Inside the score
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Notes from History: Don Giovanni Premieres
When Don Giovanni premiered in Prague on November 5, 1787, audiences were both thrilled and unsettled. Mozart and his librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte blurred the line between comedy and tragedy,…
Reading time estimated : 3min read
The Spookiest Melody of Them All: Dies Irae
With its enduring connotations of death, the melody of the Dies irae wends its way through some of the greatest works of classical music.…
Reading time estimated : 14min read
Opera’s Greatest Villains
For more than four centuries, opera has captivated audiences with a combination of stirring music, dazzling sets and costumes, and gripping drama. From ancient Rome to Catfish Row,…
Reading time estimated : 13min read
Gould’s Goldberg Variations: The Legacy of a Legend
Glenn Gould’s legendary Goldberg Variations are a rare blend of playful invention and utter precision. Discover the genius behind them, as filmmaker Bruno Monsaingeon recalls intimate studio moments and pianist…
Reading time estimated : 10min read
How Kaija Saariaho Changed the Way We Hear Music
What happens when your understanding of music turns upside down? Discover how Kaija Saariaho created a musical language that blends Spectralism with acoustic experimentation—and reshaped my entire perspective on sound.
Reading time estimated : 6min read
Do Orchestras Still Sound Different?
Once upon a time, you could tell where an orchestra came from just by listening. German orchestras sounded rich and heavy; French ones, bright and biting; American ones, sleek and…
Reading time estimated : 18min read
Ralph Vaughan Williams, Composer for the people
Ralph Vaughan Williams believed music should belong to everyone. Jack Pepper opens his new Pepper’s Portraits series with the story of a composer who lived — and wrote — for…
Reading time estimated : 10min read
Tracing the journey of Chopin in Paris: 5 iconic locations that marked the life (and death) of the great composer.
Frédéric Chopin, a central figure in the romantic musical world of Paris. From the Salons Pleyel to the Nouvelle Athènes neighbourhood, follow the path of a legendary 19th-century composer through…
Reading time estimated : 10min read
News
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Maria João Pires retires, Rosalía rocks the classical world, a world premiere is canceled, and more
November 3: This week in classical music
Reading time estimated : 5min read
When Pop Meets Opera: Rosalía’s New Single “Berghain” Electrifies Classical Audiences
Rosalía’s latest single “Berghain” turns heads with its operatic flair and orchestral depth, winning praise from the classical music community.
Reading time estimated : 3min read
Misty Copeland’s star-studded retirement gala, Eric Lu’s big win at the Chopin Competition, Berio at 100 and more
October 28: This week in classical music
Reading time estimated : 6min read
Hollywood star Sandra Oh joins The Met, Sir Simon Rattle makes Gramophone history, and more
October 20: This week in classical music
Reading time estimated : 4min read
Chopin Competition Video Goes Viral: Tears and Raindrops
A viral clip from the International Chopin Competition has captured global attention, showing a pianist moved to tears during Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude.
Reading time estimated : 1min read
Purcell’s brand-new song, cellists Yo-Yo Ma and Gautier Capuçon head outdoors, Misty Copeland’s retirement and more
October 13: This week in classical music
Reading time estimated : 4min read
“A Voice You Could Recognize in Two Notes”: Remembering Luciano Pavarotti
From his first time hearing that golden voice at Covent Garden to the historic Three Tenors concert and a rain-soaked evening in Hyde Park, James Jolly remembers the charisma and…
Reading time estimated : 7min read
Interviews
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Before the Spotlight: Finalists Remember Their First Chopin
Before they were finalists on one of the world’s most prestigious classical stages, they were just students grappling with their very first Chopin. We asked six competitors at the International…
Reading time estimated : 4min read
Inside the Chopin Competition with John Rink: Judging with the Heart
Few people know Chopin’s music more intimately than John Rink — pianist, professor, and editor of The Complete Chopin: A New Critical Edition. As he returns to the…
Reading time estimated : 9min read
Davóne Tines takes us to church in Recital No. 1: MASS
The American bass-baritone Davóne Tines is a true original and one of today’s most exciting performers. Get to know him and his extraordinary voice in a resolutely unconventional,…
Reading time estimated : 14min read
“Dream Bigger”: How Gianandrea Noseda builds trust with an orchestra
From Parma’s culinary heritage to the Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda reveals what makes Tsinandali special, the book that moved him most, and the timeless piece everyone should hear once…
Reading time estimated : 3min read
Augustin Hadelich: “The violin can be a bit of a prima donna instrument.”
What keeps a violinist endlessly curious? Through five revealing questions, violinist Augustin Hadelich explores his bond with the instrument, the magic behind practicing beloved concertos, the grounding power of chamber…
Reading time estimated : 6min read
Aristo Sham: “I suddenly felt free”
From unexpected playlists to pre-concert rituals, 2025 Cliburn Gold medallist Aristo Sham opens up about his most unforgettable competition moments—and the one mistake every pianist should make. Here are 5…
Reading time estimated : 2min read
From Beethoven to the Art of Spaghetti: 5 questions to pianist Jeremy Denk
Between late-night chicken wings in Aspen and pre-concert rituals that raise an eyebrow, pianist Jeremy Denk blends humor, insight, and a touch of the unexpected. At the 2025 Aspen Music…
Reading time estimated : 2min read
Hervé Boissière: “People are definitely available for emotion and magic.”
