Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
The art of letting go – composing for another artist
Italian composer and pianist Olivia Belli shares insights on composing for other artists... and composing for herself
Six of the best: works by Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré mastered the art of quiet emotion, creating music of luminous beauty, subtle harmonies and profound, understated humanity
Miles Davis: the flawed genius who turned the jazz world upside down
Roger Thomas marks 100 years since the birth of a jazz legend by looking back at the style and personality that shaped his unique career
Sophia Maria Westenholz: trailblazing 18th century pianist, singer, composer - and mother to eight children
Pianist Wu Qian tells the story of an extraordinary musician and composer who defied attitudes of the day to rise to the top of her profession
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
'All-conquering': inside Bach's mighty B minor Mass – and its greatest recording
The sheer variety and craftsmanship of JS Bach’s final choral masterpiece, Mass in B minor, enthral Paul Riley as he chooses the finest recordings
Outliers: these 21 albums sound like nothing else their bands ever made
Some albums defy expectations. From Beatles to Neil Young, these outliers reveal bands daring to experiment... and sometimes bewildering their fans
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
These are the 31 greatest classical albums to start your collection
Our round-up of the best must-have performances of classical music. Update your collection with the great symphonies, choral works, operas, chamber and instrumental works
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: German Opera Scenes and Arias (Malin Byström, soprano et al)
Malin Byström gives searingly dramatic
performances, writes Christopher Cook
Review: East Meets West (Anne-Sophie Mutter et al)
Anne-Sophie Mutter’s album of commissions is beautifully conceived, writes Martin Cotton
Review: Adorations (Isidore Quartet)
The Isidore Quartet are beautifully attuned in these chamber works by Haydn, Barber, Mendelssohn and Price, writes Misha Donat
Rock music
Explore rock music
These 7 iconic bands lost a key member - and never recovered
When a band loses its irreplaceable member, the music never sounds the same. These 7 great groups tried to carry on – but never truly recovered
1968: the 21 greatest albums from the year the psychedelic dream turned dark
From psychedelic dreams to gritty roots-rock, 1968 was the year the counterculture exploded into its most diverse and daring masterpieces
Rolling Stones family tree: the 5 icons they took from... and the 5 who took from them
In rock music, inspiration is a two-way street. What Mick and Keith took with one hand in the early days they gave back with the other later on
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
All-in-one record players: the easy and affordable way to get into vinyl
Chris Haslam provides advice on the latest hi-fi equipment purchases
Music on the move: the best true wireless earbuds 2026
Chris Haslam introduces the best true wireless earbuds on the market right now
The '80s are back! The best portable cassette and CD players on the market today
Our Audio expert Chris Haslam gives his personal recommendation for buying a modern portable cassette or CD player
