Works
Beethoven! His 21 greatest works, ranked
From symphonies to string quartets, we select and explore the 21 greatest works from Beethoven's frankly awesome output
The seven best modern works by Scandinavian composers
Conductor-cellist Tabita Berglund selects the best modern works by Scandinavian composers
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
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The 21 greatest piano pieces of all time – ranked
From Bach’s sacred architecture to Debussy’s shimmering dreamscapes, these 21 masterpieces trace the piano’s evolution: a story of intellect, emotion, and invention that spans three centuries and every shade of the human soul
'Childish': 11 works that their composers came to regret
Even great composers have their regrets. These 11 works were dismissed, disowned, suppressed or simply left their creators wishing they had never written them
9 pieces that catch our greatest composers on, frankly, a bad day
Genius doesn’t guarantee you will create a winner every time, writes Richard Morrison
The bizarre music piece where one player sits in the other's lap
Step forward Ligeti, Stockhausen and, er, Mozart: here are classical music's strangest, craziest and weirdest compositions
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
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