Co-Director of the Verbier Festival Hervé Boissière takes us behind the scenes of the iconic Swiss festival to share his vision, memories, and the quiet magic that makes…
Reading time estimated : 14min read
“I wanted it to be subversive!” – Barbara Hannigan on her first time at the Verbier Festival
At the Verbier Festival, Barbara Hannigan juggles chaos and control, premieres and patriotism, zombies and Instagram—with wit, speed, and blazing musicality. Her verdict? “I’m pleasantly ecstatic!”
Reading time estimated : 10min read
The Greatest Moments of the 2025 Festival Season
Inside the score
How to Build an Orchestra in Five Weeks: Inside the Verbier Festival Method
Each summer, the Verbier Festival brings together two orchestras: the VFO and the VFCO. Both are built on the same belief—that in just five weeks, it’s possible to create not…
Reading time estimated : 10min read
Interviews
Augustin Hadelich: “The violin can be a bit of a prima donna instrument.”
What keeps a violinist endlessly curious? Through five revealing questions, violinist Augustin Hadelich explores his bond with the instrument, the magic behind practicing beloved concertos, the grounding power of chamber…
Reading time estimated : 6min read
News
“The Show Must Go On”: Backstage at the Verbier Festival
A backstage pass to the Verbier Festival: from bumping into Mischa Maisky at intermission to reflecting on Freddie Mercury and Bernstein.
Reading time estimated : 6min read
Interviews
From Beethoven to the Art of Spaghetti: 5 questions to pianist Jeremy Denk
Between late-night chicken wings in Aspen and pre-concert rituals that raise an eyebrow, pianist Jeremy Denk blends humor, insight, and a touch of the unexpected. At the 2025 Aspen Music…
Reading time estimated : 2min read
Inside the score
It takes a mountain: The hidden machinery behind the Verbier Festival
Verbier Festival transforms a remote mountain village into a world-class stage each summer, drawing thousands for a musical experience like no other—while behind the scenes, a concert hall rises from…
Reading time estimated : 11min read
Interviews
“I wanted it to be subversive!” – Barbara Hannigan on her first time at the Verbier Festival
At the Verbier Festival, Barbara Hannigan juggles chaos and control, premieres and patriotism, zombies and Instagram—with wit, speed, and blazing musicality. Her verdict? “I’m pleasantly ecstatic!”
Reading time estimated : 10min read
Interviews
From Barrios Mangoré to Daft Punk: 5 questions to guitarist Thibaut Garcia
From backstage rituals to concert hall emotions, guitarist Thibaut Garcia opens up about the misunderstood identity of classical guitar, his connection to Barrios, and what’s on his playlist…
Reading time estimated : 3min read
Interviews
Aristo Sham: “I suddenly felt free”
From unexpected playlists to pre-concert rituals, 2025 Cliburn Gold medallist Aristo Sham opens up about his most unforgettable competition moments—and the one mistake every pianist should make. Here are 5…
Reading time estimated : 2min read
medici.tv picks
The Verbier Festival: Mao magic and rubbing shoulders with the stars
Every summer, the world’s greatest musicians gather in the Swiss Alps—and if you’re lucky, you might just bump into one in the supermarket. Théophile, Editorial Manager at medici.tv shares a…
Reading time estimated : 3min read
medici.tv picks
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Akram Khan’s Giselle: A Darkly Beautiful, Haunting Masterpiece for Halloween
Akram Khan’s Giselle transforms the Romantic classic into a ghostly, modern fable — a chillingly beautiful ballet for the season.
Reading time estimated : 4min read
A Classical Halloween: What to Play Based on Your Favorite Horror Film (if you dare)
From Bates Motel to Black Swan, here’s your classical soundtrack for a frightfully good night.
Reading time estimated : 4min read
The Sound of Autumn: Khatia Buniatishvili Among the Trees
Pianist Khatia Buniatishvili transforms a forest clearing into her concert hall, performing Debussy, Scriabin, and Brahms in harmony with the elements — a poetic tribute to autumn’s introspective spirit.
Reading time estimated : 5min read
Oktoberfest: Finding the festive in German classical music
Raise your glass to Bach, Beethoven, Wagner, and more—six sparkling works that prove German classical music can be as joyful as Oktoberfest itself.
Reading time estimated : 5min read
Sunset Waltzes in Berlin: Shostakovich and the Magic of the Waldbühne
For our editor Valérie, the Berlin Philharmonic’s Waldbühne concerts are the essence of summer. In 2011, Riccardo Chailly revealed the many colors of Shostakovich’s Suite for Variety Orchestra No. 1,…
Reading time estimated : 3min read
Quieting the Body’s Stress Response: The Magic of Arvo Pärt
“Certain sonic frequencies quiet the body’s stress response.” Sophie invites you to experience the meditative magic of Arvo Pärt’s sacred works in a 90th-birthday concert of rare serenity and depth.
Reading time estimated : 3min read
High voltage groove with The Fearless Flyers
Among the medici.tv team’s favorites, Baptiste highlights The Fearless Flyers: a supergroup whose razor-sharp funk, pocket drumming, and playful energy show how simplicity and precision can be electrifying, transforming groove…
Reading time estimated : 4min read
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