Hannah Nepilova
Recent articles by Hannah Nepilova
Ranked: the 15 greatest piano music pieces of all time
From Bach’s sacred architecture to Debussy’s shimmering dreamscapes, these 15 masterpieces trace the piano’s evolution — a story of intellect, emotion, and invention that spans three centuries and every shade of the human soul
Don't like classical music? This work will change your mind
Think you don’t like classical music? Think again. Fifteen instantly recognisable, wildly enjoyable pieces that prove classical can be thrilling, funny, romantic – and unforgettable
Ranked: classical music's 12 most unforgettable pop-culture 'moments'
From cartoons to war films and wedding aisles, classical music’s greatest themes have leapt into pop culture, unforgettable and transformative
‘She got carried away with the heavy breathing’: the 11 most moving, arousing love songs
From aching ballads to euphoric anthems, these 11 timeless love songs reveal the full spectrum of romance and desire
This is the most expensive piano in the world. Here's why
A guide to the most expensive piano ever sold at auction, and its unique place in cultural history
Poems for kids: 11 magical verses for younger readers
Poetry can be a great way for kids to discover music and literature, so we've flicked through the archives and have gathered together some of the best poetry for kids.
Rock's most iconic bass guitar vanished in 1969 - and turned up in an attic half a century later
Million-dollar violins stolen from cafes - and more: our guide to some of the most famous stolen musical instruments in history
BBC Proms 2025: 15 unmissable Proms, from Traitors to Arvo Pärt
From Arvo Pärt to Traitors, Sibelius to Nina Simone, here's our pick of 15 of the most unmissable 2025 BBC Proms
Hardest music: the 12 most fiendishly difficult works in all of music
Our guide to the 12 most difficult pieces of music to play ever - do you agree with our choices?
Bust these 10 myths to unlock the sublime world of classical music
Many find classical music intimidating due to its history, complexity, or formal settings, but these fears stem from myths. In reality, it’s for everyone—emotional, thrilling, and accessible. Here are 10 common misconceptions debunked
Here are 14 mind-bending acoustic destinations where sound plays by its own rules
Our roundup of the 14 most incredible sound destinations in the world
Unlock the secrets of music: these four simple concepts will make you a 'super listener'
Our guide to the four concepts that will help you to unlock classical music's secret code and become a great listener
Ranked: opera's 15 greatest arias
From Mozart to Gershwin via Puccini and Delibes, we run through 15 of the best loved arias from 400 years of opera
These are some of the saddest songs ever written
Our round-up of some of the saddest and most haunting songs in musical history
Darkest nursery rhymes: the eerie truths lurking beneath your favourite childhood songs
From Jack and Jill to Three Blind Mice, many of our best-loved nursery rhymes have some sinister meanings behind their cheerful lyrics. Read on for our guide to the darkest nursery rhymes of all time
Songs about friendship: ten beautiful odes to the joy of a good friend
We round up some of our favourite songs that celebrate friendship
Hardest instruments: 11 most devilishly difficult musical instruments
Hannah Nepilova dodges practice time to come up with the 11 most challenging instruments to master
Best poems of all time: 12 of the most evocative and entrancing poems ever written
From The Tyger to The Lady of Shallot, we pore over 12 of the best loved poems in all of literature
These 12 serene classical pieces will calm your mind and improve your mental health
These are the best pieces of classical music to calm your soul and boost your mental health, as chosen by violinist and conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy
These are the 11 most unforgettable uses of music in TV and film
From Manhattan to Ghost via A Clockwork Orange, here are 11 unforgettable music moments from film and TV history
Weirdest instruments: 14 gloriously strange musical instruments
From the hydraulophone to the Wintergatan Marble Machine, we introduce ten of the most delightfully weird instruments out there
Best American singers: nine iconic voices you should hear
Our roundup of the most famous American singers of all time
Oboe: the rich, soulful instrument that can give you playful, melancholy and anything in between
Our guide to the woodwind instrument, which has played everything from classical to jazz
These are the most famous pianos in the world
From Casablanca to Lang Lang via Marilyn Monroe, here's our guide to 11 of the most famous pianos in the world