From the streets to the stage… Brad Kella on how winning Channel 4’s ‘The Piano’ changed his life
If you’re a fan of Channel 4’s keyboard contest The Piano, you’ll be very familiar with Brad Kella, the young composer-pianist who won the last series. Here he reflects on a crazy year, owning a Steinway and how music has changed him for the better…
Mozart was knighted as a teenager. But the reason is stranger than you think
In 1770 Pope Clement XIV awarded the 14-year-old Mozart a papal knighthood and the prestigious Order of the Golden Spur. Here's how it happened...
Curtis Institute: inside the American school bringing on tomorrow's greatest musicians
As the Curtis Institute marks its centenary, Charlotte Smith visits the elite Philadelphian music school to discover the secrets of its success
Alkan: the lost prodigy who shaped Chopin and Ravel
A performer who became a hermit, Charles-Valentin Alkan wrote the most demanding piano works in history, says Malcolm Hayes
Unlock classical music: the 7 key eras you need to know
Michael Beek guides us through the different historical periods of classical music, from the medieval times to the modern day
The 7 greatest composer movies you need to watch (and one that's almost comically awful)
From Amadeus to Lisztomania, we rate the portrayals of classical music's greats on the big screen
Howard Shore: the film composer behind Hannibal Lecter and Bilbo Baggins
Howard Shore reflects on his years in Middle-earth and tells Michael Beek why he has a lot to thank the LPO for...
Rostropovich: the virtuoso who redefined the cello forever
Rostropovich was the most influential cellist of any era, a force of nature who inspired many of the 20th century’s greatest works. His former pupil Elizabeth Wilson recalls his extraordinary talent, eventful life and magnetic personality
'In the letter, he revealed he considered suicide': Beethoven's turbulent life in 21 key dates
A very quick guide to some of the most important moments in Beethoven's life
These are the 14 best stage musicals of all time
Ranked: the greatest musicals ever put on the stage
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Titanic musicians: the tragic and noble tale of the performers who went down playing
On the night of 15 April 1912, one of the most heroic performances in history was witnessed, as the musicians of the Titanic carried on playing despite their inevitable fate. Andrew Green tells their story
Nazi exile, mental illness: the complex legacy of one of the 20th century's greatest conductors
For many, conductor Otto Klemperer will be remembered as the steady and reliable champion of classic repertoire, but in his youth the German was a dashing advocate of the new, writes Andrew Green
Wendy Carlos: the fearless trailblazer behind Kubrick’s most haunting soundscapes
Discover the bold, brilliant world of Wendy Carlos—electronic music pioneer, innovator, and trailblazing figure in sound and identity.
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Gold medals and sex kittens: 5 times the music of Ravel has been used in popular culture
The composer who helped me through a mental health crisis
Almost uniquely, Bruckner seems to inspire either deep devotion or total dislike. Stephen Johnson marks the Austrian’s bicentenary by explaining why, for him, the symphonies have become firm friends
Seven composers who distilled miserable love lives into sublime music
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
Arvo Pärt: echoes of eternity in music
Estonia's pioneering contemporary voice
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
Best albums of all time: 50 magnificent classical recordings you must hear
Our round-up of the best must-have performances of classical music. Update your collection with the great symphonies, choral works, operas, chamber and instrumental works
Beethoven piano sonatas: six of the best cycles
We name some of the best recordings of Beethoven's sonatas, peformed by the great and the good of the piano world
The Planets: a world-by-world guide to Holst's cosmic work
We bring you the best recordings of each movement of Holst's The Planets
Death and the Maiden: Schubert's harrowing string quartet and most emotive recordings
Erik Levi picks out the finest recordings of Schubert's Death and the Maiden, a piece in which the Austrian composer plumbs the very depths of despair
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Ravel Fragments (Bertrand Chamayou)
In his review, Nicholas Kenyon enjoys Bertrand Chamayou’s vision and gripping performance in a clever tribute to Ravel
Review: Dvořák & Price – Piano Quintets (Takács Quartet)
Takács Quartet and Marc-André Hamelin are on sublime form in contrasting piano quintets by Dvořák and Florence Price, says Jan Smaczny in his review
Review: Attende domine (The Bevan Family Consort)
In her review, Alexandra Wilson finds much to enjoy in this glorious family album of beautiful music for Lent and Passiontide from the brilliant Bevans
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
These are the best Bluetooth speakers on the market 2025
Would you spend a million pounds on a hi-fi? What if it sounds like nothing you've ever experienced?
Our audio expert Chris Haslam spends a few enjoyable hours in the company of some of the most eye-wateringly capable (and expensive) hi-fi technology out there
Listening room inspiration: how you can create the ultimate music sanctuary at home
Easy chair, hi-fi, vinyl displays: here's how to furnish your own listening paradise
