Nov 27th, 2008 · Relatives can be an important ingredient to a successful Thanksgiving. Classical music commentator Miles Hoffman points out some important musical relatives of Mozart, Bach, Schumann and Mendelssohn.
Oct 23rd, 2008 · Commentator Miles Hoffman offers a classical variation on a political theme: insults and endorsements among the great composers. Invectives hurled at their colleagues and competitors were effective means of shaping public opinion. Whether positive, negative or the all-too-common flip-flop, classical-music criticism, just like political commentary, is little more than biased opinion in time.
Aug 7th, 2008 · As medal-winners step up to the podium in this year's Summer Olympics, commentator Miles Hoffman says, we're bound to hear quite a few national anthems, some of which come equipped with bad poetry and stilted music.
Mar 21st, 2008 · Just in time for the change of the season, music commentator Miles Hoffman considers the lingering reputation of Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Rite of Spring as the shocker that altered the art world. The work has been called "one of the most daring creations of the modern musical mind."
Feb 12th, 2008 · Legendary musicians such as Arturo Toscanini, Maria Callas and Jascha Heifetz might be gone, but their performances are still alive, thanks to YouTube. Commentator Miles Hoffman considers the popular Web site a treasure trove for fans of classical music.
Dec 25th, 2007 · In the spirit of the gift-giving season, classical music commentator Miles Hoffman discusses the fine art of musical patronage. Composers from the renaissance to Beethoven to Copland have benefited from generous philanthropists.
Nov 21st, 2007 · Like overeating at Thanksgiving, composers can overindulge on music. Commentator Miles Hoffman discusses the reaction some composers had to the "musical bloat" of the Bruckner and Mahler years. The result was a leaner musical waistline.
Oct 8th, 2007 · Even when it isn't sung, the Italian language sounds like music, which is part of why Italian words are used to tell musicians how to playpresto, lento, adagio, forte. Commentator Miles Hoffman explains why Italian is the lingua franca of classical music.