Hello Figaro

08/18/2025

How Jessica Curry’s Video Game Music Became a Lifeline for So Many | Shielding Songs & Game Scores

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Join us in this deeply moving conversation with Jessica Curry, the BAFTA-winning composer behind the hauntingly beautiful game scores Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture and Dear Esther. In this episode, Jessica opens up about her recent five-year journey of shielding due to a chronic illness—a time marked by profound isolation, grief, and creative silence.

Eventually, music became her lifeline. Her new album, Shielding Songs, reimagines her own compositions into ethereal choral arrangements performed by the London Voices—pieces born from resilience, hope, love, and loss. Jessica gratefully shares:

“My music holds your hand and says, ‘you are not alone.’”  

We explore how trauma shaped her creative voice, the cathartic return to composing, and how collaborative resilience—especially through choral music—can become a powerful statement of solidarity. Whether you’re a longtime fan of her evocative game soundtracks or just discovering her work, this episode is a testament to the healing journey of art.

Jessica Curry is former co-head of the British video game development studio The Chinese Room.

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* In This Episode*
• Discover the personal story of a composer emerging from darkness into music once more.
• Learn how choral music served as a form of communal healing and hope.
• Explore the creative evolution—from game music to deeply introspective choral compositions.

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How Jessica Curry’s Video Game Music Became a Lifeline for So Many | Shielding Songs & Game Scores⸻Join us in this deeply moving conversation with Jessica Cu...

08/15/2025

New episode drops this Sunday with BAFTA-winning composer, Jessica Curry, on the release of her new album, Shielding Songs, a choral masterpiece featuring an intimate collection of new works and fan favorites from her game music soundtracks, reworked for chorus. Jessica is an Ivor Novello nominated composer of contemporary classical music and is also co-founder of renowned games company The Chinese Room. Her work has been performed in diverse and high-profile venues such as The Old Vic Tunnels, The Barbican, Sydney Opera House, The Royal Albert Hall, Great Ormond Street Hospital, The Wellcome Trust, MOMI New York, The Royal Opera House, Sage Gateshead and Durham Cathedral. The Washington Post described her music as “stupendous” and The Guardian praised her “gorgeous orchestral score” for Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture.

07/02/2025

🎵 *What Does a Conductor Really Do? | How to Become a Conductor* 🎵

🎥 Streaming now on YouTube and Spotify

Ever wondered what a conductor really does—beyond the baton? Learn how conductors lead, manage, fundraise, and succeed in today’s music world. Discover the *real-life duties of a conductor*—from music leadership to fundraising, admin, and beyond. This episode dives into the **career path to becoming a conductor**, revealing the skills no one teaches in conservatory.

Join professional conductors and co-creators of *And Other Duties**, **Timothy Redmond* and *Karen Ní Bhroin**, as they sit down with host and classical soprano **Susanna Barasch* to discuss:

• How to become a conductor today
• The many musical and non-musical roles conductors play
• What orchestral leadership really involves
• Bridging training gaps in conductor education

🎧 A must-watch for aspiring conductors, musicians, and anyone curious about the world behind the podium.

IG:
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Tiktok:
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© 2025 Hello Figaro LLC

---🎵 **What Does a Conductor Really Do? | How to Become a Conductor** 🎵Ever wondered what a conductor really does—beyond the baton? Learn how conductors le...

05/04/2025

Co-composer Ron Danzinger captures the vastness of the cosmos and the future of the human race during his piece “Humanimate,” soundtrack to the scene from the Coamic Rhapsody where synthetic DNA fuses human and AI together, expanding our lives and experiences into space and time.

Listen to the full interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YWcR-pnKJx8?si=UYuq_YzTUyeRNkZ5

Listen to the Full Soundtrack: https://open.spotify.com/album/7q5GVCQxQ71jPXf6mW8M7G?si=LxRXJyd2SXC3pHdR5Zctxw

Premiering tomorrow to a SOLD OUT audience at the Barbican 🎶 🧬 🌎

05/02/2025

It was such an honor speaking with the co-creators of the Cosmic Rhapsody, Susan Lim and Christina Teenz Tan. Physician scientists by day and creative storytellers by night, they are the definition of both scientific and artistic pioneers. Be one of the first to hear their newest project, the Cosmic Rhapsody, music to their award-winning animated film featuring Jean-Yves Thibaudet, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted by Robert Ziegler - Conductor. Streaming today on all major platforms and premiering at Barbican Centre on May 5th, 2025. Watch the full interview, out now on YouTube.

