Works
Mrs T: how divisive political titan Margaret Thatcher is set to become an opera icon
A new opera about Margaret Thatcher
reveals the human side of a formidable
prime minister, writes Charlotte Smith
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…
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Why Haydn’s choral music is the perfect pick-me-up for today’s troubled times
These are the 21 greatest piano concertos of all time
We count down the 21 greatest piano concertos - the finest works ever written for piano with orchestra
We asked musicians to name their best and worst pieces to play. And one composer comes up A LOT
Which works do orchestral players love to play? And which do they dread? We head round the sections of some of Europe’s finest ensembles to find out
Five of the best musical settings of Shakespeare
In celebration of the release of his own 'Shakespeare Songs', composer-conductor Nimrod Borenstein lists his five favourite musical settings of The Bard
The delusion of the Urtext: why we shouldn't worship the classical music score like a relic
Composer and guitarist Stephen Goss argues that musical scores are there to be interpreted and adapted rather than followed slavishly
We ranked the 20 greatest operas of all time
From Monteverdi to Berg via Mozart and Puccini, we count down the 20 best operas of all time. Did we miss your favourite?
Darkest nursery rhymes: the eerie truths hidden in our favourite childhood songs
From Jack and Jill to Three Blind Mice, many of our best-loved nursery rhymes have some sinister meanings behind their cheerful lyrics. Read on for our guide to the darkest nursery rhymes of all time
Ranked: the 15 greatest poems of all time
From The Tyger to The Lady of Shalott, we lose ourselves in 15 of the entrancing and evocative poems in all literature
Here are 9 of the greatest symphonies by female composers
Until recently it was widely accepted that female composers avoided the symphonic form – but this assumption could not be further from the truth. Here are some of the greatest symphonies ever written by female composers
The best music for Brunch - 10 perfect pieces to accompany your eggs, toast and coffee
TV and radio presenter Georgia Mann shares her favourite classical works to accompany a lovely late-morning/early-afternoon Brunch
These 10 famous pieces of music are not by who you think
So, who wrote Albinoni's beautiful Adagio? And what about Bach's famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor? The answers are not that obvious, says Roderick Swanston, as not all music was written by who we think it was
These are the 12 greatest songs about America
From Bernstein's classic to the National Anthem, here's our round-up of the best songs about America
These are the 15 greatest works by Chopin, iconic Romantic composer
From the Minute Waltz to the Funeral March, we choose some of the very finest pieces by the great Polish composer and pianist
These 11 musical masterpieces were hated by their first audiences
Eleven classical masterpieces that were first unleashed upon an angry, unimpressed or simply confused world
Beethoven! His 21 essential masterpieces, ranked
Michael Tanner selects and explores Beethoven's top 21 must-hear masterpieces, choosing from the very best of the great composer's extensive output
These 15 US states have been stunningly evoked in music
From Alaskan glaciers to Florida plantations, Brian Wise explores how composers have depicted the American landscape
7 works to make you fall in love with the pipe organ
Organist and conductor Anna Lapwood shares the best works to introduce newcomers to the pipe organ
These are the 21 best violin concertos of all time
Here is our selection of the greatest pieces ever written for violin and orchestra. Do you agree?
Introducing the 5-minute piece of music guaranteed to bring you mindfulness
Here are a selection of pieces, from Hildegard von Bingen to Debussy, that will aid your serenity and mindfulness and put you in the perfect zone for meditation
Far too many wonderful carols have faded into obscurity
John Rutter, the king of Christmas, reveals his 7 favourite carols
British composer-conductor John Rutter shares the Christmas carols that mean the most to him
