Why Bored Billionaires Are Investing in Classical Music (And What They Know That You Don't)
Billionaires are increasingly investing in classical music—acquiring rare instruments, funding orchestras, and supporting opera houses—not just for prestige, but as a stable, appreciating asset and a lasting cultural legacy in an ever-changing world
How Queen Elizabeth II got Benjamin Britten composing again - after he almost died
When Benjamin Britten was at his lowest ebb, the encouragement to start composing again came from no lesser person than Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as John Bridcut reveals
Un ballo in maschera: the violent Verdi opera that the censors tried to ban
Due to the 'maddening' changes made by scrupulous censors, Verdi'a violent opera might never have seen the light of day, writes Terry Blain
Classical Music's Secret Code: understanding these 4 concepts will make you a 'super listener'
Our guide to the four concepts that will help you to unlock classical music's secret code and become a great listener
Meet Hugo, the dog who loves to duet with Pavarotti
Hugo, aka Opera Dog, is an adorable Golden Retriever with a passion for opera. And for the voice of one operatic superstar in particular...
Tiger moms and drunken dads: 10 great musical prodigies and the parenting tactics that shaped them
Just how pushy were the mothers and fathers of some of our greatest composers? And for better or worse? Sarah Urwin Jones weighs up the evidence
The greatest composers of all time, ranked: 50 names who've shaped the music we hear today
We asked 174 composers to choose the 50 greatest composers of all time. A tough task: here's how they rank...
Composers' wives: why behind every great man is often an even greater woman
If composers’ wives could be the ultimate muse, some were coerced into giving up their own careers to support their husbands
How they voted: The Best Film Scores of All Time, as chosen by over 60 film and TV composers...
We asked over 60 of today's very best film and television composers to tell us which scores would be in their top five of all time, and they didn't disappoint.
You don't know these 10 Mozart works - but you really should
So you think you know your Wolfgang? Misha Donat uncovers 10 works you might not have heard before...
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler: darling of the Nazis or secret opponent?
Wilhelm Furtwängler has long been seen as a symbol of Nazism. But, as Andrew Green explains, the conductor was a strong opponent of the regime
'Miraculous' or 'evil': 10 quotes by musicians and critics about controversial conductor Herbert von Karajan
What have critics and performers said about the formidable Austrian conductor, Herbert von Karajan, over the years?
Best folk singers of all time: 15 folk icons, from Lead Belly to Laura Marling
Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Lead Belly: we explore the world's best folk singers and their key recordings
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
1840: Franz Liszt becomes the world's first rock star
In June 1840 Franz Liszt gave the world's first piano 'recital'. Here we uncover how the dynamic pianist and composer gave birth to a new form of musical performance
'Scant regard for hygiene led to serious complications': how a medical charlatan blinded Bach
In April 1750 Bach went under the knife of English eye surgeon John Taylor with disastrous results...
'He pursued her to no avail... a flood of music followed': the real-life muses who inspired the great, lovesick composers
Jessica Duchen looks at the figures who, through physical beauty or other compelling qualities, became muses for the great composers
Elisabetta de Gambarini: the fabulous talent, violent marriage and tragic death of a trailblazing composer
Stephen Pritchard relates the sparkling talent, entrepreneurial drive and shameful treatment of an unheralded 18th-century musical pioneer
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
Stravinsky Rite of Spring: the work that shattered classical music tradition
We explore Stravinsky's groundbreaking ballet The Rite of Spring and its seminal place in music history, before picking out some very best recordings
Winterreise: the tale of Schubert's brilliantly bleak song cycle - and four great recordings
Michael Tanner sets out on one of the bleakest and loneliest journeys in classical music, as he selects the finest recordings of Schubert's harrowing song-cycle, Winterreise
Mahler Symphony 5: a guide to this journey from darkness to triumph, and its best recordings
We name the greatest recordings of Mahler's legendary Fifth Symphony
18 weird and wonderful Christmas album covers: our pick of the best
Christmas over the years has inspired a glorious array of quirky covers from record company designers. We present our favourites…
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Shawn E Okpebholo 'Songs in Flight'
Shawn E Okpebholo’s new song cycle is an outstanding response to America’s painful past and
gets to the heart of real lives exploited by slavery, says Kate Wakeling in her review
Review: Inmost Heart (Samson Tsoy)
In his review, Michael Church is left spellbound by Samson Tsoy’s artistry at the keyboard in this glorious show of reinterpreted works
Review: Debussy – String Quartet in G minor etc (Nash)
The Nash Ensemble are immaculate in this new vintage recording of sparkling quartets and sonatas by Debussy, says Suzanne Rolt in her review
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Listen in luxury 2025: the best high-end headphones on the market
Our audio expert Chris Haslam tests options for luxurious listening in private
Audio gift guide 2024: perfect gifts for audio lovers this Christmas, at every price point
From cute bedside radios to tantalising turntables, Chris Haslam suggests a wide range of perfect gifts for audio lovers this Christmas
How to get the most from your Spotify subscription
Our expert Chris Haslam gives valuable advice on getting the very best from your Spotify subscription as a classical music listener