Works
The 7 essential works by Edward Elgar – as chosen by British cellist Julian Lloyd Webber
British cellist Julian Lloyd Webber picks the most marvellously memorable works by Edward Elgar
Think classical music isn’t for you? These 11 thrilling works might change your mind
Classical music isn't all dusty masterpieces and solemn concert halls. These 11 thrilling works offer passion, beauty, drama and unforgettable melodies.
The 27 greatest symphonies ever written: visionary masterpieces that still astonish us
From Beethoven’s thunderous defiance to Mahler’s cosmic visions, these are the 21 symphonies that have astonished listeners for generations
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5 great works written by composers late in life
Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez: the Spanish guitar masterpiece and its best recordings
Rob Ainsley basks in the warmth of the Spanish sun as he explores the finest recordings of this iconic piece for guitar and orchestra
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 7 musical masterpieces that fundamentally changed how we think about ourselves
Alexander Shelley explores the pivotal works that reshaped our understanding of humanity
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
So much more than Sibelius… try these 7 Finnish masterpieces
Conductor Sakari Oramo selects compelling works by Sibelius and his Finnish successors
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
Ten great concertos for strange instruments
From contrabassoons to harmonicas, we take a look at some of the more unusual concertos to have found their way into the concert hall over the centuries
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
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
From Nixon to Gandhi, political giants make the most gripping opera characters
Best of Mozart: 11 essential works - and the recordings you need
From glittering operas to sublime symphonies and intimate chamber pieces, here are 11 of Mozart’s greatest works—timeless masterpieces that reveal his genius in every form
Sex, blood and blasphemy... opera’s most shocking moments
Some opera productions really do push the boundaries of good taste, reflects Ashutosh Khandekar as he relives some of the most outrageous of all
The Orchestra: A Young Person’s Guide – a bold new re-imagining of Britten's popular classic
Composer Charlotte Harding introduces her new work for the National Open Youth Orchestra – the world’s first disabled-led national youth ensemble
The 7 best pieces of music to get all 5 senses fizzing
Composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman selects works that present music as a multi-sensory experience
They're making an opera about Margaret Thatcher... and promise to reveal her human side
A new opera about Margaret Thatcher
reveals the human side of a formidable
prime minister, writes Charlotte Smith
Classical music is good at sex. Here are the 15 most erotic works
Just how erotic can music be? Jessica Duchen gets hot under the collar as she explores the most passionate pieces and sensual songs
Best of Vivaldi: seven perfect gateways into classical music's most elegant composer
We name seven of the greatest pieces by that melodious Baroque genius, Antonio Lucio Vivaldi
Haydn Symphonies: the ultimate guide
Over the course of nearly 40 years and more than 100 works, Haydn took the symphony into totally new territory. But how to go about exploring this huge and groundbreaking body of music? Let Nicholas Kenyon be your genial guide…
