From Nixon to Gandhi, political giants make the most gripping opera characters
Review: Adorations (Isidore Quartet)
The Isidore Quartet are beautifully attuned in these chamber works by Haydn, Barber, Mendelssohn and Price, writes Misha Donat
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
Travel in tempo: a guide to travelling safely with musical instruments
From airline rules to safeguarding valuable kit, how musicians can travel with confidence – with cover for their instruments if the unexpected happens
'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
Lost genius: 23 criminally underrated 1970s bands
Some became cult heroes, others vanished entirely. All of these bands helped shape 1970s music more profoundly than their reputations suggest
1968 was a traumatic year in America. These 21 albums are the sound of that trauma
Assassinations, riots, Vietnam and disillusionment: these 21 albums captured the fury, grief and uncertainty of a fractured America
World Cup TV theme tunes: the 7 most unforgettable melodies from World Cups past
The football was (mostly) unforgettable - and so was the soundtrack. We remember seven World Cup theme tunes that defined entire tournaments
Best of Mozart: 11 essential works - and the recordings you need
From glittering operas to sublime symphonies and intimate chamber pieces, here are 11 of Mozart’s greatest works—timeless masterpieces that reveal his genius in every form
Sex, blood and blasphemy... opera’s most shocking moments
Some opera productions really do push the boundaries of good taste, reflects Ashutosh Khandekar as he relives some of the most outrageous of all
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Video: Timothy Ridout performs Franck's Violin Sonata arranged for viola
Piano ‘accompanists’ rarely get the recognition they so richly deserve
Agatha Christie: crime novelist and wannabe opera singer
Did legendary crime novelist Agatha Christie once harbour ambitions to become an opera singer? Andrew Green follows the clues…
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
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
Grace Williams: the Welsh composer with steel in her soul
For long neglected outside her own nation, the Welsh composer is starting to enjoy her time in the sun again, explains Geraint Lewis
Steve Reich: the pioneering minimalist composer who brought tonality back to music
As he approaches 90, the US composer Steve Reich tells Tom Service about his pride in playing an important part in bringing tonality and pulse back to music
'Great'? These five composers are simply overrated
We invite five of our writers to reveal those whose feted talents leave them seriously underwhelmed
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
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
Creedence Clearwater Revival albums ranked (the top 3 were tough)
From gritty bayou riffs to fiery protest songs, we rank Creedence’s albums, celebrating swamp-rock mastery, timeless hooks, and raw American energy
Albums of the week
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
Review: Huw Watkins: Symphony No. 2, etc (Hallé / Mark Elder)
Mark Elder and the Hallé expertly showcase
Huw Watkins’s delightful works, notes Geoff Brown
Review: Handel: Messiah (Irish Baroque Orchestra et al)
This terrific recording boasts a lively chorus
and top-rate soloists, writes Nicholas Anderson
Review: Hartmann: Esther (Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Karabits et al)
Hartmann’s score pulses with moral drama and unrelenting energy, says Ashutosh Khandekar
Rock music
Explore rock music
These 15 iconic rock bands vanished overnight
Sudden silence: 15 massive bands that vanished overnight, shocking fans and bandmates with their abrupt endings
Rock's 31 most iconic bands – and ONE essential album from each (go on, argue with us)
31 essential classic rock albums, from Zeppelin to Bowie, that shaped an era with riffs, melodies, and timeless, genre-defining innovation.
These 15 rock icons were actually, technically, not that great
We unmask the legendary performers who lacked virtuosic chops but conquered the world through pure charisma, image, and raw presence
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
