Articles
Jaws at 50: how John Williams' groundbreaking soundtrack saved Spielberg's cinematic masterpiece from disaster
As Steven Spielberg’s Jaws celebrates its 50th birthday, Charlotte Smith explores the vital role played by John Williams’s famously unsettling soundtrack
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Classical music quotes: 21 brilliant takes on music's unique power
Many inspiring, witty, even provocative things have been said about classical music. Here are some of the best classical music quotes
The extraordinary power of music to unlock buried memories in dementia patients
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Could dinosaurs sing? Science reveals their surprisingly melodious voices
Forget those terrifying low-pitched roars – scientific research suggests that dinosaur voices may have been more tuneful than we think, reveals Tom Service
1985: Frank Zappa vs. the Senate - the day rock fought censorship
In 1985, Frank Zappa became a fierce defender of artistic freedom, challenging censorship and the PMRC’s moral crusade in Congress
These 5 albums show why 1975 was Peak Orchestral Rock
In 1975, orchestral rock reached its majestic peak — where symphonic ambition met rock power in a series of landmark albums
The best symphonies of all time: 21 immortal orchestral masterpieces
Which is the best-ever symphony? 151 of the world's leading conductors voted for what they thought to be the greatest symphonies ever written
Fifty years ago today, Pink Floyd legend Syd Barrett made one haunting final appearance
Syd Barrett’s ghostly return to Pink Floyd’s studio in 1975 remains one of rock’s most haunting, surreal moments
Should Period orchestras play Beethoven?
Revealed: the 6 greatest decades in classical music history
The story of classical music is filled with landmark decades - magical eras when a sense of discovery filled the air. Here are music's 6 most seminal decades
‘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
LA Opera announces Domingo Hindoyan as its new music director
The Venezuelan conductor will succeed LA Opera's current music director, James Conlon
Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem: a prayer for peace as the Nazi shadow loomed
Rebecca Franks explores a composer’s choral plea for peace, written
as the dark cloud of fascism moved ominously over a nervous Europe
The Rite of Spring premiere: one of the most infamous nights in musical history
Chaos erupted in 1913 at the Paris premiere of a bold new Modernist work. Audiences booed, fought, and stormed out in outrage
'I lost my voice live on stage' – countertenor Iestyn Davies on his best and worst concert performances
Leading British countertenor Iestyn Davies remembers the best and worst performances of his career... including losing his voice live on stage!
'He kissed Beethoven's skull': 8 composers with bizarre obsessions
From the brick-counting Bruckner to Dvořák the avid trainspotter, Steve Wright introduces some of history’s most obsessive composers
Wagner the revolutionary: why the famous composer was forced to flee arrest in 1849
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
Watch what happens when this Golden Retriever hears the Three Tenors
When Hugo the Golden Retriever hears Pavarotti et al breaking into song, he has his own very particular response...
Music from the shadows: 5 composers who channelled mental illness into beautiful art
A number of composers are known to have suffered from mental illness. But, asks Stephen Johnson, himself a sufferer of bipolar disorder, did their affliction in fact provide the key to much of their creativity?
Charlie Chaplin was an incredible actor… he was also the most important film composer of the 20th century
Charlie Chaplin was the most significant cinematic composer of the 20th century, says Tom Service, and his music is now more relevant than ever before
A tale of musical heroism: how my father’s accordion playing led the World War II tanks into battle
From frontline accordion playing to an important operatic premiere: Richard Morrison shares his father's musical memories of World War II