Works
The strange paintings that inspired a piano masterpiece
It was a series of atmospheric paintings by a much-missed friend that got Mussorgsky going on his superbly evocative Pictures at an Exhibition
Drama, power, passion: Queen's 21 most iconic songs, ranked
From operatic epics to hard rock anthems, we rank Queen’s 21 greatest songs—celebrating their bold invention, theatrical flair, and timeless musical brilliance.
The Lark Ascending: the origin story of Vaughan Williams's atmospheric masterpiece
A guide to The Lark Ascending, Vaughan Williams's much-loved work for violin and orchestra
The drunk conductor who ruined a great symphony's premiere
John Evans takes a look at the great works that, while much adored and respected today, all got off to a horribly shaky start
Classical metal: these 11 seminal heavy metal tracks have deep classical roots
Despite first appearances, there's much to connect heavy metal and classical music, writes singer/songwriter and guitarist Joe Matera
Relaxing music for cats: 10 serene pieces guaranteed to soothe your feline friend
Discover 10 soothing musical pieces scientifically proven to relax and comfort cats, perfect for creating a peaceful, stress-free environment for your feline friend
Beethoven's best kept secrets: 11 lesser known gems you should hear
Think you know Beethoven? Think again with our tour of 11 little known Beethoven gems, from Wellington's Victory to the Andante favori
Love songs: 11 tracks that capture the magic and mess of love
From aching ballads to euphoric anthems, these 11 timeless love songs reveal the full spectrum of romance and desire
Luigi Cherubini's Médée... Is this the most shockingly bloody opera of all time?
With its blood-spattered ending and challenging title role, this Greek tragedy-inspired opera is not for the faint-hearted, George Hall reveals
Buried treasure: 12 timeless masterpieces you've probably never heard
From Amy Beach to Hector Berlioz, here are 12 unjustly neglected masterpieces that are crying out to regain their place in the repertoire
Lust, greed, corruption: why Wagner's Ring Cycle will always be the greatest show on earth
Whether simply a tale of demigods, dwarves and dragons or a deeply symbolic work, Wagner’s Ring cycle has had a profound impact on both arts and politics. Terry Blain tells its story - and considers its legacy
These 11 musical works were way ahead of their time
These 11 radical masterpieces bent time, broke rules, and changed the future of music forever
These 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
The 15 greatest openings in classical music... How many do you know?
What are the most memorable openings in classical music? Jeremy Pound and Steve Wright explore 15 of the best known, some of which have entirely outshone the works that follow
We asked you for the pieces that got you hooked on classical music. Here's what you told us
Back in 2014, we asked BBC Music Magazine readers to tell us about the pieces that first drew them into the wonderful world of classical music. Here are some of the many responses we received...
'Unperformable': the much-loved masterpiece that almost never got off the ground
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
Debussy changed music forever. These 12 works prove it
Pianist George Lepauw guides us through the Debussy works he thinks any non-classical music fan would enjoy
These are some of the saddest songs ever written
Our round-up of some of the saddest and most haunting songs in musical history
Music for studying: 15 great works that will boost your focus and banish distractions
What is the best music to aid a little learning? These are the best pieces of music for studying and keeping you on task and concentrating when the going gets tough and you're feeling easily distracted
Think you don’t like classical music? These 7 works will change your mind
Violinist James Ehnes selects pieces to play for sceptics who don’t believe they’ll like classical music
Best Beethoven symphony: all nine masterpieces, ranked and rated
Ranking the nine Beethoven symphonies is a somewhat herculean and, of course, a controversial exercise. But here's what we think. What about you?
Darkest nursery rhymes: the eerie truths lurking beneath your 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
Best of Satie: eight perfect introductions to his eccentric, captivating sound world
A selection of the finest – and oddest – pieces by the French composer and eccentric Erik Satie
Korngold Symphony in F sharp: a searing account of the misery of life in Nazi Germany
Despite Korngold’s denials, there is much to suggest that his Symphony in F sharp is a grim depiction of the dark days of Nazism, argues Jessica Duchen