Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Alexander Armstrong 9am - 12pm

    Alexander Armstrong

    Now Playing

    Festive Symphony in E major Opus 6 (3) Bedrich Smetana Download 'Festive Symphony in E major Opus 6 (3)' on iTunes

    Festive Symphony in E major Opus 6 (3) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    News

    Pictures

    Wimbledon 2014: Classical music and tennis

    Discovers the composers with a mean forehand and some other little known classical music and tennis facts.

    1. Debussy Jeux Tennis

      1. Debussy's Jeux Tennis

      A keen tennis player, Debussy’s Jeux (Game) was his last orchestral composition. The score was originally intended to accompany a ballet about two girls and a man playing tennis, with choreography by Nijinsky.

    2. Claude Debussy tennis

      2. Claude Debussy

      And it’s not surprising that Debussy wrote a score around a game of tennis, the French composer enjoyed the odd game, especially against…

    3. Ravel tennis

      3. Maurice Ravel

      The two French composers, Ravel and Debussy, were rivals on the court and off it.

    4. Lully: Cadmus et Hermione tennis

      4. Lully: Cadmus et Hermione

      Seventeenth-century Italian-born French composer Jean-Baptiste de Lully hired a tennis court to stage a ‘tennis’ opera called Pomone by Cambert (jeu de paume is the French forerunner of tennis). He was so enamoured by it, he built his own opera theatre temporarily around the court and performed a limited run of the opera. In 1672, he went into partnership with designer Carlo Vigarani and together they built a new theatre at the Bel Air tennis court on the Rue de Vaugirard where he staged the first tragédie en musique: Cadmus et Hermione, produced in 1673.

    5. Vladimir Kraynev tennis

      5. Vladimir Kraynev

      In 1958 the Russian pianist, who died last year, played on the junior tour of the USSR Championship.

    6. Nadal tennis

      6. Nadal's tennis connection

      Spanish tennis ace, Rafael Nadal’s grandfather is a retired conductor. Maestro Rafael Nadal conducted the local band in Nadal's hometown of Manacor, Majorca

    7. Prokofiev tennis

      7. Prokofiev

      Ukrainian composer Sergei Prokofiev fitted tennis in between composing his masterpieces. He was reportedly every bit a perfectionist on the court as he was with his scores.

    8. Benjamin Britten Tennis

      8. Benjamin Britten

      The British composer was an all-round sportsman, but tennis and cricket (he was a fine batsman by all accounts) were particular favourites.

    9. GEORGE GERSHWIN tennis

      9. George Gerswhin

      American composer, George Gershwin , also had a famous tennis opponent…

    10. Arnold Schoenberg tennis

      10. Arnold Schoenberg

      ...Austrian composer and painter Arnold Schoenberg! The pair had regular games on Gershwin’s private tennis court.

    11. Vienna Burgtheater

      11. Vienna Burgtheater

      The Vienna Burgtheater was originally a tennis court. It was refurbished as a theatre in 1741 and used for opera for the next 70 years. It hosted many premieres including Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan Tutte and Beethoven First Symphony.

    12. Stephen Montague tennis

      12. Stephen Montague

      American composer and pianist Stephen Montague was a talented tennis player. He was the Florida State Junior College Tennis Champion in 1962.

    13. Ketelbey Fred Perry statue Tennis

      13. Albert Ketèlbey

      Composer, conductor and pianist, Albert Ketèlbey was born in Birmingham, but had a stint as the organist at St John's church in Wimbledon. Ketèlbey, despite a stint in SW19, wasn't much of a tennis fan himself, preferring billiards.

    14. Ian Partridge Tennis

      14. Ian Partridge

      Retired tenor, Ian Partridge, was born in Wimbledon in 1938. Here he is in red (sort of!) enjoying some typical Wimbledon weather

    Trending on Classic FM

    Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov’s estate was engulfed in flames over the weekend

    Rimsky-Korsakov’s estate devastated by fire, destroying over 1,000 valuable artefacts

    Rimsky-Korsakov

    Is Austin Butler really singing and playing guitar in his role as rock 'n' roll legend, Elvis Presley?

    Is Austin Butler really singing and playing guitar in ‘Elvis’ movie?

    Discover Music

    Hakuna matata

    What does ‘Hakuna matata’ in The Lion King actually mean?

