How a humble coat button saved the life of one our greatest composers
How a fight between Mattheson and Handel could have caused the demise of one of classical music’s greatest composers – had it not been for a metal coat button
'So much rage': classical music's seven angriest works
Conductor Domingo Hindoyan nominates the best musical depictions of anger and frustration
The Romantic masterpiece ‘rediscovered’ via Ouija board – then seized by the Nazis
Jessica Duchen tells the extraordinary story of how a message from beyond the grave led to a race to resurrect and perform an important 19th-century work
Five things to know before buying an acoustic guitar
Let us help find the best acoustic guitar for you
Charlie Chaplin was an incredible actor… he was also the most important film composer of the 20th century
Charlie Chaplin was the most significant cinematic composer of the 20th century, says Tom Service, and his music is now more relevant than ever before
Unlock the secrets of music: these four simple concepts will make you a 'super listener'
Our guide to the four concepts that will help you to unlock classical music's secret code and become a great listener
A tale of musical heroism: how my father’s accordion playing led the World War II tanks into battle
From frontline accordion playing to an important operatic premiere: Richard Morrison shares his father's musical memories of World War II
Where Sorrow Sings: the 15 greatest blues songs of all time, ranked
From Blind Willie Johnson to Howlin' Wolf and beyond, Paul McGuinness explores the best blues songs of all time
The 7 most gleefully ghoulish pieces about death and the afterlife
Pianist Yevgeny Sudbin chooses his favourite pieces inspired by death and spirituality
Who was Beethoven's mysterious 'Immortal Beloved'? Here are the nine candidates (and our choice)
Just who was Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved”? We explore the mystery and the women who may have inspired the composer's most passionate letter
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
'He was childlike, wanting his own way, but lovable too': Benjamin Appl on studying with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Baritone Benjamin Appl remembers what it was like to study with his important mentor, the legendary Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
'He was rumoured to carry a loaded revolver': meet the 15 types of conductor
Studying great maestros past and present, Jeremy Pound gives a spotters’ guide to character types regularly seen on the podium
Virtuosos: eight incredible musicians from classical music's past and present
The BBC Music Magazine team chooses the virtuosos from history they would love to have seen perform
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Best composers ranked: 50 great names who have shaped music as we hear it today
We asked 174 composers to choose the 50 greatest composers of all time. A tough task: here's how they rank...
Autism, ADHD, Tourette's? We asked psychiatrists to analyse Mozart's bizarre, brilliant mind
Using today’s psychoanalytic methods, what can we learn, asks Rebecca Franks, about the mind of Mozart, perhaps the greatest musical genius of all?
The composer buried alive under an avalanche... and 10 more bizarre musical deaths
Some of the most well-known composers met their ends in highly unusual ways...
Liszt: the game-changing piano superstar who had audiences swooning in the aisles
The composer Franz Liszt was a brilliant but enigmatic piano virtuoso, writes Jessica Duchen
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
Obscure prog rock albums: 15 underrated masterpieces you must hear
Discover 15 mind-blowing prog rock gems you’ve (probably) never heard—bold, beautiful, and criminally overlooked masterpieces await
Genesis albums ranked: all 15 of the legendary band's LPs, from worst to best
We rank every Genesis studio album, from their early prog masterpieces to the stadium filling pop-rock of the 1980s
Here's the best recording of each Beethoven symphony for your collection
No composer changed the symphony more radically than Beethoven... Here is a guide to all nine of his symphonies and their best recordings
Ranked: the 15 greatest folk albums of all time
From Bob Dylan to Bon Iver, here are the 15 greatest folk albums of all time, showcasing timeless storytelling, emotion, and musical mastery
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Complete Works for Solo Piano (Bavouzet)
In her review, Rebecca Franks enjoys Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s characterful new take on the complete solo piano works of Ravel
Review: Brahms – Piano Quartets Nos 2 & 3
Krystian Zimerman and friends deliver a superb performance of radiant and whimsical Brahms Piano Quartets, says Jan Smaczny in his review
Review: Ravel – Complete Songs
In his review, Paul Riley thinks this foray into Ravel’s vocal works by pianist Malcolm Martineau and friends is a box of delights
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
The sound of the future? Why CD players are making a comeback
These are the best Bluetooth speakers on the market 2025
Would you spend a million pounds on a hi-fi? What if it sounds like nothing you've ever experienced?
Our audio expert Chris Haslam spends a few enjoyable hours in the company of some of the most eye-wateringly capable (and expensive) hi-fi technology out there