Here are 9 of the greatest 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
Meet Thomas Søndergård: Danish conductor and percussionist
Thomas Søndergård talks about his early years as a percussionist before becoming a full-time conductor – including as music director of the Minnesota Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The best music for Brunch - 10 perfect pieces to accompany your eggs, toast and coffee
TV and radio presenter Georgia Mann shares her favourite classical works to accompany a lovely late-morning/early-afternoon Brunch
Good vibrations: the impact of music on the road to recovery
Inside the creative journey of an artist and musician after a cancer diagnosis
These 10 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
Review: Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2, etc (Francesco Piemontesi)
Jessica Duchen is captured by Francesco Piemontesi’s compelling interpretations of Brahms’s piano works
Meet Nicholas McCarthy - the world’s only professional one-handed concert pianist
Following his stunning debut at last year’s BBC Proms, one-handed pianist Nicholas McCarthy tells Claire Jackson all about repertoire, technique and challenging narrow-minded attitudes
These are the 12 greatest songs about America
From Bernstein's classic to the National Anthem, here's our round-up of the best songs about America
This gorgeous cat steals the show at a classical music concert
In Istanbul, the City of Cats, this beautiful feline gets a warm welcome as she mingles with the orchestra during a classical concert
Ranked: the 23 greatest movie scores of all time
Grab the popcorn, dim the lights and settle in for a run through our ranking of the greatest film scores of all time...
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
David Bowie’s surprising passion for classical music
For Starman David Bowie, classical music was one of many important influences, says Andrew Green
We asked today's top conductors to name the best conductor of all time. Here's what they said
We asked 100 of today's leading conductors to vote for the best conductor of all time. And the answer is...
Who is violinist Rakhi Singh?
British violinist and composer Rakhi Singh speaks to Amanda Holloway about the music that has shaped her life and career
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Buried alive under an avalanche: music's 11 most bizarre and tragic deaths
Some of the most well-known composers met their ends in highly unusual ways...
Ospedale della Pietà: the orphanage where Vivaldi turned abandoned girls into world-beating musicians
Harriet Constable, author of The Instrumentalist, explores Venice’s Ospedale della Pietà, the girls’ orphanage where Vivaldi taught and composed
Composer Alex Ho and the Chinese diaspora in Britain
Composer Alex Ho is part of a growing community of musicians combining their British and Chinese heritage in fascinating ways, writes Richard Morgan
Meet Hildur Guðnadóttir – the star composer of Joker and Chernobyl
Cellist and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has forged a career spanning classical, film and electronics – but she’s always been drawn to unsettling themes, as she tells Claire Jackson
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
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
Prog rock 1975: ranking the 17 greatest prog albums turning 50 this year
1975 was a landmark year for progressive rock, delivering groundbreaking albums that pushed musical boundaries and redefined the genre’s scope. Here are the 15 best
Ranked: the 21 greatest country rock albums of all time
When rock met country, magic happened — steel guitars, road songs, and restless hearts. These 21 albums defined that bittersweet crossroads
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Bach Cantatas (Ensemble Correspondances/Sébastien Daucé)
Sébastien Daucé turns to Bach in accounts of fervour and tenderness, writes Nicholas Anderson
Review: Schreker • Korngold • Krenek
This superb album brings together three Austrian composers who would go on to fall foul of the Nazi regime
Review: Debussy • Szymanowski Quartets (Belcea Quartet)
Michael Jameson is entranced by the Belcea Quartet’s brilliant pairing of French and Polish composers
Rock music
Explore rock music
1979 albums: the 23 greatest LPs from a uniquely restless year
From post-punk’s jagged edges to stadium rock’s final roar, 1979 was the year music’s old guard met its neon future
Enforcers: the 15 most controlling frontmen in rock history
From iron-fisted studio dictators to ego-driven visionaries, these 15 leaders proved that rock and roll is rarely a true democracy
Canada calling: all 19 Rush albums ranked, from worst to best
From hard rock roots to progressive masterpieces, Rush’s studio albums chart a thrilling journey of evolution and brilliance. We've ranked 'em all
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
CDs are back! And these modern all-in-one CD players are the best way to listen to them
CDs are back! And these modern all-in-one CD players are the best way to listen to them, writes Chris Haslam
Your guide to the best audio gifts this Christmas 2025
