Robert Emery

Ask The Maestro

Music EN ↓ 290 episodes

Ask The Maestro is your daily front-row seat to the hidden world of classical music. Conductor Robert Emery steps onto the podium to answer the questions you’ve always wondered about — from the drama of the orchestra to the secrets behind the score. Engaging and straight to the point, each episode uncovers the stories, traditions, and secrets of the concert hall — one question at a time. Listen daily and stay curious. Send your question to ask@robertemery.com

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: robertemery.com

Author

Robert Emery

Episodes

Day 240: Do Musicians Watch Each Other? 28.08.2026 1:30

Robert Emery reveals how much musicians watch and react to one another during a performance. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask abo...

Day 239: Does Mood Change the Sound? 27.08.2026 1:08

Robert Emery explains whether a conductor's mood can influence the sound of an orchestra. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask ab...

Day 238: Orchestra Pranks? 26.08.2026 0:50

Robert Emery shares some of the funniest pranks musicians have played in orchestras. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about class...

Day 237: Hair in the Bow? 25.08.2026 0:39

Robert Emery explains why string players need horsehair on their bows. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Pr...

Day 236: Hidden Jokes in Music? 24.08.2026 1:14

Robert Emery reveals some of the hidden jokes composers have written into their music. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about cla...

Day 235: Why Italian Terms? 23.08.2026 2:18

Robert Emery explains why Italian became the universal language of musical directions. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about cla...

Day 234: Who Chooses the Tempo? 22.08.2026 1:20

Robert Emery explains who really decides the tempo of a musical performance. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical mus...

Day 233: What Is a Leitmotif? 21.08.2026 1:46

Robert Emery explains what a leitmotif is and why composers use one. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Prov...

Day 232: How Do Crescendos Stay Together? 20.08.2026 1:23

Robert Emery explains how an orchestra keeps a crescendo perfectly together. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical mus...

Day 231: Can Orchestras Improvise? 19.08.2026 0:32

Robert Emery explains whether orchestras can improvise like jazz musicians. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical musi...

Day 230: Crew Chaos? 18.08.2026 1:23

Robert Emery reveals the funniest moments of chaos behind the scenes with the crew. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classi...

Day 229: Elevator Stories? 17.08.2026 1:35

Robert Emery shares some memorable stories from elevators while touring. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music....

Day 228: Can Music Help Plants Grow? 16.08.2026 1:24

Robert Emery explores whether music can really help plants grow. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providin...

Day 227: Strangest Instrument Ever? 15.08.2026 0:53

Robert Emery reveals one of the strangest musical instruments ever invented. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical mus...

Day 226: A Moving Orchestra? 14.08.2026 1:04

Robert Emery explains whether an orchestra can perform while moving and how it works. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about clas...

Day 225: Music Inspired by Space? 13.08.2026 1:37

Robert Emery explores classical music inspired by space and the wonders of the universe. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about c...

Day 224: Your Proudest Achievement? 12.08.2026 1:05

Robert Emery reflects on the achievement that has made him proudest in his career. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classic...

Day 223: Your Dream Orchestra? 11.08.2026 1:03

Robert Emery reveals which orchestra he would most love to conduct. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Provi...

Day 222: Mozart, Beethoven or Wagner? 10.08.2026 1:31

Robert Emery shares whether he would choose Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, or Richard Wagner, and explains why. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audi...

Day 221: Was It in Italy? 09.08.2026 0:37

Robert Emery reveals whether one of his most memorable stories happened in Italy. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classica...

Day 220: Could Anyone Be a Conductor? 08.08.2026 1:04

Robert Emery shares whether anyone can become a conductor with the right training and dedication. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to as...

Day 219: How Do You Become a Conductor? 07.08.2026 1:36

Robert Emery explains the journey to becoming a professional conductor. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. P...

Day 218: Pianist Slammed The Lid?! 06.08.2026 1:11

Robert Emery reveals whether he has ever seen a pianist dramatically slam the piano lid shut. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask ab...

Day 217: Weirdest Stage Accident? 05.08.2026 1:24

Robert Emery shares the weirdest stage accident he has witnessed during a performance. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about cla...

Day 216: Musician Fainted Mid-Concert? 04.08.2026 1:14

Robert Emery reveals whether he has ever seen a musician faint in the middle of a concert. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about...