… but were afraid to ask. Hello, I’m Rick Phillips. I am a freelance writer, reviewer, teacher, speaker, broadcaster, podcaster and concert host, all in the field of classical music. I regularly host travel tours to European and US cities to attend classical music festivals and events. For 30 years […]
Tag: Rick Phillips
Nine Symphonies That Changed the World
by Rick Phillips, leader of our 2020 Toronto Pursuits seminar on Beethoven The major anniversaries of the births and deaths of great composers are always lauded and celebrated. They give us a chance to honour and re-evaluate the roles these figures play in our modern world. Remember 1985 and the […]
Is Music a Universal Language?
Among the recent events marking the centenary of the end of World War I, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a passionate speech at the base of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris warning against the current rise of nationalism in the world. Speaking in French, Macron likened this trend to […]
A Musical Microcosm of the World
[Editor’s note: Musician, writer, and broadcaster Rick Phillips returns to Toronto Pursuits with A Symphonic Symposium. What does the symphony mean to you? Reflect on this and other questions as you learn about the history of this musical form and listen to and discuss symphonies from across the centuries.] The […]
GUEST BLOG—Discovering the Art of Schubert’s Lieder
I’m Rick Phillips and I’ve been leading music seminars at Toronto Pursuits for ten years. I can’t imagine a summer without Toronto Pursuits—it is always a stimulating experience. For July 2015, I’ll be leading the seminar Follow the Lieder: The Songs of Franz Schubert on German lieder and, in particular, […]
GUEST POST — Exploring a Subtler Style of Music with Rick Phillips
Hello and welcome to Classical Pursuits 2014. I am Rick Phillips and I’ll be leading the seminar Impressionism in Music. I have been at Classical Pursuits for years now, and it’s a highlight of every summer. I’m really looking forward to this seminar. Perhaps it’s a crude analogy and a […]
GUEST BLOG – Ear of the Beholder with Rick Phillips
After a Viennese music critic died, some of his friends made the rounds of local musicians to raise money for the funeral. “How much is my share?” asked one musician. “Thirty shillings,” was the reply. “Here are sixty shillings,” said the musician. “Bury two music critics.” Criticism has always had […]
GUEST BLOG: Larry French’s week at Toronto Pursuits
My week at Classical Pursuits, Summer 2012 [editor’s note: due to a technical glitch, publication of this post was slightly delayed, and Larry’s Friday wrap-up appears before this one. My apologies to Larry. -LN] The Eve: There was a sound of revelry by night. I watch the wonderful 80th birthday […]
TORONTO PURSUITS – Sound Advice from Rick Phillips
I hope you can join me for Toronto Pursuits 2012 in July for The Concerto: Studies in Contrast. We’ll be delving into the Brandenburg Concertos by Bach, the Clarinet Concerto by Mozart, and many others as we follow the development of the concerto through the centuries. Why did it change […]
ON THE ROAD – Rick Phillips reports from the river: musical meanderings along the Danube
Sachertorte & Paprikash – Musical Meanderings Along the Blue Danube Sept. 27 – Oct. 7, 2011 by Rick Phillips, Host Vienna is often called “The City of My Dreams,” and, in my case, it still is, but now with stiff competition from the beautiful city of Budapest. Travel Pursuits’ recent […]