Articles
'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?
The 11 Alan Silvestri film scores you need to hear!
In honour of the great Hollywood composer’s 75th birthday, here’s our rundown of what we think is his very best work…
Feel the rhythm! 7 toe-tapping pieces that will make you want to dance
Composer-conductor Odaline de la Martinez prizes tempo, swing and bounce in her top rhythmic works
Watch as this beautiful cat steals the spotlight at classical concert
In Istanbul, the City of Cats, this beautiful feline gets a warm welcome as she mingles with the orchestra during a classical concert
Bust these 10 myths - and you'll unlock the glorious world of classical music
Many find classical music intimidating due to its history, complexity, or formal settings, but these fears stem from myths. In reality, it’s for everyone—emotional, thrilling, and accessible. Here are 10 common misconceptions debunked
Did Mendelssohn peak at the age of just 16 with his magnificent Octet?
Cheers! Here are music's most boisterous drinking songs
We discover which composers were partial to a drinking song or two...
Here's what happens when you play Debussy's 'Clair de lune' to a baby
This baby's reaction to his father playing Debussy and Chopin on the piano will give you a warm glow for the rest of the day
'He rode his motorbike naked into the village': 15 very badly 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
This singer found herself with no partner. What happened next was truly heartwarming
When Lisette Oropesa cued up an encore that required a tenor onstage, there seemed to be a problem. Enter one Liu Jianwei...
These 12 serene classical pieces will calm your mind and improve your mental health
These are the best pieces of classical music to calm your soul and boost your mental health, as chosen by violinist and conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy
This composer's head and body were kept apart for 150 years. Here's the whole bizarre story
The remarkable tale of the composer whose head was removed from his body after death - and reunited with it almost 150 years later
These are the world’s greatest orchestras - and their most dazzling recordings
Our guide, continent by continent, to the world's best orchestral ensembles - and a great recording that shows each at their stunning best
Lord of the Rings composer honoured at the first ever London Soundtrack Festival
Oscar-winning Canadian composer Howard Shore was awarded ‘The Gunning Inspiration Award’ at the Royal Festival Hall as part of the first ever London Soundtrack Festival…
This kitten's reaction to the violin is just too cute
Watch Esther Abrami playing the violin to her kitten - and the frankly adorable response from the musical feline
'Fields of Athenry' lyrics
The Fields of Athenry, with its emotional storyline and vivid evocations of the landscapes of western Ireland, is one of the best loved Irish folk songs. Here are the lyrics
'The rebellion of a very ill man against a very sick society': why critics shunned the Shostakovich Second Cello Concerto
British critics were slow to appreciate the qualities of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich's Second Cello Concerto, as Erik Levi explains
This cat reacts to music in her own *very* particular way
Take one black cat. Add Mahler's hyper-emotional Ninth Symphony. Result: well, see for yourself...
I spent three years in isolation. Now I'm making music about resilience, love and hope
BAFTA-winning composer Jessica Curry, known for her deeply emotive classical and video game music, spent three years in isolation due to her immunosuppressant condition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Struggling with profound loneliness, grief, and creative silence, she found solace and purpose through music
So you like Vivaldi's Four Seasons... why not try these other seasonal works?
Music, madness and murder: why Amadeus is the greatest music film of all time
‘Everything you’ve heard is true,’ proclaimed the posters for Miloš Forman’s Amadeus – a cinematic tale of genius and envy, based on Peter Shaffer’s acclaimed stage play about Mozart and Salieri’s bitter rivalry. Forty years on, Charlotte Smith looks back at a very special production
Here are 11 very cute pictures of great musicians and their beloved pets
There's a long and frankly very cute story to be told about the strong bonds forged between musicians and their pets. Here are some of the most life-affirming musician-pet combos
'My dearest Sir. You're nothing but an arse'. Why Erik Satie spent a week in jail
When a critic wrote a scathing review of his new ballet Parade, Erik Satie responded in caustic terms - and found himself standing up in court
Elizabeth Poston: the British composer and WW2 secret agent who sent coded messages through music
Evidence that British composer Elizabeth Poston sent musical war codes via BBC radio broadcasts is tantalisingly scant. But was her alleged method of contacting the Allies widespread? Christopher Lambton examines the clues