autumn 2022 Mini-Experience Part 1/4)
In 1872, a 23-year-old musicologist published an article that astonished experts. In it, a whole new way of perceiving music was outlined.
The article was signed “Hugibert Ries”.
Everyone in the professional music world wondered: Who is this man?
Understanding Tempo (Music) Step by Step
Tempo is a significant factor in music. It is more influential in shaping the effect of a piece of music than almost any other aspect. In this article, you will learn everything about tempo in music, step by step. By the end, you will be able to understand any tempo indication.
Mini-Experiences
The Mini-Experiences are anecdotes from classical music in story format. Four of them are published per year.
The Groundbreaking Article (Autumn 2022 Mini-Experience Part 1/4)
In 1872, a 23-year-old musicologist published an article that astonished experts. In it, a whole new way of perceiving music was outlined.
The article was signed “Hugibert Ries”.
Everyone in the professional music world wondered: Who is this man?
The Change (Summer 2022 Mini-Experience Part 1/4)
It was around the year 1800 that a centuries-old tradition began to falter. Read the StarkConductor Summer 2022 Mini-Experience Part 1/4.
The Founding Story of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Part I
The founding story of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra does not begin in Chicago. Nor does it begin in New York, nor even in America. It begins in a tiny town in northern Germany, where 10-year-old Theodor plays his violin.
Composers
These articles are about everything to do with Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and many other composers.
Mozart’s 22 Operas (List)
Mozart created 22 stage works in his lifetime. Among them are world-famous ‘evergreens’ such as The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni. But many Mozart operas are also completely unknown, or have you ever heard of the ‘Goose of Cairo’? All 22 Mozart operas can be found in the following list.
Mozart’s name: 3 curious facts
The name Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is world famous. However, behind this name are all sorts of curiosities that are little known. Three of them I present to you here.
Bach’s early years – 9 facts you didn’t know yet
For a long time, virtually nothing was known about Johann Sebastian Bach’s early years. Since the mid-2000s, however, the sources have been getting better and better. Reason enough to take a closer look at Johann Sebastian Bach’s childhood and teenage years.
Haydn, the Folklorist
Have you ever asked yourself where great composers got their ideas from? No doubt: a thorough education, a solid mastery of the craft of composition and an untiring will to work have always been decisive. But sometimes great composers have simply copied.
Mozart on Tempo
“The most necessary and the hardest and most important thing in music is the tempo.” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote this in 1777 in a letter to his father. Is it still true today?
Mozart’s Prague Triumph – Symphony KV 504
On January 19, 1787 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart experienced perhaps the most triumphant evening of his life. What had happened?
Orchestras and concert halls
This is where classical music resounds! Interesting facts about orchestras and concert halls from all over the world.
Opera and opera houses
Would you like a little more singing? Then this is the right category for you.
Volksoper Wien – Diversity From The Very Beginning
122 years ago today, the Volksoper Wien was opened. A few thoughts on the history and tradition of this diverse house.
Germany’s Cultural Construction Sites
In today’s blog post I present three cultural construction sites in Germany. These are “construction sites” in the truest sense of the word – the opera houses in Bayreuth and Stuttgart are being renovated, and a new concert hall is being built in Munich.
Three Facts About Opera
I keep saying that opera is an incredibly versatile art form. Accordingly, there is a lot to tell about the world of opera. Today, I present three facts that you might not immediately think of when you hear the word “opera”.
Great Moments of Operetta: the Vienna Johann Strauss Theater
123 years ago today, the operetta Die Faschingsfee by Emmerich Kálmán was premiered at the Johann Strauss Theater in Vienna. This house, which unfortunately no longer exists today, was one of the top addresses at the beginning of the 20th century when it came to operetta.
Estates Theater Prague: Enlightenment and National Pride
A theater in which two Mozart operas were premiered? A theater that opened with a Lessing play? A theater in which a national anthem was born? In fact, there is one in which all this happened: the Prague Estates Theater.
Music theory light
Musical background knowledge, presented in an understandable way.
Upgrade Your Melody – Syncopation
Imagine you’re Beethoven. You must captivate your audience with your melodies. How do you do that? Fortunately, you have a toolbox full of compositional tricks at your disposal. One of them is syncopation.
Music world
News from the classical music industry, interviews with colleagues and more of everything that is happening in the exciting world of classical music.
Conducting
Insights into the mysterious craft/art of conducting.
