The composer who braved Antarctica's thundering avalanches in search of inspiration
Fifteen great composers inspired by wanderlust – from gaping desert canyons to uninhabited icy landscapes
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
Best of Aaron Copland: 11 essential works from the voice of American classical music
Aaron Copland crafted a sound that evokes America's wide open spaces and pioneering spirit. Here are 11 of his very greatest works
Ravel Bolero: the 15-minute piece 'without music' that became one of classical music's most iconic works
Hardest instruments: 11 most devilishly difficult musical instruments
Hannah Nepilova dodges practice time to come up with the 11 most challenging instruments to master
All seven Tchaikovsky symphonies ranked, from worst to best
From the youthful, evocative 'Winter Daydreams' to the gut-punch of the 'Pathétique', Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most dramatic, melodic and emotional symphonies in the canon. We've ranked them
'Ave Maria': lyrics and composer
It's one of composer Franz Schubert's most popular works. But what are the lyrics to 'Ave Maria', and what's the story behind them?
Camille Saint-Saëns: virtuoso composer who bridged tradition and innovation
The polymath composer who suffered spectacular fall from grace
Best poems of all time: 12 of the most evocative and entrancing poems ever written
From The Tyger to The Lady of Shallot, we pore over 12 of the best loved poems in all of literature
War of the Romantics: Brahms, Liszt and the 'evil influence'
How two prominent 19th century composers were at loggerheads when it came to the philosophy of music
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Meet Felix Klieser, the inspirational musician born with no arms
Horn player Felix Klieser was born without arms. His journey to the top of his profession is nothing short of inspirational
Joseph Emidy: Britain's first black composer, who travelled from kidnap and slavery to violin superstardom
Gayle Wood tells the remarkable story of the African-born violinist and composer Joseph Emidy, whose musical talent led to kidnap, life at sea and, finally, acclaim
Ranked: the 15 greatest jazz singers of all time
Who are the greatest jazz singers of all time? We name some of the best here (in alphabetical order)
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Rachmaninov: huge hands, hypnotherapy... and some of music's most breathtaking moments
The last great Russian Romantic: meet Sergey Rachmaninov, creator of some of classical music's most irresistible melodies
French composers: the 21 greatest musicians France has produced
France has produced some of the most influential composers throughout history. We explore the lives and works of the best French composers
Beethoven's funeral drew bigger crowds than Michael Jackson's
The story of thousands gathering in Vienna for Beethoven’s final farewell
Tchaikovsky: the great Romantic whose tragic life found expression in heart-rending music
Tchaikovsky: a great Russian, a great Romantic - and a master of the lament
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
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
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
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Field's Complete Nocturnes (Alice Sara Ott)
In his review, Michael Church enjoys this glowing reappraisal of John Field’s Nocturnes by Alice Sara Ott
Review: Górecki String Quartets (Silesian String Quartet)
The Silesian Quartet deliver an outstanding survey of Górecki’s string quartets, says John Allison in his review
Review: Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On (The King's Singers)
The King’s Singers mark the end of an era in this impeccable final set with bass Jonathan Howard, says Ashutosh Khandekar in his review
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
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