'Play it so that flies drop dead from boredom': Dmitri Shostakovich in 12 quotes
Shostakovich was a thoughtful, sometimes acerbic commentator on music and society. Others, such as Pierre Boulez, had their own views on him. Here are 11 memorable Shostakovich quotes
Out now: our August issue, featuring The Beatles, Nicola Benedetti... and overrated composers (prepare for a shock)
Our August issue features musicians enthusing about The Beatles, and other musicians pointing the finger at composers they feel are overrated
Epic, emotional, essential: the 6 Mahler works you must hear
We name the very best pieces of music written by the symphony's great synthesist Mahler
Five things to know before buying an acoustic guitar
Let us help find the best acoustic guitar for you
Brilliant, burdened, overlooked: the women who made classical music happen
If composers’ wives could be the ultimate muse, some were coerced into giving up their own careers to support their husbands
Seven incredible British bands who failed to crack America
Some British bands found a vast new fanbase Stateside, while other seminal acts failed to crack America. What gives?
Music can help in the battle against multiple sclerosis. Here's the science
Music’s ability to reduce stress, stimulate nerves and ‘rewire’ the brain can help to manage the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, writes Rebecca Franks
Why the world’s mightiest pipe organ resides in a Philadelphia department store
In 1911 John Wanamaker decided what his famous department store needed was a pipe organ - and not just any pipe organ, he wanted the biggest in the world
Murder at the Met: the tragic story of the violinist who went missing mid-concert…
Fleetwood Mac albums ranked: the wild journey of rock’s most dramatic band
Fleetwood Mac’s shape-shifting legacy spans blues, pop and rock classics—here’s how their eclectic albums stack up, from worst to best
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Why Samara Joy might be the future of jazz
Samara Joy is the velvet-voiced jazz star bringing timeless jazz standards to new audience — and winning Grammys while doing it
Yunchan Lim: the superstar pianist who, at just 18, reduced a famous conductor to tears
Bob Dylan redefined music in just 45 minutes. Here's how he did it
As Timothée Chalamet returns to our screens as a young Bob Dylan, we take a look at two infamous - but crucial - moments in his whirlwind early career
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Murder and music: the haunting genius of Carlo Gesualdo
Meet Carlo Gesualdo: musician and murderer
Woof! 15 great composers who loved their dogs
We reveal the cute canine companions behind some of classical music's greatest composers
These 7 composers were desperately unhappy in love - but forged sublime music from their pain
When it comes to love, the great composers are, frankly, pretty much like the rest of us: hopeless. Here are six composers who endured terrible love lives
Scriabin: mystic, devil worshipper, erotic composer... one of music's most captivating figures
Surrounded by controversy throughout his life, the composer Alexander Scriabin did little to discourage people from seeing him as a kind of Messiah, as pianist and Scriabin devotee Yevgeny Sudbin explains
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
Ranked: the 17 greatest krautrock albums of all time
From hypnotic rhythms to mind-expanding soundscapes, these krautrock classics reshaped rock, electronic, and experimental music forever
We've ranked the 15 greatest albums of 1972 - perhaps the most significant year in rock history
These 15 seminal albums from 1972 defined rock’s golden era - and shaped the music landscape forever
Blondie songs ranked: the New Wave pioneers' 15 greatest tracks
From punk to disco to pop perfection, these 15 Blondie classics show why their style, swagger and songs still captivate
Genesis: their 16 greatest songs, ranked
Explore Genesis’s greatest songs—from epic prog masterpieces to iconic hits—ranked for their creativity, emotion, and lasting impact.
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Purcell – Complete Suites and Other Music for Keyboard
In her review, Kate Bolton-Porciatti believes pianist Cristian Sandrin has set the bar with his thrilling modern take on Purcell keyboard gems
Review: Moonlight Variations (Pablo Ferrández)
Cellist Pablo Ferrández serves up an appetising menu of works, perfectly played and curated, says Jo Talbot in her review
Review: For Dieter... (Benjamin Appl)
Benjamin Appl’s heartfelt and imaginative album homage to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is cherishable, says Natasha Loges in her review
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
The best desktop speakers 2025: turn your home office into a listening paradise
Here are the best luxury headphones on the market right now
Our audio expert Chris Haslam tests options for luxurious listening in private
Affordable noise-cancelling headphones: the best on the market in 2025
Our expert Chris Haslam gives advice on buying the latest hi-fi equipment. This month... affordable noise-cancelling headphones