Artists
Shock impact and religious zeal: how historically informed performance revolutionised classical music
From the Middle Ages to Miles Davis, these are the 10 best trumpeters of all time
Leading trumpeter Matilda Lloyd traces the history of her instrument through ten influential players, from the Tudor era to the present day
15 bands whose lyrics we just don't understand (and we love it that way)
Some of rock’s most beloved bands sing in riddles, nonsense, or invented languages — and we love them all the more for it
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These 12 iconic musicians walked away at the height of their powers
When stars vanish at their peak – Barrett, Stevens, Denny, Gould – their abrupt exits leave mystery, legend, and longing in their wake
RIP Patricia Routledge: from Bernstein to Bucket, a life less ordinary
Though known chiefly for her brilliant portrayal of a social climber on TV’s Keeping Up Appearances, Patricia Routledge was once also a successful mezzo, as the actress recalls with Michael White
‘I thought in that moment, please can I just die’ – pianist Francesco Piemontesi on his best and worst concert performances
Top Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi remembers the best and worst performances of his career - including forgetting what he was playing!
Here are 27 rock singers you just either love or hate
From angelic croons to primal snarls, these 25 rock voices polarize listeners, inspiring devotion, ridicule, and sometimes legendary love-or-hate debate
Itzhak Perlman: legendary virtuoso violinist and the sound behind Schindler's List
As we celebrate violinist Itzhak Perlman’s 80th birthday, the virtuoso speaks to Charlotte Smith about teaching, conducting, his famous sound – and keeping inspired over a career of more than 60 years
Comeback albums: rock's 11 most spectacular rebirths, ranked
From Bowie’s shock return to Cash’s rebirth, we rank the most dramatic comebacks in rock history — glory after silence
These 7 bands were iconic. But you'll struggle to hear their influence today
They defined eras and left timeless songs—yet these seven iconic bands were a musical full stop, their sound still strangely unclaimed today
These are the 21 most awesome cellists of all time
From Pablo Casals to Jacqueline du Pré, we celebrate some of the greatest cellists of the past 300 years
Shapeshifters: rock's 17 most radical reinventions, ranked
From Dylan’s electric shock to Bowie’s endless reinventions, these 15 acts didn’t just evolve — they transformed so radically they became almost unrecognisable
BBC Symphony Orchestra: all you need to know about the BBC Proms' busiest orchestra
Discover the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC’s principal broadcasting orchestra at the heart of British cultural life since 1930
These 7 great bands lost a key member – and never recovered
When a band loses its irreplaceable member, the music never sounds the same. These 7 great groups tried to carry on—but never truly recovered
Vladimir Horowitz: the legendary pianist who retired four times and had electroshock therapy for depression
Vladimir Horowitz was one of the greatest pianists the world had ever seen. his success, however, came at a heavy price. Nick Forton charts a glittering career blighted by depression and long periods away from the concert stage
From Ziggy to Camille: rock's 15 wildest alter egos
From psychedelic parodies to gender-bending voices and cartoon bands, rock’s greatest alter egos let artists escape, experiment, and reinvent themselves—sometimes eclipsing their “real” identities entirely
The Beatles are the greatest band of all time. Here's why
As we mark 65 years of The Beatles, Bob Chilcott, composer, former King’s Singer and Fab Four fanatic, explores the band’s many musical influences
Canadian musicians: Canada's greatest performers of all time, ranked
From folk legends to pop icons, Canada has produced extraordinary talent. Here’s our ranking of the 15 greatest Canadian musicians, celebrating innovation, influence, and timeless artistry.
How the hell...? Rock's 15 unlikeliest success stories, ranked
Some bands shouldn’t have existed: chaotic line-ups, clueless musicians, or impossible personalities. Yet these 15 acts defied the odds — and changed music forever
These 11 bands honestly sounded like no one else
From Captain Beefheart’s surreal blues to Can’s hypnotic Krautrock, these 11 bands redefined music, creating sounds that were utterly unique
The night the 1960s died: the Rolling Stones' notorious Altamont debacle
The dream of peace and music ended among rancour, blood, and broken ideals at a hastily arranged rock festival in the burnt-orange dusk of 1969’s final days
Ranked: the 11 greatest rock movies of all time
Rock and cinema collided in unforgettable ways. From Beatlemania to Pink Floyd in Pompeii, these 11 films defined how rock looks and feels
Wendy Carlos: the trans pioneer who created Stanley Kubrick’s creepiest soundscapes
Discover the bold, brilliant world of Wendy Carlos—electronic music pioneer, innovator, and trailblazing figure in sound and identity.
The very rude thing that conductor Thomas Beecham once said
Great conductors have sometimes betrayed sexist attitudes when talking about their female colleagues