On a stormy Monday in March, 1827, the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven passed away after a protracted illness. Bedridden since the previous Christmas, he was ravaged by jaundice, his limbs and ...

Acknowledging the audience’s long and loud applause, Trifonov consented to three encores, a pianissimo meditation and two sparkling trifles lasting barely a minute each. Although he kindly bowed to ...