Alfred Brendel, pianist: 1931-2025
The acclaimed pianist has died at the age of 94. Claire Jackson remembers a remarkable musician, writer and thinker
‘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
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.
Five things to know before buying an acoustic guitar
Let us help find the best acoustic guitar for you
Musicians told us their dream and nightmare works to perform. And one composer comes up A LOT
Which works do orchestral players love to play? And which do they dread? We head round the sections of some of Europe’s finest ensembles to find out
Alfred Brendel: these seven stellar recordings will stand as the pianist's great legacy
We salute the late, great pianist Alfred Brendel by picking out seven outstanding recordings from his impressive discography
Best of Tchaikovsky: 11 thrilling masterpieces by Russia's greatest composer
Romeo and Juliet, the Nutcracker, the Pathétique... Tchaikovsky's repertoire is stuffed full of melodic and emotional masterpieces. Here are 11 of the greatest
Remembering the great pianist Alfred Brendel, who has died aged 94
The renowned pianist Alfred Brendel died at the age of 94 on 17 June. Here, we publish one of his final interviews, in which he recalls performing with legendary baritone, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Vivaldi’s British Invasion: How the Red Priest conquered a country he never even saw
Vivaldi never crossed the English Channel. But rich clients and the postal service ensured his popularity far from home
Adventures at the edge of music: ranking the King Crimson albums
From that explosive, visionary debut onwards, King Crimson have constantly pushed at the boundaries of prog, jazz and hard rock. We assess their wildly inventive back catalogue
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
Best conductor: 21 masters of the podium, ranked and rated
We asked 100 of today's leading conductors to vote for the best conductor of all time. And the answer is...
Happy Birthday Martha Argerich, goddess of the piano
Here is our guide to the life and work of the superb Argentine classical pianist Martha Argerich, widely regarded as one of the finest pianists of all time
‘Winning an orchestral role is like winning an Olympic medal': Canada's elite training scheme for orchestral musicians
Canada’s National Arts Centre is serious about education – and its flagship Orchestra is training the next crop of top musicians, writes Charlotte Smith
The great composers
Explore the lives and works of classical music's finest composers
German composers: the 21 greatest of all time, ranked (and where to start with each)
Germany has produced some of the greatest compositional voices in history – many of whom are considered among the best across the entire globe. Here are some of the very best - and a musical gateway into each one
Synaesthesia: these eight composers saw sound in vivid colours
From Scriabin to Sibelius, here are eight composers who claimed to see music as colour
The very cheek! When Brahms fell asleep during Liszt's concert... and ignited a lifelong feud
Chopin: a phenomenal composer - whose genius came at a high price
He was a master of lyricism and drama, and his ethereal melodies still enchant us today. His life was not an easy one, however. Meet the ultimate Romantic, Frédéric Chopin
Greatest Recordings
Our recommendations of essential additions to your listening library
RIP, Brian Wilson. Here are the Beach Boys' 21 greatest songs, ranked
To mark the passing of their creative powerhouse Brian Wilson, here are the 21 greatest Beach Boys songs of all time
Ranked: the 15 greatest jazz-rock fusion albums of all time
From Miles Davis to Mahavishnu Orchestra, we run through the 15 greatest albums fusing jazz and rock into captivating new forms
40 years ago: Dire Straits' 'Brothers in Arms' ushers in the CD era
Four decades ago, Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms reshaped pop and revolutionized the CD era—an audiophile benchmark and global digital milestone.
Prog rock '69: 15 incredible albums from prog's Year Zero
1969 was prog rock’s explosive dawn. From King Crimson to Zappa, discover 15 groundbreaking albums that redefined rock with ambition, complexity, and sonic adventure
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
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