Welcome to the August 2025 issue of BBC Music Magazine!
Our cover star is the Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, who shares with Ariane Todes the passion for music that drives her ultra-busy lifestyle - a lifestyle that includes running one of the world’s most famous festivals.
Speaking of busy musicians, we also take a look at the hectic touring schedule of Franz Liszt, the rock star equivalent of his day, who during 1840 and 1841 undertook some frenzied piano tours of Britain. Andrew Green tries to keep up.
Elsewhere in this issue, cellist Guy Johnston reveals to Michael White how his love for his Stradivari took him strangely by surprise. And we celebrate The Beatles! Composer Bob Chilcott explains the extraordinary range of influences behind the Fab Four's songs; plus four top musicians tell us how these four likely lads from Liverpool still inspire them to this day.
Overrated composers
Here's one that's likely to get controversial. Which of our great composers are perhaps a little (whisper it) overrated? Five of our regular writers share their musical bugbears. Trigger warning: there are some big names and sacred cows in there.
Elsewhere, actor Sean Hayes (of Will & Grace and SmartLess podcast fame) tells Michael Beek all about playing the uniquely multi-talented Oscar Levant (film star, and greatest Gershwin pianist of his generation) on stage.
ON this month's CD you'll find beautiful performances of chamber music from across three centuries. The Mithras Trio give us luminous performances of three piano trios: Beethoven's very first essay in the form, Amy Beach's Trio in A minor, and Dvořák's much-loved Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90 ‘Dumky’, with its ryhthms drawn from Czech folk dances. Click here or on the image to see the track details for this month's cover CD.
