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CLASSICAL MUSIC
THE STORY BEHIND BERLIOZ'S
SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE

Is obsession a form of love? Berlioz composed the signature piece of Romantic Era for Harriet Smithson. How did she represented in the symphony? What was the relationship between Harriet and Berlioz?

CINEMA
MUSIC ANALYSIS OF
​'MY DINNER WITH ANDRE'

Eric Satie's Gymnopedie No.1 accompanies Wally while he's returning from a two hour conversation with Andre about the meaning of life. 
​

FUN
A PLATLIST TO MAKE YOU
​EVEN SADDER
IF YOU'RE HEARTBROKEN

This playlist may not cure your broken heart, but it will make your pain seen. You’re not alone. However unique your love story is, someone already went through it. 
Let’s start our ‘crying guaranteed’ playlist. 

CINEMA
MUSIC ANALYSIS OF
​BARRY LYNDON

Kubrick's Barry Lyndon offers a paint-like cinematography accompanied by wonderful soundscape which contributes so much to the story. 

OPERA
A CLOSER LOOK TO: 
​TOSCA

Let's analyze Tosca, Puccini's masterpiece; world's 5th most staged opera. 

OPERA
BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO OPERA:
WHERE TO START?



Did you fully experienced an opera before? Maybe you're a potential opera lover, but you didn't have the chance or guidence before? 
Here is the list for you to step into the opera world. This 10 opera suggestion will be your perfect guide to navigate among famous composers. 
Enjoy our guidance and list and let us know if you have any comments, suggestions! If you're in need of further guidence, don't hesitate to reach us our IG page: 
@theheadphonenet

WIKI
WHAT HAPPENED TO CLASSICAL MUSIC?

What happened to art music in 20th & 21st century? Why we tend to think that classical music is a dead artform? When's the last time you went to a concert to see 'new' music? All answered here.. 

OPERA
AN OPERA CHARMING:
CENDRILLON

Sick of the fairytales? Never. Here's an elegant retake of Cinderella at the height of musical humor... Here is the review of Laurent Pelly's Met Opera 2018 production
​

OPERA
ANALYSIS OF BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE BY BARTOK

This thriller opera aims more than just a tale. With its symbolic harmonical changes, strong characterizations; it mirrors a relationship that we are very familiar. 

CINEMA
THE CROWN SEASON 4 EPISODE 2: USAGE OF 'LA TRAVIATA'

The Crown's Season 4 Episode 2 'The Balmoral Test' features 'E Strano' and Act 1 Prelude from Verdi's 'La Traviata'. We examined the usage, connection and references.. 

FUN
10 LIFE LESSONS FROM OPERAS

Here you can find 10 life lessons that are deducted from various operas. Pay attention to this list, it's prepared in the expense of many, many heroines. 

OPERA
BARBER'S VANESSA REVIVED AT GLYNEDEBOURNE

20th century's operatic masterpiece it was but felt into the shadows of its contemporaries; Vanessa will make you feel very familiar modern feelings.. 

CINEMA
AIMEZ-VOUS BRAHMS?
​(GOODBYE AGAIN)

Do you like Brahms? 
Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Hopkins in this painfully realistic film explores if they like Brahms while questioning their own desires and worth. Read the analysis of music usage now.. 

OPERA
EUGENE ONEGIN,
​AN AUTUMN STORY AT THE MET

Review of 2007 production of Met Opera staged by Robert Carson featurig Renee Fleming, Dimitri Hvorostovky and Ramon Vargas. This love story will only make you wish if you didn't get wiser through time. 

OPERA
REVIEW: TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
MET OPERA 2016 PRODUCTION

Wagner's Tristan and Isolde has a different spot in the opera world, for sure. Under the Simon Rattle's conducting, Nina Stemme touched our hearts and played a deep Isolde. 
​

OPERA
IL TROVATORE EXPLAINED:
A CONFUSED MASTERPIECE

Member of the 'popular trilogy'; Il Trovatore ofter critisized to have a complicated storyline. Let's analyse the piece to find out what causing this confusion and how it managed to be as popular as it is. 

