
John Williams scores: The 10 most unforgettable soundscapes from Hollywood's master of atmosphere
What are the American composer John Williams's very best film scores, and what makes them so? Here’s a starter for ten, from big hitters the world knows and loves to some that might not be so familiar
This cat REALLY enjoys playing the piano
'A perfect gay marriage before the concept was invented': Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears were gay pioneers
John Bridcut on one of the 20th century's truly great magical pairings
Romantic classical music: 15 perfect soundtracks for your romantic evening
Planning a Valentine's dinner with your loved one? Here are our favourite pieces of romantic classical music that will set the mood
Knights, swans, dwarves and valkyries: the 10 most famous Wagner operas. How many do you know?
Over a life of exile and debt, scandalous affairs and high-level adulation, Wagner wrote operas that not only remain unmatched for drama, controversy and spectacle but also utterly transformed the art form itself...
Lang Lang. John Williams. The Nazis. 11 unforgettable Olympic musical moments
As the Olympic Games come to Paris, Jeremy Pound explores how music has played its part in shaping this greatest of sporting events
Malcolm Sargent: the glamorous face of classical music, or an arrogant bully?
Sir Malcolm Sargent breathed life into the BBC Proms. Yet for all his fame and fortune, says Andrew Green, the conductor’s personality and music-making heavily divided opinion
15 musicians who kept playing into their 90s
For some performers and composers, the notion of retiring at 90 has been simply out of the question, as Terry Blain explains
'Scant regard for hygiene led to serious complications': how a medical charlatan blinded Bach
In April 1750 Bach went under the knife of English eye surgeon John Taylor with disastrous results...
Wrong composer! The 'Baroque' masterpiece that's actually from the 1950s... and more infamous misattributions
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

Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Best violinist: classical music's 21 greatest violin stars of all time
Who are the finest violinists ever to have been recorded on disc? We ask 100 of today’s leading players to name their inspirations…
The great divas were goddesses, and we forgave them everything
Once the ultimate accolade, the term ‘diva’ today has far more negative connotations. Richard Morrison traces the troubled evolution of the 'diva'
Jenny Lind: the 19th century megastar featured in The Greatest Showman
Worshipped by Mendelssohn and promoted on a sell-out US tour by PT Barnum, Jenny Lind enjoyed unrivalled popularity for a singer. George Hall traces the remarkable story of the ‘Swedish Nightingale’
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
'He pursued her to no avail... a flood of music followed': the real-life muses who inspired the great, lovesick composers
Jessica Duchen looks at the figures who, through physical beauty or other compelling qualities, became muses for the great composers
Elisabetta de Gambarini: the fabulous talent, violent marriage and tragic death of a trailblazing composer
Stephen Pritchard relates the sparkling talent, entrepreneurial drive and shameful treatment of an unheralded 18th-century musical pioneer
Ligeti: musical master of otherworldly atmospheres
A uniquely modern voice
Schumann's suicide attempt: how mental illness and money woes pushed a great composer close to the edge
How mental illness and financial stresses drove Schumann to throw himself into the Rhine on an icy day in February
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
Winterreise: the tale of Schubert's brilliantly bleak song cycle - and four great recordings
Michael Tanner sets out on one of the bleakest and loneliest journeys in classical music, as he selects the finest recordings of Schubert's harrowing song-cycle, Winterreise
Mahler Symphony 5: a guide to this journey from darkness to triumph, and its best recordings
We name the greatest recordings of Mahler's legendary Fifth Symphony
18 weird and wonderful Christmas album covers: our pick of the best
Christmas over the years has inspired a glorious array of quirky covers from record company designers. We present our favourites…
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
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Mozart Piano Sonatas (Ran Jia)
In his review, Michael Jameson believes Ran Jia’s insightful take on this set of Mozart sonatas are an undeniable triumph and set a modern benchmark
Review: Bartók & Ligeti String Quartets (Marmen Quartet)
In her review, Jessica Duchen is bowled over by the intensity, energy and expert view of these challenging works by Ligeti and Bartók, deftly handled by the Marmen Quartet
Review: Beethoven's Missa Solemnis (Le Cercle de l’Harmonie)
In his review, Michael Jameson is thrilled by Jérémie Rhorer’s visionary interpretation of Beethoven’s great mass, the Missa Solemnis
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Listen in luxury 2025: the best high-end headphones on the market
Our audio expert Chris Haslam tests options for luxurious listening in private
Audio gift guide 2024: perfect gifts for audio lovers this Christmas, at every price point
From cute bedside radios to tantalising turntables, Chris Haslam suggests a wide range of perfect gifts for audio lovers this Christmas
How to get the most from your Spotify subscription
Our expert Chris Haslam gives valuable advice on getting the very best from your Spotify subscription as a classical music listener