Inside the score

A Grand Voice, A Bold Life: 10 Jessye Norman Highlights

Opera superstar, political activist, and master storyteller—Jessye Norman’s life overflowed with surprises. This week marks her birthday, and we’re honoring her legacy with ten irresistible tidbits to remember her by.

By Alix Haywood

Reading time estimated : 5min read

Listen Closer: Dvořák’s “Songs my mother taught me”

Some pieces of music reveal new layers the closer you listen. As we celebrate Antonín Dvořák’s anniversary this week, his Songs my mother taught me reminds us how behind gentle…

By Alix Haywood

Reading time estimated : 4min read

Leonard Bernstein, in 9 Unexpected Stories

As the world celebrates Leonard Bernstein’s birthday, we look back at the many sides of the charismatic maestro—composer, conductor, political voice, and entertainer—through 9 memorable anecdotes.

By Alix Haywood

Reading time estimated : 7min read

Listen Closer: Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune

Marking Debussy’s birthday on August 22, we dive into his Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune. From its wandering flute solo to lush orchestral textures, the opening measures unlocked a revolution…

By Alix Haywood

Reading time estimated : 3min read

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…

By Charlotte Gardner

Reading time estimated : 10min read

What stories make the best operas?

As we broadcast three operas from the Salzburg Festival on medici.tv, it’s the perfect occasion to explore the kinds of tales that have inspired composers for centuries—from ancient myths and…

By Paul Kilbey

Reading time estimated : 13min read

Listen Closer: Stravinsky’s The Firebird

Step into the magical world of The Firebird, Igor Stravinsky’s electrifying ballet that launched his international career and reshaped the sound of modern orchestration. From Russian folk melodies to dissonant…

By Kim Hunter

Reading time estimated : 5min read

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…

By Charlotte Gardner

Reading time estimated : 11min read

From Paris to DC: Two Very Different Ways to Fund Music

Public subsidies in France, private philanthropy in the U.S.—two radically different ways to support music. But beyond the contrasts, a shared dilemma emerges: how can we protect culture from politics…

By Ermeline Testard

Reading time estimated : 9min read

Herbert von Karajan: Architect of sound and vision

Long before digital streaming and immersive concert films, Karajan saw the potential of technology to reshape the musical experience. More than just a conductor, he was a visionary who sculpted…

By Charlotte Gardner

Reading time estimated : 11min read