Case Notes
7 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 6 years ago - ★★★★★ - 294 ratingsWinner of the British Podcast Awards Best True Crime Podcast 2019, Case Notes investigates some of the darkest mysteries from the history of music. From the murderous composer Carlo Gesualdo to the intriguing story of Haydn’s missing head – this is true crime like you’ve never heard it before. Join us as we delve into long-forgotten archives to unearth rich new evidence from decades and even centuries ago. Brought to you by the award-winning Classic FM team.
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Episodes
Episode 6: The mystery of Mozart’s Requiem
May 17, 2018 09:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBIn 1791 a masked figure knocked at Mozart’s door. He wanted to commission a piece from the great composer – a mass for the dead. There was one condition, Mozart could never know who his client was. Mozart agreed and started work on the piece. But he soon became ill – had he been poisoned? Mozart began to fear he was writing the music for his own funeral. He died before he could finish the piece. Who was the mysterious stranger? And what’s the real story behind Mozart’s Requiem? Original m...
Episode 5: The mystery of Tchaikovsky’s death
May 03, 2018 09:00 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBIn 1893 the composer Tchaikovsky breathed his last. He had become a celebrity in his native Russia and been showered with honours. But Tchaikovsky had a secret. He was gay. And in Russia at the time that was illegal. Attempts by authorities and historians to cover this up have meant that Tchaikovsky’s life and death became shrouded with mystery. In this episode, we try to get to the bottom of exactly what happened to one of the greatest musicians the world has ever seen. This episode tackles ...
Episode 4: The death of Peter Warlock
April 19, 2018 09:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MBIn the early 20th century a craze for the occult swept the country. It was the era of Aleister Crowley and a new-found fascination with black magic. And no-one embraced this world more fully than Philip Heseltine. This hard-living, heavy-drinking composer delved into the art of black magic, experimented with spells and even changed his name to ‘Peter Warlock’. In 1930 he died suddenly, at the age of just 36. Had he been interfering with forces beyond his control? This episode tackles subjects...
Episode 3: The stolen Stradivarius
April 05, 2018 09:00 - 44 minutes - 40.3 MBHas something ever been stolen from you? Do you remember the feeling of panic when you realised it was gone? Now imagine if that thing was worth £1.2m. This is the story of violinist Min Kym and what happened when her instrument was taken from her. It’s a tale of giddy love, devastating loss and the healing power of music. Original music was written by Thomas Hewitt Jones (@thewittjones). Tim Lihoreau can be found on Twitter (@TimLihoreau) and the Classic FM team can be found @ClassicFM. Yo...
Episode 2: The Gesualdo Murders
March 22, 2018 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBThe murder of Donna Maria D’Avalos and Don Fabrizio Carafa in 1590 was one of the most violent Naples had ever seen. It was so violent, in fact, it became known as the crime of the century. But who could have committed such a brutal murder? And why was no one ever punished for the crime? In this episode we explore the grim story of a killing that horrified Europe and sent shockwaves down the centuries. This episode tackles subjects that some listeners might find upsetting. Original music was...
Episode 1: Haydn's Missing Head
March 08, 2018 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBHow did the tomb of Austria's great composer come to contain not one skull, but two? The story of Haydn's head leads us into the murky world of 19th-century medicine, complete with grave robbing and some gruesome pseudo-science. Be warned, this episode contains descriptions that some listeners might find disturbing. Original music was written by Thomas Hewitt Jones (@thewittjones). Tim Lihoreau can be found on Twitter (@TimLihoreau) and the Classic FM team can be found @ClassicFM. You can g...
Official Trailer: Case Notes
January 11, 2018 14:30 - 1 minute - 1.53 MBCase Notes is a brand-new crime podcast, investigating some of the darkest mysteries from the history of music. From the murderous composer Carlo Gesualdo to the intriguing story of Haydn’s missing head – this is true crime like you’ve never heard it before. Join us as we delve into long-forgotten archives to unearth rich new evidence from decades and even centuries ago. Brought to you by the award-winning Classic FM team.