The Ultimate Classical Music Gift Guide for the Terminally Online and Historically-Burdened

Because we've all read too much music theory to be merry.

Dec 3 • 

Olivia Giovetti

22

3

3

November 2025

Dirtbag Winterreise

“more like suck-blick”

Nov 26 • 

Olivia Giovetti

11

4

5

Of Course Jeffrey Epstein Was a Beethoven Fan

The complicitous silence of cultural capital

Nov 20 • 

Olivia Giovetti

15

2

6

Music Unties

Classical musicians continue to insist that art has nothing to do with politics.

Nov 14 • 

Olivia Giovetti

11

7

5

Real Reactions

Borys Lyatoshynsky’s The Golden Crown in Lviv, selective solidarity everywhere else

Nov 8 • 

Olivia Giovetti

3

1

September 2025

Killing Khovansky

1,041 words about the past that have absolutely nothing to do with the present (until they do)

Sep 23 • 

Olivia Giovetti

6

3

The Unsullied Face of Truth

A few scattered thoughts as I reconsider La clemenza di Tito

Sep 2 • 

Olivia Giovetti

12

8

4

August 2025

Can We Please Stop Pretending that Music Is Going to Lift Us Above Anything, Let Alone the Current Global Political Landscape?

Can we please stop pretending that music is going to “lift us” above anything, let alone the current geopolitical situation?

Aug 21 • 

Olivia Giovetti

19

6

4

Throwing Light

Raymond Bisha, 1957-2025

Aug 14 • 

Olivia Giovetti

5

3

1

July 2025

Two or Three (Other) Things I Know about Il Trovatore

Once again writing about Verdi and politics.

Jul 31 • 

Olivia Giovetti

5

3

2

9.5 Theses on Art and Politics

The ethics of pursuing classical music in a world on fire.

Jul 17 • 

Olivia Giovetti

26

3

6

May 2025

Excerpts from a “Sex and the City” Revival in which Carrie is Replaced with Edward Said

I couldn't help but wonder… was every single empire, in fact, exactly like all the others?

May 29

6

6

4