Features
News, articles and features from the world of classical music
Songs about friendship: ten beautiful odes to the joy of a good friend
We round up some of our favourite songs that celebrate friendship
Best of Chopin: nine unmissable works by the sublime Romantic
From the Minute Waltz to the Funeral March, we choose some of the very finest pieces by the great Polish composer and pianist
One night in Belfast catapulted a young Luciano Pavarotti to stardom. Here's the story
When Luciano Pavarotti got a call to perform Puccini in Belfast, he couldn't have known how career-defining his performance would be...
Musical keys: what they are, and what each one means in music
Composers use musical keys to ‘flavour’ their music in a particular way. But how do keys work their peculiar magic? And what particular mood does each key evoke?
This is the best movie score of all time, say today's greatest screen composers
We asked over 60 of today's very best film and television composers to tell us which scores would be in their top five of all time, and they didn't disappoint.
What's new?
1907 was the worst year of Gustav Mahler's life. Then came America - and everything changed
The composer Gustav Mahler suffered a series of personal and professional disasters in 1907. A move Stateside, however, resulted in a rapid upturn in his fortunes
The celesta: the magical instrument that adds a touch of enchantment to music
Meet the celesta, whose delicate, filigree sound lends such magic to the world of Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker
Ennio Morricone: the poor Italian boy who forged the sound of the American Wild West
Ennio Morricone’s iconic film scores evoke images of the great American landscape like no other. But, in an exclusive interview with BBC Music Magazine back in 2016 at his house in Rome, he proved his horizons stretch well beyond that
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
Artists
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)
Composers
Camille Saint-Saëns: virtuoso composer who bridged tradition and innovation
The polymath composer who suffered spectacular fall from grace
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
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
Instruments
Hardest instruments: 11 most devilishly difficult musical instruments
Hannah Nepilova dodges practice time to come up with the 11 most challenging instruments to master
Paul McCartney's first bass guitar was lost for 50 years - and turned up a few miles away
Million-dollar violins stolen from cafes - and more: our guide to some of the most famous stolen musical instruments in history
This is now the most expensive violin in history
For some 12 years, the position of world's most expensive violin was occupied by a famous Guarneri violin from 1741. Now that's all changed - and Stradivarius is back at the top
Jazz
Best jazz saxophonists of all time, ranked - and the albums you need to add to your library now
Who is the best jazz saxophonist of all time? From Johnny Hodges to John Coltrane, we've had a go at ranking the top 15 - and we've recommended an essential album from each
Best jazz pianists: 15 of the greatest piano players in the history of jazz
Who are the best jazz pianists of all time? Here, in alphabetical order, are 15 of the greatest ivory tinkers in the history of jazz
From jazz to classical: five surprising classical albums from jazz greats
Musical terms
Why's that tune stuck in your head? The science behind earworms
What are earworms? Are they common and how do I get rid of them? Read on to discover more about this annoying musical phenomenon...
Rubato: a guide to the musical term meaning 'robbed time'
'Robbed time'? Eh? Stephen Johnson gets to grips with another of classical music's technical terms
Gregorian chant: the foundation of Western sacred music - and a source of deep calm and spirituality
All you need to know about this early form of religious music, whose calm and spiritual qualities have spawned some hit recordings
Recordings
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
Science of Music
Music can increase your workout endurance by 15 per cent. Here are six more life-changing benefits
We know that music has a positive effect on the brain, but music’s impact on the body can also be helpful, improving heart health, stress levels and pain management
These six classical music gems will rewire your brain and unlock your hidden potential
Scientific research continues to support what musicians and music lovers have long known: that classical music can reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and even rewire the brain for greater efficiency
Classical Music's Secret Code: understanding these 4 concepts will make you a 'super listener'
Our guide to the four concepts that will help you to unlock classical music's secret code and become a great listener
TV and Film music
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…
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…
These are the 11 most unforgettable uses of music in TV and film
From Manhattan to Ghost via A Clockwork Orange, here are 11 unforgettable music moments from film and TV history
Works
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
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