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This episode is a musical journey through the cosmos as we explore the film music of the Cosmic Rhapsody, streaming the 2nd of May, 2025 on Decca Classics and major streaming platforms. Premiering in London the 5th of May 2025 at Barbican Hall with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted by Robert Ziegler.

The animated film, Cosmic Rhapsody, follows humanity and AI on a journey beyond Earth in search of solutions to our planet’s environmental and social challenges. It inspires hope for a future where science, innovation, and human resilience come together to build a better world.

Part of the larger ALAN Trilogy, Cosmic Rhapsody builds on themes introduced in the Fantasy of Companionship, which was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and premiered with the RPO at Cadogan Hall in 2023.

The Trilogy has won thousands of awards across the US and internationally, including at the British Short Film Awards, the Annual Cannes World Film Festival, NY International Film Awards, and the Los Angeles Film Awards, among many others.

Mother-daughter co-creators, lyricists, and physician scientists, doctors Susan Lim & Christina Teenz Tan, join me as we take a deep dive into the music to their new animated film.

Dr. Susan Lim is an accomplished surgeon, the first in Singapore and the second woman in the world to perform a successful liver transplant. Dr Lim was an early pioneer in robotic surgery. She is a sought after speaker on stem cell technology.

Dr. Christina Teenz Tan is the daughter of Dr. Lim and is currently a neurology resident at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

This episode is a musical journey through the cosmos as we explore the film music of the Cosmic Rhapsody, streaming the 2nd of May, 2025 on Decca Classics an...

02/03/2025

The first complete opera by a Black American, hidden in a single manuscript for over 130 years, is finally making it’s premiere tonight in Washington, DC. Edmond Dédé (1827–1901), a free-born African American from New Orleans and pioneering composer of the 19th century, is finally receiving the recognition he deserves. If you’re in DC tonight, don’t miss the premier of his opera, “Morgiane, ou, Le Sultan d’Ispahan,” a four act French grand opera on themes from Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves.

Edmond Dédé’s Opera, “Morgiane,” Set for Historic Stage Premiere in 2025 The first complete opera by a Black American, hidden in a single manuscript for over 130 years, is finally making it’s Premiere this week in Washington, DC. Edmond Dédé (1827–1901), a free born African American fr...

12/06/2024

Attention singers 🎶 The latest Q&A episode with Angel Blue is now available to watch on YouTube! 👇

Host Susanna Barasch, creator of the 2020 New Era Voice Festival, replays a pre-masterclass Q&A with internationally renowned soprano, Angel Joy Blue. Guest ...

11/29/2024

Here is the full interview with classical guitarist Andrew Blanch and mezzo-soprano Maria Eugenia Nieva!

Join us for an intimate conversation with classical guitarist Andrew Blanch and mezzo-soprano María Eugenia Nieva as they share their artistic journey, personal connection, and passion for Spanish and Argentinian music.

In this interview, we explore:
🎶 How their love story shaped their musical collaboration.
🎶 The creation of *Spanish Romance*, a program that blends Spanish guitar classics with Argentinian folklore.
🎶 Behind-the-scenes moments from their U.S. tour, spanning Texas, Florida, Georgia, and more.

🌟 Spanish Romance: A Journey of Love and Music with Andrew Blanch (Classical Guitarist) and Maria Eugenia Nieva (Mezzo Soprano) 🌟 --Accompanying Article: ...

11/29/2024

In a warm and candid conversation with classical soprano Susanna Barasch, musicians Andrew Blanch (Spanish guitar) and Maria Eugenia Nieva (mezzo soprano) discuss their musicianship and program “Spanish Romance”, shared insights into their artistic journey, partnership, and the beautiful fusion of music and love that defines their performances.

Read the full article:

Join Andrew Blanch (classical guitarist) and Maria Eugenia Nieva (mezzo soprano) as they discuss their collaboration and the music program 'Spanish Romance'.