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AT PAZO DE LA CUESTA, a Galician wine estate in the far northwest of Spain, the hands on the manor-house clock are turning again. Set above a portico of the [...]

AT PAZO DE LA CUESTA, a Galician wine estate in the far northwest of Spain, the hands on the manor-house clock are turning again. Set above a portico of the [...]

Byline: J.S. Marcus Samuel Mariño, a singer with a rare voice type in opera, is making his Decca album debut with a glimpse at a more gender-fluid future. BERLIN - [...]

Samuel Mariño, a singer with a rare voice type in opera, is making his Decca album debut with a glimpse at a more gender-fluid future. BERLIN -- Samuel Mariño is [...]

Byline: J.S. Marcus In Stuttgart, Wagner's 'Die Walküre' is being divided among a trio of creative teams with divergent visions. STUTTGART, Germany - In the late 1990s, the Stuttgart State [...]

In Stuttgart, Wagner's ''Die Walküre'' is being divided among a trio of creative teams with divergent visions. STUTTGART, Germany -- In the late 1990s, the Stuttgart State Opera in Germany [...]

PIERO LISSONI IS nothing if not precise. The 65-year-old Italian architect and designer micromanaged everything in his new Milan apartment, from the severe steel window frames to the irregular jigsaw [...]

Byline: J.S. Marcus Sofia Gubaidulina and her richly colored, rhythmically adventurous music are being celebrated around the world this season. APPEN, Germany - The composer Sofia Gubaidulina, who turns 90 [...]

Jakub Hrusa and the Bamberg Symphony have released a new recording of them all. The Austrian composer Anton Bruckner died in 1896, but his Fourth Symphony remains something of a [...]

Byline: J.S. Marcus For this rising artist, Chopin's 21 nocturnes are 'pieces I play for myself.' A new recording will bring them to an audience. The Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki [...]

For this rising artist, Chopin's 21 nocturnes are ''pieces I play for myself.'' A new recording will bring them to an audience. The Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki started out as [...]

Byline: J.S. Marcus Oksana Lyniv will open the festival, founded by Wagner to present his own operas, leading 'Der Fliegende Hollènder.' The Bayreuth Festival in Germany is one of the [...]

Oksana Lyniv will open the festival, founded by Wagner to present his own operas, leading ''Der Fliegende Holländer.'' The Bayreuth Festival in Germany is one of the most venerable events [...]

The article from the Wall Street Journal - Online Edition highlights Turin, Italy, as a haven for chocolate lovers, with a rich history of chocolate-making dating back to the 16th century. The city boasts gourmet chocolatiers, local specialties like gianduja, and a vibrant chocolate scene that includes pastry shops, cafes, and experimental chefs. Turin's chocolate tradition is deeply rooted in its culture, with unique variations like bicerin and bonet, making it a must-visit destination for chocolate enthusiasts. [Extracted from the article]

In Munich, Germany's priciest housing market, Dr. Christoph Glaser is listing his circa-1907 villa for $24 million after spending $6.6 million on renovations. The cream-colored villa features six bedrooms, six full baths, and seven half baths, with a 6,000-square-foot triplex on top and a 2,800-square-foot duplex on the ground floor. Glaser's home, located in the Villenkolonie Neuwittelsbach neighborhood near Nymphenburg Palace, blends Neo-Baroque and Jugendstil styles, offering a unique living space with modern amenities and historical charm. [Extracted from the article]

Lorena Ramos and Carlos Moss built a vacation home in the Sierra de Pachuca mountain range in Mexico. They purchased a steep 1/3-acre lot for $73,000 and spent approximately $475,000 to build and furnish the two-story house. The design, created by architect Rodrigo Saavedra Pérez-Salas, suspends the structure off the side of a wooded slope, giving it the appearance of a floating treehouse. The couple named the property after their boxer dog, Oruç, and initially planned to use it for entertaining friends, but now they must make changes to babyproof the house for their newborn son. The house incorporates sustainable features such as rainwater collection and reuse of materials. The couple spent about $94,000 on steel, including a cantilever, and approximately $34,000 on the open-plan kitchen. The house is located at an altitude of nearly 9,500 feet, eliminating the need for air conditioning but requiring heating for much of the year. The couple spent around $15,660 on an electrical heating system and $10,500 on fireplaces. The property offers scenic views and access to the area's rough terrain. The couple plans to invest around $3,000 to babyproof the house, including installing tempered glass and protecting the exposed stairwell. Despite the high altitude, their baby enjoys the view from their laps. [Extracted from the article]

The article explores the recent 2024 restoration of Eugène Delacroix's 1830 painting "Liberty Leading the People," highlighting its evolution from a depiction of the July Revolution to a symbol of broader revolutionary ideals. Topics discussed include the painting's initial impact on French Republicanism, its transformation into a universal icon of liberty, and the enhanced details revealed through recent conservation efforts.

