6 Seventies rock gods who lost their way in the Eighties (and 6 who reinvented themselves)
Some 1970s rock giants lost their way in the '80s—while others reinvented themselves and thrived in bold new directions.
The Gilded Age is one of the best things on TV right now. And its music plays a key role
A sumptuous drama of ambition, class, and culture, The Gilded Age strikes a powerful chord with modern audiences. And music plays a vital role
Hardest music: the 12 most fiendishly difficult works in all of music
Our guide to the 12 most difficult pieces of music to play ever - do you agree with our choices?
Five things to know before buying an acoustic guitar
Let us help find the best acoustic guitar for you
'I can’t think of anything more beautiful': 7 perfect classical works for beginners
Violinist James Ehnes selects pieces to play for sceptics who don’t believe they’ll like classical music
'I risked my life driving through Mexican gangland to get to my concert': baritone Benjamin Appl
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
This cat was born to play the piano
You've seen videos of cats 'playing' the piano before. We'll bet you haven't seen anyone quite like Nora, however
Elgar's Cello Concerto gets all the love. But this Elgar work is every bit as beautiful
Best protest songs: 15 timeless fusions of music and defiance
Our guide to 15 of of the most powerful and rousing protest songs in history
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Furtwängler: Hitler’s favourite conductor – or secret Nazi resister?
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
Was Mozart's sister Nannerl the better musician?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had a gifted older sister, Maria Anna, known as Nannerl. A prodigy in her own right, was Nannerl actually the more talented Mozart, asks Sylvia Milo
'Be young all your life': 15 musicians who played on into their 90s
For some performers and composers, the notion of retiring at 90 has been simply out of the question, as Terry Blain explains
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest 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
Tchaikovsky: doomed marriage, tortured sexuality... and devastatingly beautiful music
Tchaikovsky: a great Russian, a great Romantic - and a master of the lament
Brawling, bed-hopping... murder? Music's 15 worst-behaved composers
From Mozart to Peter Warlock, here are 15 composers who stepped out of line - socially, sexually, or just with too much motorbike-based nudity
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
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.
Seven astonishing debut albums that their creators never bettered
Some artists peak early—these stunning debut albums set a standard so high, even their creators couldn’t top them later
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