Netflix's Season 6 of the Crown Premieres With New Classical Soundtrack

The series’ sixth season includes new compositions by Benjamin Britten’s godson, Martin Phipps.

What’s Up: On November 16th, Netflix released season 6 of The Crown, focusing on Princess Diana’s final days with a classical soundtrack to go with it. The score was composed by Martin Phipps, Benjamin Britten’s godson, who also scored the previous three seasons of the series. The soundtrack is performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London.

Refresher: Classical music features throughout all six seasons for Netflix’s The Crown. Rupert Gregson-Williams composed soundtracks for the first two seasons before Martin Phipps took over for season 3. Season 6’s soundtrack also includes 90s hits by Smashmouth and Radiohead, and classical music by Mendelssohn and Chopin.

Digging Deeper: Those in the know can interpret classical music choices to uncover foreshadowing in the Netflix series. The Crown’s’ title track by composer Hans Zimmer is reminiscent of Purcell and Handel’s coronation music. In earlier seasons, the Lacrimosa from Mozart’s Requiem can be heard as WWII looms or smoke envelops London. Season 4, focusing on the relationship between Princess Diana and Charles, included excerpts from La traviata and Fidelio to evoke Prince Charles’ prison-like marriage and Princess Diana’s doomed fate.

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.