The Old Italian Violin, Musical Chameleon

A Story of Rare and Beautiful Violins

Just two fiddles in a case. That's how an old friend described the rare Cremonese violins he had just seen on their way from one recital to another. Together they are worth in the low 8 figures, so I can't help wondering what their maker, Guarnari, del Gesu, a solitary, ailing man whose produced relatively few instruments, would have made of the market's enthusiasm for his work.

Italian Baroque Composers: Arcangelo Corelli

Italy has produced some of the finest artists, musicians, and composers of the Baroque period, an influence we enjoy today. Arcangelo Corelli was a composer of rare genius and emotional insight whose work altered the lives and direction of his peer composers, his students, and the style of music across Europe.

The World's Greatest Violinist

Niccolo Paganini was an Italian composer and virtuoso violinist who many still consider to be the greatest violinist that ever lived. His radical and brilliant innovations in violin technique are still heralded to this day; and his 24 Caprices are considered some of the most difficult music ever composed - only a handful of violinists at any period of time ever reach the heights of technique and musical ability required to play them.

The Ten Best Italian Tenors

Mario del Monaco

First in a Series of 'Italian Opera 'Greats'
An Exploration By Erica Miner

From her own personal experience and tastes developed over two decades as a violinist with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Erica Miner discusses tenors both historical and hysterical.

We've all heard of Enrico Caruso and the ubiquitous Luciano, but how many of us are familiar with Tito Schipa and other past 'greats' of the Italian opera world? Here's my take on this subject: I Grandi Tenori Italiani...