The wives of the great composers: why behind every great man is often an even greater woman
If composers’ wives could be the ultimate muse, some were coerced into giving up their own careers to support their husbands
Ranked: the 11 greatest musical moments in Olympic history, featuring Ravel, John Williams, Lang Lang and more
As the Olympic Games come to Paris, Jeremy Pound explores how music has played its part in shaping this greatest of sporting events
Today's unmissable BBC Prom: Britten, Elgar and a former BBC Young Musician of the Year
Here's your brief guide to the BBC Proms concert taking place at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday, 26 July 2024, featuring Britten, Elgar, and the brilliant cellist Laura van der Heijden
Laura van der Heijden: the gifted, thoughtful and ever-questing cellist who won BBC Young Musician at just 15
With her recording of Walton’s Concerto, cellist Laura van der Heijden revisits her BBC Young Musician win – but with a new, mature focus
Alice Coote: the impressively versatile British mezzo-soprano gracing the 2024 BBC Proms
Here's a brief introduction to the British mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, who performs at the BBC Proms on Thursday 25 July and who's earned an enviable reputation for her captivating performances across a wide range of operatic roles.
Brahms Symphony No. 3: a guide to his most enigmatic symphony and its best recordings
Terry Williams finds the best recordings of Brahms’s Third, one of the composer’s greatest triumphs yet one of his most paradoxical pieces
Music and mental health: what scientists have revealed about the connections between them
Does listening to and playing classical music benefit the brain? Though much is still unknown, James Goodwin says there is plenty of evidence to suggest a strong connection between music and mental health
Today at the BBC Proms: soprano Alice Coote and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Brahms, Schoenberg and Mahler
Your guide to the action at the BBC Proms today, Thursday 25 July - featuring Brahms, Mahler and Schoenberg
John Eliot Gardiner steps down from Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras
Following a reported assault in August 2023, the acclaimed conductor has stepped back from public music-making, but has said that he will not be retiring
Braimah Kanneh-Mason: all you need to know about the gifted British violinist returning to the Proms this summer
Meet Braimah Kanneh-Mason, the gifted violinist and member of an astoundingly musical family of performers
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Jules Buckley: the inimitable conductor, composer and arranger serving up an infectious mix of classical, pop and jazz
Jules Buckley is one of the most dynamic and interesting musicians around today, but who exactly is he? Michael Beek gives you a quick guide
Timing, poise and mental calm: why legendary gymnast Simone Biles is an inspiration for all musicians
Conductor Gemma New salutes the focus, positivity and grace under pressure of artistic gymnast Simone Biles
Jessye Norman: the game-changing singer and diversity champion who performed for two presidents
She sang for two presidents and picked up four Grammys, and made huge strides for black singers in a largely white industry. Meet the iconic, game-changing American soprano, Jessye Norman
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Eric Whitacre: Nevada's most famous composer, who has broken records with his virtual choirs
Meet Eric Whitacre, the hugely popular US composer, conductor and founder of the Virtual Choir
James MacMillan: the composer who found fame with a story of 17th-century witch trials
One of the most prolific in the UK, Scottish composer James MacMillan’s music is oft-programmed and recorded. But exactly who is he? Here’s a brief guide…
Beethoven: the astonishing force of nature who dragged music into the Romantic era
John Suchet profiles Ludwig van Beethoven - the composer who sparked a musical revolution
The best American composers of all time... and the definitive recordings to add to your collection
Daniel Jaffé explores the lives and works of the USA's greatest ever composers
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
Bach Mass in B minor: a guide to this monumental sacred masterpiece and its best recordings
The sheer variety and craftsmanship of JS Bach’s final choral masterpiece, Mass in B minor, enthral Paul Riley as he chooses the finest recordings
The Planets by Holst: a guide to this truly cosmic work and its best recordings
We bring you the best recordings of each movement of Holst's The Planets
Beethoven symphonies: a guide to 'the Nine'
No composer changed the symphony more radically than Beethoven... Here is a guide to all nine of his symphonies and their best recordings
Mozart's violin concertos: the best recordings
Julian Haylock sends a couple of false pretenders packing as he searches out the best recordings of Mozart’s violin concertos
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Best budget turntables: here are some great record players you can enjoy for under £300 / $400
How to choose the best turntable on a budget: our audio expert Chris Haslam gives valuable advice on buying and using your hi-fi
Hi-res audio: what is it, and what are the best streaming platforms and players for classical music?
BBC Music Magazine's audio expert Chris Haslam guides us through the ins and outs of hi-res audio quality, frequencies and the best streaming platforms to use for high-resolution classical music recordings. Plus, he recommends the desktop and portable hi-res players that are worth your money
DAB vs DAB+: What's the difference between DAB and DAB+?
In the next decade, we will see changes in the radio industry, with many stations moving across from DAB to DAB+. But what actually is the difference between the two – and what do radio listeners need to know in the battle of DAB vs DAB+?