Articles
Here's why lullabies are so good at sending your baby to sleep
Why are lullabies so effective at encouraging babies to sleep? Musicologist and new mother Madeline Castrey investigates
The Brandenburg Concertos: why Bach’s masterpiece was so nearly lost forever
Without a series of calamitous events, JS Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos might never have come to be, explains Clifford Hall
The seismic changes that have rocked the classical music world in the past 50 years
null
undefined
From the barbecue to the pool, these are the portable Bluetooth speakers you must have for summer 2026!
Our audio expert Chris Haslam recommends go-anywhere speakers for top summer listening
The 7 musical masterpieces that fundamentally changed how we think about ourselves
Alexander Shelley explores the pivotal works that reshaped our understanding of humanity
Millions of listeners love the music of Einaudi. They can’t all be wrong
Meandering and often melancholic, the music of Ludovico Einaudi is also extraordinarily popular. So, asks Tom Service, what is its great appeal?
‘The whistles and boos were terrifying… but the show must go on!’: baritone Nicola Alaimo
Roy Harris Third Symphony: the most dazzling evocation of America’s wide-open spaces
Terry Williams is captivated by the American landscape as he enjoys the best recordings of this 1930s orchestral masterpiece
Active speakers: setting up a stereo has never been so simple
We introduce the best active stereo speakers for quick and easy set-up
Richard Rodney Bennett: from high-class jazz to Agatha Christie, one Britain's most talented composers
From youthful atonalism to Oscar-winning filmscores and suavely genial jazz, here was a composer who had it all, says Mervyn Cooke
Why nobody should be shocked by pop and rock music at the BBC Proms
Meet Gautier Capuçon: the intrepid French cellist who played at the top of Mont Blanc
A spirited adventurer, cellist Gautier Capuçon recently performed while suspended by wires high above the Alps, as Anthony Cheng reports
Argentina national anthem: its lyrics, history and more
The Argentinian national anthem dates back to 1813, three years after the country split from Spain. Here are its patriotic lyrics
Spain national anthem: what is it, and why doesn't it have any lyrics?
Our quick guide to the Spanish national anthem and its history
First Night of the Proms 2026: your complete guide to this year's Proms opening concert
The 2026 Proms are almost upon us, with eight weeks of captivating performances at the Royal Albert Hall and venues around the country. And they kick off in style with the First Night of the Proms...
The serious flaw in Spotify’s plan to distinguish humans from AI
Spotify’s new method of distinguishing AI-generated music from that made by real people is laudable… but sadly flawed, says Tom Service
So much more than Sibelius… try these 7 Finnish masterpieces
Conductor Sakari Oramo selects compelling works by Sibelius and his Finnish successors
Keep, Create, Renew: The Future of Classical Music
BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms controller Sam Jackson explains why public funding matters for classical music in the UK – and why he believes the future is bright. As published in Arts Council England's 80th birthday volume of essays, 'Made in England: Art and Culture in Changing Times'
Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 5: The Best Recordings
Amid the misery of World War II, the British composer’s work offered a sense of calm and even optimism to some, as Terry Blain relates
Why old-school wired headphones STILL sound the best
The recipe for happiness: why good food and music are perfect partners
Music and food have enjoyed each other’s company since time immemorial. Georgia Mann explores this tasty partnership
The art of letting go – composing for another artist
Italian composer and pianist Olivia Belli shares insights on composing for other artists... and composing for herself
Why the SNCF jingle is some of today’s most powerful music
Tom Service salutes the brilliant effectiveness of a four-note motif that has become part of everyday aural life for millions of rail users across France
7 epic Renaissance choral works that still pack a punch today
British tenor Ed Lyon chooses some first-rate examples of epic Renaissance choral works
