The Rite (and Riot) of Spring

Russian composer Igor Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring caused one of classical music’s most famous, exaggerated scandals. Rite’s debut on May 29, 1913, made history by nearly starting a…

What’s in a Symphony?

We’ve all heard a symphony before. There’s Beethoven’s famous Fifth with its notorious “dun dun dun duuuun.” Most of us at least know that one and maybe a few others,…

Bach, Piazzolla honored at Cotik concert

Johann Sebastian Bach’s baroque compositions and Astor Piazzolla’s tango pieces represented contrasting ends of solo violin repertoire in an exciting performance by Portland State’s Dr. Tomas Cotik. The Oct. 22…