In this episode we explore how Jean-Baptiste Lully, the towering figure of French Baroque music, met an unexpectedly grim fate: while fiercely conducting his own Te Deum, he stabbed his foot with his staff, refused surgery and died of gangrene. Along the way we follow his rise from Italian miller’s son to court composer of Louis XIV, survey the evolving tools of conducting, and reflect on how a moment of hubris and misstep changed music history. Strap in for spectacle, irony and a reminder that even great maestros can trip up literally—and yes, the internet says it’s true.
Rhythm and Ruin: Jean-Baptiste Lully’s Final Beat
