15 composers and their dogs
We reveal the canine companions behind classical music's greatest composers
Most famous Requiems: how composers have portrayed death and the afterlife in music
From wrathful Verdi to ethereal Fauré, there are many different ways to compose a Requiem, as Jeremy Pound discovers
June 2024
The 20 Greatest Tenors of all Time
Among the big-name opera stars and lower-key Lieder recitalists, who are the best tenors ever to have graced the stage? We asked an expert panel to decide. Here are the results...
'Nessun Dorma' lyrics: what are the words to the great aria from Puccini's opera Turandot?
Here are both the original Italian and English lyrics for the aria 'Nessun Dorma' from Puccini's opera Turandot
Mental Health Awareness Week: the role of music in mental health
A series of music workshops with people with experience of mental illness led to something 'beautiful, poignant, moving and above all authentic'. Radio 3 researcher Sally Marlow explains
'Frère Jacques' lyrics: what are the lyrics to the famous French nursery rhyme?
Here are the lyrics to the traditional nursery rhyme Frère Jacques, in both English and French - plus a reminder of where it crops up in classical music
From jazz to classical: five surprising classical albums from jazz greats
French composers: 25 of the greatest of all time
France has produced some of the most influential composers throughout history. We explore the lives and works of the best French composers
Aigul Akhmetshina: from an isolated village in the Ural Mountains to the Met Opera stage as the youngest ever Carmen
At just 27, Aigul Akhmetshina became the youngest artist ever to take on the role of Bizet's Carmen at both the Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Ada Lovelace: how the maths genius saw the future of music
The 19th-century mathematician and musician Ada Lovelace was the first to spot computers’ creative potential. David De Roure tells her intriguing story and explores her legacy
Who are the BBC Singers?
You may have heard about this choir, particularly when its existence came under threat. But who exactly are the BBC Singers? How were they founded? Here is all you need to know about this long-standing group of musicians
Who is Yuja Wang? A guide to the celebrated pianist and her best recordings
Meet the world-famous Chinese pianist Yuja Wang, and discover some of her best recordings
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Errollyn Wallen: why sea, sky and solitude are key to her magical soundworld
From her first piano lesson, composer Errollyn Wallen has lived and breathed music; and though inspired by a range of styles, her composing is a deeply personal expression, as she tells Kate Wakeling
How many symphonies did Beethoven write?
An introduction to the 19th-century composer Beethoven's great orchestral symphonies - and some other great composers who managed the same tally
25 best British composers of all time
We asked 167 top international musicians to vote for the best British composers of all time. Here are the results… Do you agree - and who was voted number one?
The best German composers of all time
Germany has produced some of the greatest compositional voices in history – many of whom are considered among the best across the entire globe. Here, in alphabetical order, we present some of the very best
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
Beethoven symphonies: a guide to 'the Nine'
No composer changed the symphony more radically than Beethoven... Here is a guide to all nine of his symphonies and their best recordings
Mozart's violin concertos: the best recordings
Julian Haylock sends a couple of false pretenders packing as he searches out the best recordings of Mozart’s violin concertos
Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor: a guide to a great chamber work and its best recordings
Jo Talbot celebrates the ‘Mozart of the 19th century’ as she searches out the finest recordings of this masterful work for piano, violin and cello
Ryuichi Sakamoto: the best recordings
We rank the essential albums of Ryuichi Sakamoto, the pioneering film composer, electronic artist and solo performer
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
DAB vs DAB+: What's the difference between DAB and DAB+?
In the next decade, we will see changes in the radio industry, with many stations moving across from DAB to DAB+. But what actually is the difference between the two – and what do radio listeners need to know in the battle of DAB vs DAB+?
The best office audio equipment: How to upgrade your office audio experience
Improve the quality of your laptop audio and introduce these top-of-the-range pieces of office audio equipment to your working-from-home set-up
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