Review: Lead, Kindly Light (The Sixteen)
These 15 bands were destroyed by their own success
The bright lights of global stardom often act as a magnifying glass, turning small cracks in a band’s chemistry into irreparable fractures
The 25 best classical music festivals taking place in Europe in 2026
There's a wealth of amazing classical music festivals taking place in Europe this summer. We present some of the very best
Good vibrations: the impact of music on the road to recovery
Inside the creative journey of an artist and musician after a cancer diagnosis
Watch: this cat has a totally unique response to music
Take one black cat. Add Mahler's hyper-emotional Ninth Symphony. Result: well, see for yourself...
Complete our survey about charities for the chance to win a £50 Love2shop eGiftcard
Video: highlights from the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2026
Why Haydn’s choral music is the perfect pick-me-up for today’s troubled times
These are the 21 greatest piano concertos of all time
We count down the 21 greatest piano concertos - the finest works ever written for piano with orchestra
Review: Prophecy (Ksenija Sidorova et al)
Three Baltic composers are admirably served on this engaging album, writes Jan Smaczny
Meet the most fascinating figures from classical music
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…
Daniel Barenboim reveals the composer who's been his lifelong fascination
Pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim talks about his deep relationship with Beethoven's music
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: Poulenc: Sonatas (Pascal Rogé et al)
Poulenc’s light and shade is vividly brought into focus by performers including Pascal Rogé, notes Jo Talbot
Review: Schumann: Fantasie, etc (Nikolai Lugansky)
Nikolai Lugansky brings an orchestral richness to Robert Schumann, writes Jessica Duchen
Review: Cello works by Franck, Boulanger, Debussy et al
Rock music
Explore rock music
The cosmic cowboy ripped off by The Rolling Stones: Gram Parsons' 11 greatest songs, ranked
Though he died tragically young, Gram Parsons rewrote the country rulebook and left behind some classic songs
1984 was the Eighties' greatest year for music. And here are the 15 albums that prove it
From thrash metal to spine-tingling indie and stadium rock anthems, 1984 had it all
These are the 25 greatest opening tracks in all of rock
These 25 legendary tracks were the perfect opening salvo, instantly defining the sound and ambition of rock's greatest albums
Audio equipment reviews and advice
A selection of the best reviewed albums from the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine
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
CDs are back! And these modern all-in-one CD players are the best way to listen to them
CDs are back! And these modern all-in-one CD players are the best way to listen to them, writes Chris Haslam
