Debussy Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune: 'the awakening of modern music'
We tell the story of Debussy's sensuous work, Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, which heralded a radical new chapter in orchestral writing
Schumann's suicide attempt: how mental illness and money woes pushed a great composer close to the edge
How mental illness and financial stresses drove Schumann to throw himself into the Rhine on an icy day in February
How the pains of love have found their way into these heart-wrenching pieces of classical music
From 12th-century troubadours to glitzy modern-day tenors, love is a timeless theme explored in western classical music. But sometimes it's not always pretty...
'I was forced to mime while the opera carried on around me': soprano Sabine Devieilhe
Chopin: fragile, fussy, oversensitive about his nose. And one of our most incredible composers
He was a master of lyricism and drama, and his ethereal melodies still enchant us today. His life was not an easy one, however. Meet the ultimate Romantic, Frédéric Chopin
Beethoven Symphony No. 7: the joyous work that Wagner called the 'apotheosis of the dance'
We investigate Beethoven's Seventh Symphony and how the composer declares the 'glory of light' through darkness
Desert Island Discs: the most popular classical music choices
We reflect on the programme’s most popular choices, and the BBC Music Magazine team choose the pieces they would happily be stranded on an island with.
The 2025 Grammys… which classical artists scooped awards?
'Worthless': the cast-iron classical masterpiece once written off as unplayable
What happens when a composer writes a work that is simply too difficult for its intended performers? Jeremy Pound takes a look at ten such examples
Wellington's Victory: how Beethoven humiliated the 'tyrant' Napoleon in music
Although the great composer once idolised Napoleon Bonaparte, his affections turned and in 1813 he celebrated Wellington's Victory in music
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Patricia Routledge: from Bernstein to Bucket, a life less ordinary
Though known chiefly for her brilliant portrayal of a social climber on TV’s Keeping Up Appearances, Patricia Routledge was once also a successful mezzo, as the actress recalls with Michael White
Leonard Slatkin: my memories growing up in the Hollywood of Frank Sinatra and Doris Day
As he marks his 80th birthday, conductor Leonard Slatkin shares his lifelong connection to the music of Hollywood
William Blake: the visionary poet who lit a flame in composers from Vaughan Williams to Bob Dylan
The visionary poetry and vivid illustrations of William Blake have inspired hundred of pieces, from songs to symphonies. Kate Wakeling finds out why
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Franz Liszt: the visionary piano superstar who had women swooning in the aisles
The composer Franz Liszt was a brilliant but enigmatic piano virtuoso, writes Jessica Duchen
Autism, ADHD, hyperactivity, depression? Today's psychologists analyse Mozart's brilliant mind
Using today’s psychoanalytic methods, what can we learn, asks Rebecca Franks, about the mind of Mozart, perhaps the greatest musical genius of all?
Mozart was facing charges of indecency. Solution? He got married
Mozart's marriage, hastily arranged, stops a visit from the Vienna police, writes Terry Blain
Hugo Wolf: the wild man of late 19th century song
The wild man of 19th-century song
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
Winterreise: the tale of Schubert's brilliantly bleak song cycle - and four great recordings
Michael Tanner sets out on one of the bleakest and loneliest journeys in classical music, as he selects the finest recordings of Schubert's harrowing song-cycle, Winterreise
Mahler Symphony 5: a guide to this journey from darkness to triumph, and its best recordings
We name the greatest recordings of Mahler's legendary Fifth Symphony
18 weird and wonderful Christmas album covers: our pick of the best
Christmas over the years has inspired a glorious array of quirky covers from record company designers. We present our favourites…
Essential Christmas albums: 10 timeless recordings to get you in the Christmas spirit
What is the perfect music to get oneself into the festive spirit? We ask ten of our writers to name the albums they couldn’t imagine Yuletide without
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Mozart Piano Sonatas (Ran Jia)
In his review, Michael Jameson believes Ran Jia’s insightful take on this set of Mozart sonatas are an undeniable triumph and set a modern benchmark
Review: Bartók & Ligeti String Quartets (Marmen Quartet)
In her review, Jessica Duchen is bowled over by the intensity, energy and expert view of these challenging works by Ligeti and Bartók, deftly handled by the Marmen Quartet
Review: Beethoven's Missa Solemnis (Le Cercle de l’Harmonie)
In his review, Michael Jameson is thrilled by Jérémie Rhorer’s visionary interpretation of Beethoven’s great mass, the Missa Solemnis
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Listen in luxury 2025: the best high-end headphones on the market
Our audio expert Chris Haslam tests options for luxurious listening in private
Audio gift guide 2024: perfect gifts for audio lovers this Christmas, at every price point
From cute bedside radios to tantalising turntables, Chris Haslam suggests a wide range of perfect gifts for audio lovers this Christmas
How to get the most from your Spotify subscription
Our expert Chris Haslam gives valuable advice on getting the very best from your Spotify subscription as a classical music listener