Articles
When opera turns dark: ten eerily unforgettable masterpieces
Ashutosh Khandekar explores how the supernatural in opera has served to express both our deepest fears and darkest desires
These famous pieces of music are not by who you think
So, who wrote Albinoni's beautiful Adagio? And what about Bach's famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor? The answers are not that obvious, says Roderick Swanston, as not all music was written by who we think it was
Passion and power: how the Romantic era changed classical music forever
Passionate and emotional, the Romantic era reshaped classical music. Here are its key personalities and era-defining works
BBC Proms 2025: your essential guide to every concert, every performer, and how to listen
Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 BBC Proms, featuring a jam-packed selection of classical music's best-loved performers and composers
The 15 greatest openings in classical music... How many do you know?
What are the most memorable openings in classical music? Jeremy Pound and Steve Wright explore 15 of the best known, some of which have entirely outshone the works that follow
Death at the keyboard: a pianist's final, fatal performance at Carnegie Hall
Photo gallery: highlights from the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2025
'It's simply untrue to say that women lack the stamina to play brass instruments' – trumpeter Imogen Whitehead
Britten Sinfonia principal trumpet player Imogen Whitehead on why we should challenge anti-female stereotypes in brass playing
This is the world's most famous classical concert. But it had some dark beginnings
How Clemens Krauss and the Nazis set off a Vienna New Year tradition in 1939
It takes work to engage with classical music... But the rewards are huge
Think you don’t like classical music? These 7 works will change your mind
Violinist James Ehnes selects pieces to play for sceptics who don’t believe they’ll like classical music
‘My fingers were slipping all over the keys’: clarinettist Julian Bliss on his nightmare concert in the rain
The hair was long - and so were the songs. In praise of prog rock, classical music's unruly cousin
What happens when classical music-style levels of ambition, invention and sheer length are grafted onto pop music? The answer, as Meurig Bowen explains, is Prog Rock
Korngold Symphony in F sharp: a searing account of the misery of life in Nazi Germany
Despite Korngold’s denials, there is much to suggest that his Symphony in F sharp is a grim depiction of the dark days of Nazism, argues Jessica Duchen
From the streets to the stage… Brad Kella on how winning Channel 4’s ‘The Piano’ changed his life
If you’re a fan of Channel 4’s keyboard contest The Piano, you’ll be very familiar with Brad Kella, the young composer-pianist who won the last series. Here he reflects on a crazy year, owning a Steinway and how music has changed him for the better…
Mozart was knighted as a teenager. But the reason is stranger than you think
In 1770 Pope Clement XIV awarded the 14-year-old Mozart a papal knighthood and the prestigious Order of the Golden Spur. Here's how it happened...
Curtis Institute: inside the American school bringing on tomorrow's greatest musicians
As the Curtis Institute marks its centenary, Charlotte Smith visits the elite Philadelphian music school to discover the secrets of its success
Unlock classical music: the 7 key eras you need to know
Michael Beek guides us through the different historical periods of classical music, from the medieval times to the modern day
The 7 greatest composer movies you need to watch (and one that's almost comically awful)
From Amadeus to Lisztomania, we rate the portrayals of classical music's greats on the big screen
Howard Shore: the film composer behind Hannibal Lecter and Bilbo Baggins
Howard Shore reflects on his years in Middle-earth and tells Michael Beek why he has a lot to thank the LPO for...
'In the letter, he revealed he considered suicide': Beethoven's turbulent life in 21 key dates
A very quick guide to some of the most important moments in Beethoven's life
Titanic musicians: the tragic and noble tale of the performers who went down playing
On the night of 15 April 1912, one of the most heroic performances in history was witnessed, as the musicians of the Titanic carried on playing despite their inevitable fate. Andrew Green tells their story
Gold medals and sex kittens: 5 times the music of Ravel has been used in popular culture
The 1970s legend who swapped prog rock epics for classical music
Genesis keyboard player Tony Banks was a seminal figure in the 1970s prog rock movement. Now, he's pivoted into classical music. Jeremy Pound quizzes him on his musical journey