    Discover Music

    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of theThis week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

    Tone Deaf Comics theory sheet

    This genius music theory cheat sheet is all you’ll ever need

    Discover Music

    What are the lyrics to ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana?

    What are the lyrics to ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana?

    Hardest piano pieces

    These are the hardest pieces ever written for the piano

    Discover Music

    Beethoven meme

    A maths teacher accidentally made a music meme that trolled the world

    Discover Music

    Andrew Lloyd Webber at the 2016 Broadway revival of CATS

    Andrew Lloyd Webber: wife, children, musicals and everything you need to know

    Lloyd Webber

    Be Thou My Vision has Irish origins – pictured, Letterkenny cathedral in Donegal, Ireland

    Be Thou My Vision: what are the lyrics and who wrote the hymn?

    Discover Music

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    Discover Music

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    Discover Music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Discover Music

    Women composers gallery

    21 of the greatest women composers in classical music

    Discover Music

    Best pianists of all time

    The 25 best pianists of all time

    Discover Music

    Some of history's greatest composers were part of the LGBTQ+ community.

    15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know

    Discover Music

    Latest news

    See more Latest news

    Angela Rayner, Dominic Raab and a controversial Mozart opera

    The Mozart Marriage of Figaro “mic drop” moment, as UK deputy leaders clash over opera and class

    4 days ago

    Mozart

    Freddie De Tommaso is a leading tenor of his generation.

    Who is Freddie De Tommaso? Everything you need to know about the young star tenor

    4 days ago

    Lizzo plays virtuosic flute solo for James Corden in Carpool Karaoke sketch.

    Lizzo whips out a virtuosic 19th-century flute solo in Carpool Karaoke sketch with James Corden

    5 days ago

    Discover Music

    Zeb Soanes to host Smooth Classics at Seven on Classic FM

    Broadcaster Zeb Soanes to host Smooth Classics at Seven, weekdays on Classic FM

    7 days ago

    Remembering George Walker (1922 – 2018)

    Remembering George Walker, the first Black composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music

    7 days ago

    Discover Music

    A group trumpet lesson at a primary school

    Schools should offer at least ‘one hour of music a week’ – new music education plan revealed

    7 days ago

    Lang Lang performs in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland, California.

    Lang Lang performs nostalgic piano rendition of Mary Poppins song against Disney Castle backdrop

    10 days ago

    Videos

    Composer John Williams

    John Williams hints at retirement from film music, says new score might be his last

    10 days ago

    Williams

    Tenor jumps in helicopter to save The Wreckers at Glyndebourne

    Tenor jumps in helicopter to save Glyndebourne opera with ‘minutes to spare’ amid train havoc

    11 days ago

    Glyndebourne

    Howling singing dog

    Owner’s secret footage catches dog playing and singing at a piano

    11 days ago

    Discover Music

    Latest videos

    See more Latest videos

    Yunchan Lim performs Rachmaninov to win the final of the Van Cliburn competition under Marin Alsop.

    Youngest ever Van Cliburn winner moved Marin Alsop to tears with this rapturous Rachmaninov

    14 days ago

    Discover Music

    Epic Kate Bush cover turns ‘Running Up That Hill’ into a virtuosic piano fantasia

    Epic Kate Bush cover turns ‘Running Up That Hill’ into a virtuosic piano fantasia

    14 days ago

    Discover Music

    Thomas Edison speaking through his perfected phonograph in the 1870s

    The sound of a song in 1888 – listen to one of the earliest musical recordings known to exist

    20 days ago

    Sullivan

    South African schoolchildren play exhilarating Vivaldi

    South African schoolchildren play Vivaldi in exhilarating marimba performance

    21 days ago

    Vivaldi

    Pianist Lang Lang aged 12

    Unearthed footage of 12-year-old Lang Lang shows the pianist’s incredible raw talent

    21 days ago

    Lang Lang

    Von Trapp child actors serenade Dame Julie Andrews with ‘Do-Re-Mi’

    Heartwarming moment Julie Andrews is serenaded with ‘Do-Re-Mi’ by Von Trapp child actors

    24 days ago

    Videos

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Christmas Songs
    • Music for Pets
    • Quizzes
    • Handel
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Beethoven
    • Mozart
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Live
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Saturday Night at the Movies
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2022
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager