Ricardo Barton

Waltzing from the Blue Danube to Outer Space

Explore the history of Johann Strauss II's Blue Danube Waltz, from its initial reception as a choral piece to its iconic use in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

10 Scary-Good Performances of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue

Explore the Classical California Ultimate Playlist's blog series, featuring awe-inspiring performances of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor on various instruments, from organ to glass harp.

8 Composers Who Have Stars on the Hollywood Walk-of-Fame

Explore the Hollywood Walk-of-Fame through the stars of renowned film composers like Leonard Bernstein, Ennio Morricone, and Hans Zimmer.

Homeless ‘Subway Soprano’ Serenades Social Media

"Subway Soprano" Emily Zamourka, a homeless woman in LA, gained fame after LAPD posted her opera performance. Her life is changing with crowdfunding efforts, a recording contract offer, and a concert invitation.

Compose Your Own Bach Piece with Google Doodle

Google celebrates Bach's birthday with an AI-powered Doodle. Users can create melodies, which the AI harmonizes in Bach's style, using machine learning from 306 Bach pieces.

Mister Rogers: A Friendly Neighbor to Classical Musicians

The US Postal Service is releasing a Forever Stamp featuring Mister Rogers, 50 years after his first appearance. The article also revisits his contributions to classical music on his show.