Features
News, articles and features from the world of classical music
The wives of the great composers: why behind every great man is often an even greater woman
If composers’ wives could be the ultimate muse, some were coerced into giving up their own careers to support their husbands
Laura van der Heijden: the gifted, thoughtful and ever-questing cellist who won BBC Young Musician at just 15
With her recording of Walton’s Concerto, cellist Laura van der Heijden revisits her BBC Young Musician win – but with a new, mature focus
Alice Coote: the impressively versatile British mezzo-soprano gracing the 2024 BBC Proms
Here's a brief introduction to the British mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, who performs at the BBC Proms on Thursday 25 July and who's earned an enviable reputation for her captivating performances across a wide range of operatic roles.
Brahms Symphony No. 3: a guide to his most enigmatic symphony and its best recordings
Terry Williams finds the best recordings of Brahms’s Third, one of the composer’s greatest triumphs yet one of his most paradoxical pieces
Music and mental health: what scientists have revealed about the connections between them
Does listening to and playing classical music benefit the brain? Though much is still unknown, James Goodwin says there is plenty of evidence to suggest a strong connection between music and mental health
What's new?
Braimah Kanneh-Mason: all you need to know about the gifted British violinist returning to the Proms this summer
Meet Braimah Kanneh-Mason, the gifted violinist and member of an astoundingly musical family of performers
Jules Buckley: the inimitable conductor, composer and arranger serving up an infectious mix of classical, pop and jazz
Jules Buckley is one of the most dynamic and interesting musicians around today, but who exactly is he? Michael Beek gives you a quick guide
Eric Whitacre: Nevada's most famous composer, who has broken records with his virtual choirs
Meet Eric Whitacre, the hugely popular US composer, conductor and founder of the Virtual Choir
James MacMillan: the composer who found fame with a story of 17th-century witch trials
One of the most prolific in the UK, Scottish composer James MacMillan’s music is oft-programmed and recorded. But exactly who is he? Here’s a brief guide…
These are the 11 most devilishly difficult instruments (and 11 gorgeous reasons to learn them)
Hannah Nepilova dodges practice time to come up with the 11 most challenging instruments to master
Artists
Timing, poise and mental calm: why legendary gymnast Simone Biles is an inspiration for all musicians
Conductor Gemma New salutes the focus, positivity and grace under pressure of artistic gymnast Simone Biles
Jessye Norman: the game-changing singer and diversity champion who performed for two presidents
She sang for two presidents and picked up four Grammys, and made huge strides for black singers in a largely white industry. Meet the iconic, game-changing American soprano, Jessye Norman
BBC National Orchestra of Wales: all you need to know about the Welsh orchestra returning to the Proms in 2024
Discover the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, one of the BBC's five orchestras and an ambassador for classical music in Wales
Composers
Beethoven: the astonishing force of nature who dragged music into the Romantic era
John Suchet profiles Ludwig van Beethoven - the composer who sparked a musical revolution
The best American composers of all time... and the definitive recordings to add to your collection
Daniel Jaffé explores the lives and works of the USA's greatest ever composers
The visionary French composer who risked the guillotine, went on a secret mission and was kidnapped
Hélène de Montgeroult risked the guillotine during the French Revolution – but there’s far more to this talented composer than her remarkable survival, as pianist Clare Hammond tells Rebecca Franks
Instruments
The $14 million violin hiding under a cloak of shoe polish... and 13 more infamous stolen instruments
Million-dollar violins stolen from cafes - and more: our guide to some of the most famous stolen musical instruments in history
The saxophone: the essential jazz instrument that has sprinkled its soulful magic across classical music
Our guide to the saxophone: What it is, who invented it and the best works for it
The trombone: the unique-sounding instrument that you'll hear everywhere from classical to reggae
Our guide to the trombone: what it is, how to play it and the best works written for it
Jazz
The 25 best jazz saxophonists of all time, ranked - and the albums you need to add to your library now
Who is the best jazz saxophonist of all time? From John Coltrane to John Dankworth, we've had a go at ranking the top 25 - and we've recommended an essential album from each
From jazz to classical: five surprising classical albums from jazz greats
Six of the Best Jazz Film Cameos
Whether it’s breaking the tension of a thriller or adding sparkle to a musical, jazz musicians have a history of making scene-stealing cameos on the silver screen. Neil McKim explores six of the greatest
Musical terms
Circle of fifths: your key to understanding musical harmony
If you struggle with music theory, the circle of fifths can seem a confusing concept with its roots firmly in mathematics. Fear not, we discuss what this diagram shows and its use in music
Serialism: a guide to classical music's most divisive musical technique
Serialism: just what was it and why was it so divisive in classical music circles? Stephen Johnson explains
What is a string quartet?
What is a string quartet? Interesting question, as it can mean both an ensemble of players and a piece of music written for that ensemble. Stephen Johnson explains
Recordings
Bach Mass in B minor: a guide to this monumental sacred masterpiece and its best recordings
The sheer variety and craftsmanship of JS Bach’s final choral masterpiece, Mass in B minor, enthral Paul Riley as he chooses the finest recordings
The Planets by Holst: a guide to this truly cosmic work and its best recordings
We bring you the best recordings of each movement of Holst's The Planets
Beethoven symphonies: a guide to 'the Nine'
No composer changed the symphony more radically than Beethoven... Here is a guide to all nine of his symphonies and their best recordings
Science of Music
Reduced stress, healthy heart… and five other surprising benefits that music will give you
We know that music has a positive effect on the brain, but music’s impact on the body can also be helpful, improving heart health, stress levels and pain management
New research shows surge in mental health concerns among musicians and performing artists since Covid-19
The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine has revealed that its mental health consultations have quadrupled since 2019
How music therapy is treating victims of torture and war, facing the long-term consequences of trauma
Harmin Sijercic, a refugee from Bosnia, has been running creative music therapy at Freedom from Torture for over 16 years. He reflects on how music therapy has helped him on his own journey escaping war, and how he's since used music to support others to rebuild their lives
TV and Film music
Watch: how to create the perfect TV theme song
These are the 15 greatest Disney songs of all time. But which golden decade gave us six of them?
Sean Wilson chooses his best Disney songs of all time - do you agree with his choices?
We ranked all nine Star Wars film scores from worst to best. Which is your favourite?
How do all nine Star Wars scores stack up? Here's our ranking of the best and worst Star Wars music
Works
'Fit only for entertaining the creatures of hell': the work that wrecked Rachmaninov's confidence - and 14 more composer regrets
The sorry tales of pieces that, for one reason or another, would go on to haunt their own composers
Verdi the climate activist: how the Italian composer’s ‘Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves’ is fighting climate change
Verdi’s famous chorus finds a modern mission at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland
Temples, incense, giant bells hanging from the clouds: the wild world of Scriabin's Mysterium
When Alexander Scriabin died at the tender age of 43, the Russian composer left incomplete the most ambitious piece of music ever envisaged. Robert Barry tells the tale