Sitges, a coastal Spanish town near Barcelona, is attracting American buyers and vacationers due to its LGBTQ-friendly atmosphere, proximity to Barcelona, and the rise of remote work. The town offers sandy beaches, historic villas, and a thriving real estate market. Home prices in Sitges have been rising, with an average of $457 per square foot. The town is known for its lively nightlife during high season and its family-friendly atmosphere during the rest of the year. Sitges is also a convenient location for exploring nearby attractions such as the Penedès wine region. [Extracted from the article]

A couple renovated three separate apartments in a historic residential complex in Paris's 7th Arrondissement and are now selling the property for $11.2 million. The complex, originally built in the late 19th century, consists of a main mansion and a rear service building. The couple spent about $1.6 million on the renovation, which included restoring the elaborate stucco, metalwork, and fireplaces. The family is now looking for another fixer-upper to restore on the Left Bank. [Extracted from the article]

Rogier van der Weyden's 15th-century painting, "The Descent From the Cross," is a large Good Friday scene depicting the lifeless body of Christ surrounded by mourners. The painting, created using slow-drying oil paints, showcases a level of realistic detail that was groundbreaking at the time. The figures in the painting display glistening tears and intricate details in their clothing, emphasizing a sense of disarray. The work also features extravagant distortions and an artificial setting, creating a dynamic and immersive experience for viewers. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the portrait of Madame de Pompadour, a powerful figure during the reign of French king Louis XV. Painted by François Boucher in 1756, the portrait showcases Pompadour's status as a tastemaker and her role in managing access to the crown. The painting depicts Pompadour in her mid-30s, surrounded by examples of her taste and talent. It also highlights the ornate surfaces of the ancien régime and the transition from Rococo to Neoclassicism. The portrait is currently on display at Munich's Alte Pinakothek museum. [Extracted from the article]

A couple in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, built a new wine cellar as part of their home design. The 190-square-foot cellar, costing $107,000, features steel-framed glass doors and can hold 700 bottles. The couple worked with Studio Minosa to create the cellar, using warming materials such as leather and brass detailing. Inspired by the cellar, they spent an additional $1.1 million on the rest of the house, applying the same materials and strategies. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the emergence of turnkey-vineyard developments in southern Europe, particularly in Tuscany, Italy, and Ronda, Spain. These luxury developments offer homeowners the chance to own private vineyards and produce their own wine. Examples include L'and Vineyards in Portugal and Tenuta di Forci in Tuscany. Buyers can expect to pay between $1.6 million and $9.7 million for their homes, which will be renovated from existing structures. These developments also provide amenities such as organic produce and yoga studios. They attract buyers who are interested in wine production and the associated lifestyle. [Extracted from the article]

Contemporary trends in photography for the German school are being driven by Bernd and Hilla Becher. Industrial spaces across the United States and Europe are represented in the super realism of black and white photography. The teachings at the Dussoldorf art academy gave rise to Andreas Gursky, Axel Hutte and Thomas Struth amongst others.

A Paris-based antiques dealer is selling the four outer walls of a Bordeaux-area château that was dismantled into 5,389 pieces. The château, built in 1890, was disassembled three decades ago and has been stored in a warehouse in southwest France. The antiques dealer, Alisanne Frew, has cleaned and cataloged the pieces and is now looking for an American buyer to relocate and reassemble the château. Frew is asking $7.5 million for the pieces, which would require about 40 shipping containers and up to nine months to arrive in the US. [Extracted from the article]

MUNICH, like any Central European city worthy of the name, is a fairly contradictory place. The cultural capital of German-speaking Europe before 1914 and by many standards after 1945, Munich […]