Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Six of the best: works by Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré mastered the art of quiet emotion, creating music of luminous beauty, subtle harmonies and profound, understated humanity
Miles Davis: the flawed genius who turned the jazz world upside down
Roger Thomas marks 100 years since the birth of a jazz legend by looking back at the style and personality that shaped his unique career
Sophia Maria Westenholz: trailblazing 18th century pianist, singer, composer - and mother to eight children
Pianist Wu Qian tells the story of an extraordinary musician and composer who defied attitudes of the day to rise to the top of her profession
Grace Williams: the Welsh composer with steel in her soul
For long neglected outside her own nation, the Welsh composer is starting to enjoy her time in the sun again, explains Geraint Lewis
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
'All-conquering': inside Bach's mighty B minor Mass – and its greatest recording
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
Outliers: these 21 albums sound like nothing else their bands ever made
Some albums defy expectations. From Beatles to Neil Young, these outliers reveal bands daring to experiment... and sometimes bewildering their fans
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
These are the 31 greatest classical albums to start your collection
Our round-up of the best must-have performances of classical music. Update your collection with the great symphonies, choral works, operas, chamber and instrumental works
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Adorations (Isidore Quartet)
The Isidore Quartet are beautifully attuned in these chamber works by Haydn, Barber, Mendelssohn and Price, writes Misha Donat
Review: Huw Watkins: Symphony No. 2, etc (Hallé / Mark Elder)
Mark Elder and the Hallé expertly showcase
Huw Watkins’s delightful works, notes Geoff Brown
Review: Handel: Messiah (Irish Baroque Orchestra et al)
This terrific recording boasts a lively chorus
and top-rate soloists, writes Nicholas Anderson
Rock music
Explore rock music
The late 1960s and early 1970s were rock's occult age. These 11 albums flirted with the dark side
Steeped in mysticism, Satanic imagery and the occult, these 11 dark classics shocked, intrigued and influenced generations of musicians
It's one of the greatest albums of the 1960s. It was made by a man who thought he was dying
Love’s third album, ‘Forever Changes’ was written during a crisis for frontman Arthur Lee. It is one of rock’s greatest records
The 21 greatest cover versions of all time, ranked (#11 left the original songwriter speechless)
The history of pop music is littered with artists giving their own new and unique take on songs they’ve loved – but can you always spot the original from the cover?
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
All-in-one record players: the easy and affordable way to get into vinyl
Chris Haslam provides advice on the latest hi-fi equipment purchases
Music on the move: the best true wireless earbuds 2026
Chris Haslam introduces the best true wireless earbuds on the market right now
The '80s are back! The best portable cassette and CD players on the market today
Our Audio expert Chris Haslam gives his personal recommendation for buying a modern portable cassette or CD player
