September 2017

Oskar Merikanto (Aug. 5, 1868 - Feb. 17, 1924) was a Finnish composer, pianist and conductor. He showed musical talent at a young age, with noted skills on piano and organ. Continue reading →

Alexander Dargomyzhsky (Feb. 14, 1813 - Jan. 17, 1869) was a Russian composer, educated in St. Petersburg. He was a talented amateur musician, and in 1833 he met Mikhail Glinka, who helped motivate him to compose more. He would go on to be the bridge in Russian opera, beween Glinka  and Pyotr Tchaikovsky. He wrote several operas, but with little recognition until the 1860s, in Belgium. Continue reading →

Sophie Menter (July 29, 1846 - Feb. 23, 1918) was a German pianist and composer, born to musical parents. At the age of fifteen she soloed with an orchestra, and her concertizing after that took her all around Germany and Switzerland. Continue reading →

Antonio Scontrino (May 17, 1850 - Jan. 7, 1922) was an Italian double bassist, composer, and professor. He studied at the Palermo Conservatory from ages 11 to 20, and also studied in Munich. He began performing as a double bassist in 1891, and eight years later taught composition at the Palermo Conservatory. He also taught counterpoint at the conservatory in Florence. Continue reading →