'You're nothing but an arse': Erik Satie goes to jail, 1917
When a critic wrote a scathing review of his new ballet Parade, Erik Satie responded in caustic terms - and found himself standing up in court
7 fabulously fantastical pieces inspired by ancient mythology
Operatic director Thomas Guthrie selects the best examples of music inspired by ancient mythology
Synaesthesia: these eight composers saw sound in vivid colours
From Scriabin to Sibelius, here are eight composers who claimed to see music as colour
Five things to know before buying an acoustic guitar
Let us help find the best acoustic guitar for you
The very cheek! When Brahms fell asleep during Liszt's concert... and ignited a lifelong feud
It's Father's Day. Here are six beautiful songs to the joys of parenthood
To mark Father's Day, violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen selects six pieces of music that evoke the bond between parent and child
RIP, Brian Wilson. Here are the Beach Boys' 21 greatest songs, ranked
To mark the passing of their creative powerhouse Brian Wilson, here are the 21 greatest Beach Boys songs of all time
Feeling stressed? These 10 beautiful classical pieces are guaranteed to bring calm to your day
The BBC Music team and reviewers on the music they turn to for a sense of calm
A ghostly commission: the dark legend of Mozart’s Requiem
Mozart’s Requiem is shrouded in mystery. Unfinished, ghostwritten, commissioned in secrecy, it remains hauntingly powerful and endlessly debated
Ranked: the 15 greatest jazz-rock fusion albums of all time
From Miles Davis to Mahavishnu Orchestra, we run through the 15 greatest albums fusing jazz and rock into captivating new forms
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Best conductor: 21 masters of the podium, ranked and rated
We asked 100 of today's leading conductors to vote for the best conductor of all time. And the answer is...
Happy Birthday Martha Argerich, goddess of the piano
Here is our guide to the life and work of the superb Argentine classical pianist Martha Argerich, widely regarded as one of the finest pianists of all time
‘Winning an orchestral role is like winning an Olympic medal': Canada's elite training scheme for orchestral musicians
Canada’s National Arts Centre is serious about education – and its flagship Orchestra is training the next crop of top musicians, writes Charlotte Smith
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Chopin: a phenomenal composer - whose genius came at a high price
He was a master of lyricism and drama, and his ethereal melodies still enchant us today. His life was not an easy one, however. Meet the ultimate Romantic, Frédéric Chopin
Sex mad! A history of bed-hopping composers
Jeremy Pound lifts the covers off those notorious notesmiths who found the thrill of playing away simply too hard to resist
This composer received death threats - for taking a stand
In September 1899, as the infamous Dreyfus affair rages in France, composer Edvard Grieg says 'non' - and receives death threats
Why music's greatest composer was thrown in jail
A desire to change jobs caused Bach to spend almost four weeks in prison. Here we explain more...
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
40 years ago: Dire Straits' 'Brothers in Arms' ushers in the CD era
Four decades ago, Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms reshaped pop and revolutionized the CD era—an audiophile benchmark and global digital milestone.
Prog rock '69: 15 incredible albums from prog's Year Zero
1969 was prog rock’s explosive dawn. From King Crimson to Zappa, discover 15 groundbreaking albums that redefined rock with ambition, complexity, and sonic adventure
Best Mozart piano concerto: his 11 greatest masterpieces, ranked
Join us as we rank Mozart’s 11 greatest piano concertos—from stormy minor masterpieces to sunlit Classical gems that enchant audiences
Vivaldi Four Seasons: in search of the best recording (and the strangest)
These four revolutionary violin concertos remain Vivaldi's most-loved works. Lucy Chaudhuri rounds up the best recordings of The Four Seasons to date, and adds in three wild cards for good measure
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Purcell – Complete Suites and Other Music for Keyboard
In her review, Kate Bolton-Porciatti believes pianist Cristian Sandrin has set the bar with his thrilling modern take on Purcell keyboard gems
Review: Moonlight Variations (Pablo Ferrández)
Cellist Pablo Ferrández serves up an appetising menu of works, perfectly played and curated, says Jo Talbot in her review
Review: For Dieter... (Benjamin Appl)
Benjamin Appl’s heartfelt and imaginative album homage to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is cherishable, says Natasha Loges in her review
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Here are the best luxury headphones on the market right now
Our audio expert Chris Haslam tests options for luxurious listening in private
Affordable noise-cancelling headphones: the best on the market in 2025
Our expert Chris Haslam gives advice on buying the latest hi-fi equipment. This month... affordable noise-cancelling headphones