Articles
Online carol services 2024: ten livestreams to recreate that carol service magic in your living room
Create a Christmas carol concert in your living room. Our roundup of the best Christmas carol services
Polish Christmas carols: seven of the best-loved festive carols from Poland
Our guide to the most famous Polish Christmas carols
The 13 best classical albums of 2024
A passionate and sometimes volatile perfectionist... What was it like to study with conductor Kurt Masur?
Kahchun Wong, the Hallé’s new principal conductor, salutes the mentoring he received from Kurt Masur
Christmas choral music: 11 transcendentally beautiful works for the festive season
What are the greatest songs and choral works written for the festive period?
Franz Schmidt: the brilliant composer cancelled for pleasing the Nazis
A cataclysmic decision in his final year led to this masterful late-Romantic symphonist being cast out into the cold, explains Erik Levi
Is genius overrated? Why genius composers need ordinary 'second-rankers' in order to thrive
The ability to recognise creative genius is of fundamental value when it comes to composers sharing their music with the world, argues columnist Richard Morrison
Just why are choristers' voices so beautiful? Science has the answer
Why are choir boys and girls' singing voices so tuneful? Scientists explain just what makes choristers' voices so special and distinctive
'O Christmas Tree' lyrics: how does the much-loved festive carol go?
Here are the lyrics to the favourite Christmas carol 'O Christmas Tree'
'12 Days of Christmas' lyrics: how does the much-loved carol go?
Here are the English lyrics to the famous Christmas song, 'The 12 Days of Christmas'
From nightclubs to condoms - weird and wonderful opera advertising campaigns
For centuries, promoters have advertised opera in weird and wonderful ways. Alexandra Wilson takes a look at some of the more memorable campaigns
Music can unlock cherished memories - and even help treat dementia. Here's how
Dr Catherine Loveday examines the deep-rooted connections that link music and memory - and how we negotiate our social and emotional lives
Handel's Messiah: the best recordings of this festive choral masterpiece
We name the best recordings of of Handel’s Messiah, a choral masterpiece that should have everyone shouting Hallelujah!
How do you find the right teacher at music college?
Cellist Seth Parker Woods shares his wisdom on how to choose the best music teacher
The conductors' orchestra: meet the all-star orchestra made up of the world’s great conductors
Jeremy Pound puts together an ensemble made up of leading maestros playing their own instruments, from virtuoso violinists to school-level trombonists
Shostakovich and football: how the beautiful game shaped the composer's life and music
Shostakovich’s love of football gave the Soviet composer an escape from day-to-day life and, says Erik Levi, it even had an impact on his music
History of carol singing: when did the much-loved Christmas tradition begin?
The history of carol singing may go back as far as the medieval era, and has appeared in literature for many years, but it was during Victorian times it became really popular
Music can help tackle multiple sclerosis - here are the scientific benefits
Music’s ability to reduce stress, stimulate nerves and ‘rewire’ the brain can help to manage the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, writes Rebecca Franks
How to get the most from your Spotify subscription
Our expert Chris Haslam gives valuable advice on getting the very best from your Spotify subscription as a classical music listener
Composers at Christmas: how did classical music's great names spend the festive season?
What did the great composers get up to at Christmas? We pore over their intimate letters to find the answers