Terry Blain
Recent articles by Terry Blain
When was Beethoven's funeral and how many people attended?
The story of thousands gathering in Vienna for Beethoven’s final farewell
How a concert hall's whites-only policy caused soprano Marian Anderson to find an ally in Eleanor Roosevelt
When Marian Anderson took to the stage in 1939 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, she had the full support of the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who had taken up her cause after Anderson was rejected from a concert hall because of a racist policy
Irish classical music: how it originated and developed and Ireland's best composers
Terry Blain explores the richly varied classical music history of Ireland, from its folk roots in the 17th century to the brilliant young composers working today
British Music for Viola & Piano
Dreams, Desires, Desolation
Bliss • H Ferguson • Robin Holloway: Chamber Music
Walt Disney Concert Hall: a modern marvel of music and architecture
In October 2003 the long anticipated Disney Concert Hall opened - and was hailed a modernist masterpiece. We recount the history of this iconic venue.
Leonard Bernstein Berlin concert: when did the conductor celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall?
At Christmas 1989, Leonard Bernstein conducted a historic performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall
Delius: A Mass of Life
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4
How did Glenn Miller die?
Glenn Miller went missing over the English Channel in 1944. But what really happened that cold December night? BBC Music Magazine tells all
The English Tenor
Respighi, Ottorino
The Roman Visionary
Charles Villiers Stanford: has history judged the composer unfairly?
Charles Villiers Stanford, a man who taught many of Britain’s finest talents, deserves far greater recognition as a composer in his own right, says Terry Blain
How the Dreyfus affair caused Grieg to boycott Paris - and receive death threats as a result
In September 1899 Grieg said ‘non’ to Paris as the Dreyfus affair rages
Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 (Tonhalle/P Järvi)
Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich/Paavo Järvi (Alpha Classics)
Anthems (Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge)
The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge/Stephen Layton (Hyperion)
Bruckner: Motets (St Albans)
St Albans Cathedral Choir/Andrew Lucas (FHR)
Sirens' Song (The Sixteen)
The Sixteen/Harry Christophers (CORO)
A guide to Manuel de Falla's ballet El Amor Brujo and its best recordings
Terry Blain thrills to a mix of flamenco and classical traditions as he explores the finest recordings of de Falla’s characterful 1925 ballet El Amor Brujo
Vaughan Williams: Job – A Masque for Dancing etc
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Andrew Manze (Onyx)
James MacMillan • Tavener • Vaughan Williams: Choral Works
The Choir of Westminster Abbey/James O’Donnell (Hyperion)
A guide to Strauss's Symphonia Domestica and its best recordings
Taking inspiration from his everyday married life, Strauss composed a landmark in symphonic music; Terry Blain finds the best recordings of Strauss's Symphonia Domestica;
How striking musicians brought the BBC Proms to a standstill
In July 1980 striking musicians reduced the BBC Proms to silence