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Olympic Overtures: Classical Music at the Games
Classical music has played a role in the Olympics for more than a century. The Olympic games have inspired works by composers as diverse as Richard Strauss, Dmitri Shostakovich, Philip Glass and Josef Suk. The opening ceremonies are typically a prestige musical showcase for a hosting country; award ceremonies always feature national anthems; and for some events,…
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The Olympic Piece That Received 122 Performances
The opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics on August 5 featured an assortment of the country’s musical talent, including the preeminent singer-songwriters Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil and performers from the worlds of samba, funk, hip-hop and bossa nova. Perhaps a bit of Heitor Villa-Lobos will yet appear before the games conclude.
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National Anthems as Raw Material for Classical Compositions
The Rio Olympics will once again put national anthems in the spotlight, as winning athletes stand on the medal podium to hear their country’s song played over loudspeakers while their respective flag is hoisted above. The medal ceremonies can make for great television, though if past games are a precedent, American viewers will hear lots of the U.S. national anthem, to the exclusion of…