Recordings
La Nativité du Seigneur: a guide to Messiaen's Christmas organ cycle and its best recordings
In his nine-movement depiction of the birth of Christ, La Nativité du Seigneur, Messiaen produced one of the 20th century’s great organ works, says Paul Riley
A guide to Copland's Appalachian Spring and its best recordings
The 1940s ballet Appalachian Spring has become one of Copland’s most popular works. And its true American spirit has inspired many great recordings, finds Anthony Burton
The best recordings of Mahler's Rückert-Lieder
Whether reflecting on the scents of spring or the darkness of night, Mahler’s five settings of Rückert poems inspire Hilary Finch as she chooses the best recordings
The best recordings of Elgar's Falstaff
From inn to battlefield, Elgar’s symphonic portrayal of Shakespeare’s rotund knight Falstaff is one of his most colourful creations. Jeremy Pound raises a toast to the best recordings
Gaspard de la Nuit: a guide to Ravel’s haunting cycle and its best recordings
Rebecca Franks explores the twilight world of Ravel’s haunting and nightmarish cycle, Gaspard de la nuit, and finds the best recording of this virtuosic work
The best recordings of JS Bach's Brandenburg Concertos
We reveal the finest recordings of Bach's six orchestral masterpieces, his Brandenburg Concertos
The best recordings of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2
We bring you the finest recordings on disc of Rachmaninov's most cherished concerto...
What were the first piano recordings?
Did you know the first piano recordings took place in the late 19th century? And featured a 12 year-old who went on to be one of the greatest pianists ever?
The best recordings of Mozart's Piano Concertos
We compare the finest complete recorded cycles of all 27 of Mozart's sublime Piano Concertos for keyboard...
The best recordings of Prokofiev's Piano Concertos
From youthful brilliance to the sophistication of adulthood, the challenges of Prokofiev’s piano concertos have proved a magnet to players. We search for the best set...
The 50 greatest recordings of all time
Our round-up of the best must-have performances of classical music. Update your collection with the great symphonies, choral works, operas, chamber and instrumental works
The best productions of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde is the most important work of one of opera's greatest masters: Richard Wagner. We select some of the finest interpretations by the great conductors...
Beethoven's sonatas: the best recordings
We name some of the best recordings of Beethoven's sonatas, peformed by the great and the good of the piano world
The best classical music albums released in 2024 so far
A full list of the best new classical music albums and recordings in 2024 so far, updated every month with reviews from the BBC Music Magazine critics
Peter Grimes: the best recordings of Britten's famous opera
Daniel Jaffé fishes out the finest recordings of Britten’s deeply unsettling but utterly gripping opera, Peter Grimes
The best recordings of Mozart's The Magic Flute
One of Mozart's best-loved operas, The Magic Flute has dominated stages worldwide since its premiere in 1791. Here are our recommendations for the best recordings of the opera and its most famous arias
Ryuichi Sakamoto: the best recordings
We rank the essential albums of Ryuichi Sakamoto, the pioneering film composer, electronic artist and solo performer
Ludovico Einaudi's top 5 albums
Michael Beek counts down his top five albums from composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi
Walton's Cello Concerto: a guide to Walton's cello masterpiece and its best recordings
Jo Talbot introduces Walton’s most beguiling yet underestimated scores for cello, and finds the recordings which do it justice
Khachaturian Piano Concerto: a guide to this exotic work and its best recordings
Khachaturian Piano Concerto: bold, brash, bombastic - and famous for a rather unusual instrument. Claire Jackson assesses a unique work
Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante: a guide to this beautiful work and its best recordings
A guide to Mozart's lively, sorrowful and beautiful work for violin, viola and orchestra, and some of the best recorded versions available
Carmina Burana: guide and best recordings
From Old Spice to X Factor, a certain three minutes of Carmina Burana is known to many of us. But what of the rest of the work? Here's our guide, and some best recordings
A guide to Borodin's Symphony No. 2 and its best recordings
Daniel Jaffé discovers the best recordings of Borodin's Symphony No. 2, a bravely experimental and colourful work that changed the course of orchestral music
A guide to Manuel de Falla's ballet El Amor Brujo and its best recordings
Terry Blain thrills to a mix of flamenco and classical traditions as he explores the finest recordings of de Falla’s characterful 1925 ballet El Amor Brujo