In Memoriam: Pierre Boulez (1925-2016)

Top Ear is saddened to note the death of esteemed conductor and composer Pierre Boulez on January 5, 2016 at the grand old age of 90.  As the numerous obituaries from various news agencies and orchestras have already mentioned,

Obituary: Lorin Maazel (1930-2014)

Veteran conductor and former child prodigy Lorin Maazel has died aged 84 from complications of pneumonia.

Maazel was born in France to Jewish American parents and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He made his conducting debut at age 8 and conducted the NBC Symphony Orchestra at age 11.  He has served in the capacity of

In Memoriam: Claudio Abbado (1933-2014)

Top Ear is greatly saddened to hear the news of Maestro Claudio Abbado’s passing, aged 80.  No official news of the cause of his death has been released yet; nevertheless there is no doubt that a great star has fallen, and he will be sorely missed not only by Top Ear but by those who have

Top Ear’s Very Own Debussy Tribute!

Today marks the 150th anniversary of the French composer Claude Debussy, a giant of French impressionism and a revolutionary figure of 20th century music.  His famous Clair de Lune of Suite Bergamasque has long been a favorite of amateur pianists, and the Etudes and two books of Preludes staples of the concert repertoire.

To commemorate this very special day, we at Top Ear have decided to release the first of

An Unusual Tribute: A Memorial to June Fourth

Leonard Ip writes

It might appear as a strange thing to think of, but once it is pointed out, the connection between Hong Kong people 23 years ago and Frederic Chopin 181 years ago hardly need any explanation. Upon hearing news from Poland that an uprising against the Czar was crushed, Chopin left his

In Memoriam: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1925-2012)

Leonard Ip writes

“OH MY LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FISCHER-DIESKAU HAS JUST DIED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

It was in the evening of 18th May, 2012, and this was exactly what appeared on my Facebook chat.

Half of my body turned cold. Immediately I went for a check on the internet: there were