Vienna New Year's Day Concert: the famous concert's dark beginnings
How Clemens Krauss and the Nazis set off a Vienna New Year tradition in 1939
Vienna New Year Concert 2024: programme, history, how to watch
When is the Vienna New Year's Day concert broadcast across the world? Everything you need to know about this prestigious event
The Star Spangled Banner lyrics: what are the words to the USA National Anthem?
Inspired by the USA's victories over the British, the Star-Spangled Banner has been the USA's official national anthem since 1931. Here are the lyrics to the famous song
Concerto vs symphony: what's the difference?
Need to know how a concerto differs from a symphony? What do they have in common, and what separates them? Michael Beek explains
The best violin concertos of all time
Here is our selection of the greatest pieces ever written for violin and orchestra. Do you agree?
Best lullabies: 8 of the most famous
Our roundup of the most famous lullabies of all time
January 2024
Most relaxing piano music
If you're wanting to de-stress and calm down, here are some of the piano repertoire's most relaxing pieces of music – chosen by pianist Tokio Myers
Best symphonies by female composers
Until recently it was widely accepted that female composers avoided the symphonic form – but this assumption could not be further from the truth. Here are some of the greatest symphonies ever written by female composers
Easiest instruments: ten best instruments for easy learning
Our guide to the 10 easiest, most practical musical instruments to learn and play
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Best folk singers: 10 of the most famous
Our round-up of the world's best folk singers
Who was Leontyne Price, the great American soprano?
Leontyne Price was the outstanding lyric-dramatic US soprano of her generation, with a uniquely recognisable timbre
Best cellists: the 20 greatest cellists of all time
From Pablo Casals to Jacqueline du Pré, we celebrate some of the greatest cellists of the past 300 years
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Monteverdi, Claudio
Meet Monteverdi, early opera pioneer and classical music's first great dramatist
Puccini: the Italian opera maestro who added Wagner to Verdi
Opera's craftsman of emotion
Philip Glass: Minimalism and beyond
Meet Philip Glass: so much more than a Minimalist
Ravel, Maurice
We explore the life and work of this master craftsman of French music
Greatest recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
Khachaturian Piano Concerto: a guide to this exotic work and its best recordings
Khachaturian Piano Concerto: bold, brash, bombastic - and famous for a rather unusual instrument. Claire Jackson assesses a unique work
Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante: a guide to this beautiful work and its best recordings
A guide to Mozart's lively, sorrowful and beautiful work for violin, viola and orchestra, and some of the best recorded versions available
A guide to Orff's 'Carmina Burana' and its best recordings
From Old Spice to X Factor, a certain three minutes of Carmina Burana is known to many of us. But what of the rest of the work? Here's our guide, and some best recordings
A guide to Ligeti’s Violin Concerto and its best recordings
Steph Power is entranced by all manner of dazzling soundworlds as she explores the best recordings of Ligeti’s Violin Concerto, a 20th-century virtuoso showstopper
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 Black Friday speaker deals 2023
Looking for a new speaker or speakers to enjoy your favourite classical music all the more? Here are some of the best speaker deals for Black Friday 2023
Best budget turntables
How to choose the best turntable on a budget: our audio expert Chris Haslam gives valuable advice on buying and using your hi-fi
Best portable speakers for enjoying your music indoors and outdoors
Our audio expert Chris Haslam chooses the best portable speakers for enjoying your music inside the home and in the great outdoors