Features
News, articles and features from the world of classical music
John Cage: the composer whose most famous work didn't make a sound
Nick Shave explores the nuts and bolts of an avant gardist whose creative genius goes well
beyond his famous 4'33" of not-quite-silence
Eugène Ysaÿe: why was he known as the 'King of the Violin'?
One of the finest violinists of his or any generation, Ysaÿe was also a composer of considerably greater talent than he himself was inclined to believe, says Julian Haylock. Meet the king of the violin
Best classical music inspired by autumn: from Vivaldi to Tchaikovsky, nine works that beautifully capture the changing of the year
We present some of the best classical music inspired by the somewhat melancholy magic, misty mornings, and technicolour beauty of autumn
Big eater, fretful uncle, always on the move: Beethoven’s conversation books bring the great composer to vivid life
Beethoven’s conversation books, through which the deaf composer communicated with those around him, offer a fascinatingly detailed insight into his life. Michael Church takes a look at a new translation
George Martin – the producer who added classical music to The Beatles' world-conquering sound
George Martin: his deep classical knowledge was key to shaping The Beatles’s world-conquering sound. We take a look at the legendary producer's classical musical influences
What's new?
Narcissist, adulterer, social climber, frustrated genius... Who was Alma Mahler?
Thwarted as a composer, was Gustav Mahler's wife, Alma Mahler, really a ‘boundless narcissist’? Perhaps a troubled soul lurked beneath...
Best Romantic composers: from Beethoven to Rachmaninov, 19 giants of Romanticism in music
From Beethoven and Schubert via Mendelssohn and Mahler to Strauss and Rachmaninov, we pore over the greatest composers from the Romantic era, renowned for its grand musical passions and dramas
Erik Satie: the enigmatic eccentric who concealed his true self behind hypnotic, visionary music
Erik Satie revealed little of his true self, in his life as in his music. This is just a part of what makes him such a fascinating composer
'A man of the highest honour and dignity'? Iconic tenor Enrico Caruso arrested for 'annoying women' at Central Park Zoo
In 1906 the celebrated Italian tenor was caught by police and arrested for persistently trailing women in the New York monkey house
Classical music inspired by hate: six works dripping with scorn, mockery and bitterness
How hatred inspired some of our most famous composers and their music
Artists
Barbara Hannigan: the Canadian soprano on her three most memorable recordings
Canadian soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan revisits her three most memorable recordings
Ayanna Witter-Johnson: composer, singer and cellist who combines classical, hip-hop, soul and reggae
The London-born singer, composer and instrumentalist combines multiple influences in her passionate songs about race and history
Best viola players: 14 of the greatest violists of all time
Who are the world's most famous violists? From Lionel Tertis to Lawrence Power, we name 14 of the best viola players of all time
Composers
Rachmaninov: the 'six-foot scowl' who gave us some of classical music's most breathtaking moments
The last great Russian Romantic: meet Sergey Rachmaninov, creator of some of classical music's most irresistible melodies
Imogen Holst - why Gustav's self-effacing daughter deserves the spotlight in her own right
Her devotion to others was admirable, but this modest composer should be celebrated for her own considerable talents, says Leah Broad
Louise Farrenc: the gifted composer who brought the battle of the sexes to 19th-century France
Though multi-faceted and mightily gifted, the French composer Louise Farrenc could easily have gone entirely unnoticed, as Jessica Duchen explains
Instruments
What instrument should I learn? Here are five key questions to ask yourself before you commit
We've all heard the benefits of learning an instrument – but sometimes the choice can be overwhelming. Decide which instrument you or your child should learn with our handy guide
How do you choose the right music teacher for you? Follow these seven simple steps...
You've decided you want to learn a musical instrument, but what's next? You need a music teacher! Consult our guide for how to find a music teacher – and what you should be looking for
Hate music practice? How you can learn to love your instrument again in 100 days
Amateur violinist Ariane Todes reveals how, after losing the will to practise during the pandemic,
she was inspired by Hilary Hahn on social media
to reconnect with her beloved four-stringed friend
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
Earworms explained: annoyingly repetitive musical snippets that the brain just can’t banish
What are earworms? Are they common and how do I get rid of them? Read on to discover more about this annoying musical phenomenon...
Muzak: the fascinating story of music's much-derided kid brother
Banal at its best, stress-inducing at its worst, the phenomenon of background muzak can be traced largely to one man. John Evans tells the sorry tale
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
Recordings
Appalachian Spring: Aaron Copland's masterful evocation of America's wide open spaces
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
Ludovico Einaudi, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Max Richter: 18 definitive ambient classical albums you should hear
The best post-classical albums and modern masterpieces to inspire and move you
Bruckner's Fifth Symphony: a work almost destroyed by well-meaning but misguided acolytes
Devout yet unconventional, Bruckner’s Fifth has long been misjudged, says Terry Williams, who finds which recordings reveal its greatness
Science of Music
How to avoid burnout - advice for musicians, and those in any stressful job
Today’s top young performers offer sage advice to their peers...
Sonification: electromagnetic 'music' that can help us understand the secrets of the universe
Sonification allows us to listen to the sounds of the universe – and this wondrous music produces insights beyond our visual awareness, says Tom Service
Stage fright: six top musicians share their experiences and coping mechanisms
Don't be fooled by the cool, calm exterior: stage fright affects even the very best musicians. Hannah Nepil investigates a phenomenon that can wreck careers
TV and Film music
How Bradley Cooper's brilliant Bernstein biopic made the composer's children cry
Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Jamie Bernstein discuss how Bradley Cooper embodied the late great conductor Leonard Bernstein in appearance, movement and, of course, conducting...
'My life with Sinatra, Marilyn and Doris Day': Leonard Slatkin on growing up on a Hollywood soundstage
As he marks his 80th birthday, conductor Leonard Slatkin shares his lifelong connection to the music of Hollywood
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - a guide to the soundtrack
Tim Burton’s hotly anticipated follow-up to his brilliantly bonkers 1988 comedy features a brand new score by composer Danny Elfman. Here’s our guide to the music of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice…
Works
Best Mahler symphony: ranking the nine completed symphonies of Gustav Mahler
We've ranked all nine Mahler masterpieces from our least favourite to the absolute best
The Creation: how Haydn came to compose the greatest triumph of his career
The story of how Haydn came to write his great oratorio, The Creation - a musical masterpiece perfectly attuned to the spirit of its age
Which piece got you hooked on classical music? From Bach to Gershwin, here are 27 inspiring suggestions
Back in 2014, we asked BBC Music Magazine readers to tell us about the pieces that first drew them into the wonderful world of classical music. Here are some of the many responses we received...