Fourth of July songs: nine rousing tunes for Independence Day
From Bernstein to Sousa, we celebrate the Fourth of July with a run-through of nine of the most rousing pieces of American music
Furtwängler: Hitler’s favourite conductor – or secret Nazi resister?
Wilhelm Furtwängler has long been seen as a symbol of Nazism. But, as Andrew Green explains, the conductor was a strong opponent of the regime
Owain Park appointed chief conductor of the BBC Singers
Celebrate the future of music with the Festival Academy Budapest
FAB celebrates its 10-year anniversary in 2025 with honoured guests and young talent
Malice, murder, mystery: Amadeus - the greatest musical story ever told on film
‘Everything you’ve heard is true,’ proclaimed the posters for Miloš Forman’s Amadeus – a cinematic tale of genius and envy, based on Peter Shaffer’s acclaimed stage play about Mozart and Salieri’s bitter rivalry. Forty years on, Charlotte Smith looks back at a very special production
We've ranked the 15 greatest albums of 1972 - perhaps the most significant year in rock history
These 15 seminal albums from 1972 defined rock’s golden era - and shaped the music landscape forever
Was Mozart's sister Nannerl the better musician?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had a gifted older sister, Maria Anna, known as Nannerl. A prodigy in her own right, was Nannerl actually the more talented Mozart, asks Sylvia Milo
These 7 composers were desperately unhappy in love - but forged sublime music from their pain
When it comes to love, the great composers are, frankly, pretty much like the rest of us: hopeless. Here are six composers who endured terrible love lives
Scriabin: mystic, devil worshipper, erotic composer... one of music's most captivating figures
Surrounded by controversy throughout his life, the composer Alexander Scriabin did little to discourage people from seeing him as a kind of Messiah, as pianist and Scriabin devotee Yevgeny Sudbin explains
Out of the flames: the miracle organ that survived the Notre-Dame inferno
When flames engulfed Notre-Dame in 2019, the organ miraculously survived. Now cleaned and restored, it is sounding as good as ever, discovers John Allison
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
'Be young all your life': 15 musicians who played on 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
Here are 10 reasons you should NEVER marry a musician
Free concert tickets and a home filled with the joys of music might seem tempting now, but you could live to regret it...!
These 11 musical mavericks followed absolutely none of the rules
From Satie to Sun Ra, we salute 11 musicians who defiantly did things their own way - and left music incalculably the richer for it
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
Tchaikovsky: doomed marriage, tortured sexuality... and devastatingly beautiful music
Tchaikovsky: a great Russian, a great Romantic - and a master of the lament
Brawling, bed-hopping... murder? Music's 15 worst-behaved composers
From Mozart to Peter Warlock, here are 15 composers who stepped out of line - socially, sexually, or just with too much motorbike-based nudity
Is there a link between mental illness and creativity? Top psychologists have their say
The cliché of the ‘mad genius’ has long perpetuated the idea that creativity and mental illness are linked. But, asks Rebecca Franks, how true is that notion?
‘What a giftless bastard!': when composers tear into each other
Sparks fly and verbal venom is spat, as John Evans explores the great names who simply loved to take potshots at each other
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
Blondie songs ranked: the New Wave pioneers' 15 greatest tracks
From punk to disco to pop perfection, these 15 Blondie classics show why their style, swagger and songs still captivate
Genesis: their 16 greatest songs, ranked
Explore Genesis’s greatest songs—from epic prog masterpieces to iconic hits—ranked for their creativity, emotion, and lasting impact.
Seven astonishing debut albums that their creators never bettered
Some artists peak early—these stunning debut albums set a standard so high, even their creators couldn’t top them later
The 1970s were the LP's golden era. Here's the greatest album from each '70s year
From glam to punk, prog to soul, the 1970s defined the album era—here are the decade’s standout releases, year by year.
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
The best desktop speakers 2025: turn your home office into a listening paradise
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