Inside the score

Do the “Big Five” US Orchestras Still Reign Supreme?

The “Big Five” once set the standard for American orchestras. But today, the field is wide open — from LA to Dallas, Pittsburgh to Minnesota, fresh sounds and fearless ideas are redefining what it means to be great.

By Andrew Mellor

Reading time estimated : 14min read

What to Listen to After The Lord of the Rings Soundtrack

Nearly twenty-five years after its premiere, The Lord of the Rings film trilogy remains a cultural touchstone. While breathtaking scenery and dazzling special effects…

By Andrew McIntyre

Reading time estimated : 22min 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.…

By Andrew McIntyre

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,…

By Andrew McIntyre

Reading time estimated : 13min read

Notes from History: Don Giovanni Premieres

When Don Giovanni premiered in Prague on October 29, 1787, audiences were both thrilled and unsettled. Mozart and his librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte blurred the line between comedy and tragedy,…

By Paul Kilbey

Reading time estimated : 3min 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…

By Charlotte Gardner

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.

By Nadya Miryanova

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…

By Andrew Mellor

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…

By Jack Pepper

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…

By Clément Serrano

Reading time estimated : 10min read