OPERA
MET OPERA
DAVID MCVICAR'S
'AGRIPPINA' REVIEW

Handel's Agrippina turned into modern setting by David McVicar in 19-20 season featuring Joyce DiDonato..

OPERA
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
​RICHARD JONES'S
​'LA BOHEME' REVIEW

Read Richard Jones's new production for Royal Opera House of La Boheme.. 
​

OPERA
METROPOLITAN OPERA
​19-20 SEASON
​'MANON' REVIEW

Met Opera's Manon prduction bring a fresh new diva to the world.. Massenet's Manon excites the audience once more..
​

OPERA
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO
OPERA BASTILLE
​PRODUCTION

Verdi's La Forza del Destino is an underrated beautiful opera that performed successfully by the Opera Bastille this summer. Read the review to find out about the staging.

SALZBURG FESTIVAL 2019 REVIEWS

OPERA
IDOMENEO,
​SALZBURG FESTIVAL 2019 PRODUCTION REVIEW


​Mozart's Idomeneo was the first piece to open this year's opera programme and it was one of the five new opera productions in the festival. 

Peter Sellars production focuses on global warming and climate change. Read the review to see how they linked that into Mozart's first mature opera!

OPERA
ADRIANA LECOUVREUR:
ANNA NETREBKO IN SALZBURG FESTIVAL'19


​
Anna Netrebko as Adriana Lecouvreur... This year's concert version of the opera made the audience doubt if they ever hear that opera before properly.. 

OPERA:
LA BOHEME IN SPACE
​

Claus Guth's production takes the La Boheme into a space mission where Mimi is just a memory from the past.. 
How this production works ? How it is connected to the original story ? What are my suggestions and feeling about this ? If you wonder about this production, here's a review !

TRAVEL:
A MUSIC LOVER'S GUIDE TO 
VIENNA

Vienna is a perfect city for musicians ans music lovers. Every classical music listener should experience the presence of the great composers in this city. I did the musician walk in the city. You can find my experience and suggestions here. 
What concerts you should see ? How can you buy an opera ticket ? Is this an another church or did Mozart have his funeral here ?

FUN
15 BEST CLASSICAL MUSIC USAGE IN CARTOONS

How lucky we were to grow up with these wonderful cartoons! They are the reason we are familiar with classical music. However, that wasn't all. They are not just using classical music as a background music, there was some serious amusements, references and synchronation going on. Now, let's see with our grown up eyes to see and understand those references and appreciate the work the producers do! 
Let's have a huge throwback together. Here is the 15 cartoons the classical music used cleverly, intentionally and wonderfully.

OPERA
SALZBURG FESTIVAL 2005 PRODUCTION 'LA TRAVIATA' ANALYSIS

...In the overture, we see a man, a clock and a tired Violetta. Who is this man ? Is he death ? Is he old Alfredo that actually narrate the story in the book ? Or is he the father or the god ? This question will be answered in the end. The clock is an easy reference to the death. However, we should pay attention to the changes in the clock throughout the opera. From this opening, seeing Violetta tired and sick, fainted in the old man’s arms, I understand that in the beginning we saw the end, and this opera actually narrated...

CINEMA
PRETTY WOMAN & LA TRAVIATA



​...Pretty Woman emphasize that prostitutes are not one stereotype, you can’t label them, they can have a great potential. Both use some clichés to make us pity, to make us feel guilty. However, La Traviata is such a masterpiece that I didn’t pity Violetta, I even envy her due to her sacrifice, her great emotions; and in the end I expect to get angry with Alfredo, and I feel pity for him, it’s like I mature throughout the opera.   ​

AUTHOR

Ece Demirel

Master of Arts from Istanbul Technical University Center for Advanced Studies (MIAM) - Department of Musicology 
Bachelor Degree - Boğaziçi University, International Trade
Currently working as Senior Product Manager at L'Oreal Turkey
Born in İstanbul - 1992

İstanbul, Turkey
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