Welcome to this new episode of  Podcast Shorts This episode is about Antonio Carlos Gomes the Afro-Brazilian composer who Verdi thought would follow in his footsteps as a composer of great Italian Opera. Born in Brazil in 1836, he studied in Milan and his Opera Il Guarany had great success when premiered at La Scala

A look at three composers of the African Diaspora who were compared to great European composers. Each of them has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music and deserve to be known by their own names.

On the 250 birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven, I look at a Violin Virtuoso who was the inspiration for one of his most famous works - - George Bridgetower.

This episode looks at the Afro Brazilian composer, Jose Mairicio Nunes Garcia, Born in the late 18th century he stands at the head of great Afro Brazilian composers.

 This is the first in my series of shorts and is about one of the 100 Great Black Britons. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor made a huge contribution to British Musical Life in his short lifetime. 

 How African American Composers used their shared experiences to forge a new sound and in doing so give the United States the National Cultural Identity it had been searching for.