BBC Music Magazine

BBC Music Magazine is a must for anyone with a passion for classical music. Classical music connoisseurs and new enthusiast alike will enjoy the fascinating features and reviews of over 120 new works in every issue.

Please Note: Our digital edition does not include the cover mount items or supplements you would normally find with printed copies

Welcome

BBC Music Magazine

Have your say… • Write to: The editor, BBC Music Magazine, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST Email: music@classical-music.com Social media: contact us on Facebook and X (Twitter)

FREE ONE MONTH TRIAL to the digital edition • BBC Music Magazine is a must-read for anyone with a passion for classical music. Every issue brings the world of classical music to life, from interviews with the greatest artists and features on fascinating subjects, to all the latest news and opinions from around the music world.

The full score • Our pick of the month’s news, views and interviews

Rachmaninov’s First Symphony enjoys a belated second outing

Also in October 1945…

Music to my ears • The BBC Music Magazine team’s current favourites…

Concert Heaven Concert Hell • Top artists recall their best and worst performances

MyHero

What’s in a name? • Categorising by genre can have its uses, explains Tom Service, but when it comes to creating music that knows no boundaries, it is simply meaningless

FAREWELL TO…

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN • Conductor-cellist Tabita Berglund selects the best modern works by Scandinavian composers

Richard Morrison • No matter how religious you are, Evensong is a superbly uplifting ritual

25 GREAT MOMENTS THAT SHAPED AMERICAN MUSIC • From heroic drinking songs and Handel Hallelujahs to legendary recitals, devastating movie scores and a famous moment of silence, we celebrate 250 years of American independence with highlights from the US’s rich musical history

Tunefully remembered • 5 works about events in US history

Borrowing from Uncle Sam • Overseas works adopting US tunes

Independence days • As we continue our celebration of the 250th anniversary of US independence, Brian Wise explores how his nation is marking the milestone through music

Preserving history • 20th-century composers

First Service • As the BBC’s Choral Evensong approaches 100 years on air, Eleanor Oldroyd celebrates the wonders of this much-loved radio institution

Choral Evensong • A brief history

Russian ambassador • A product of the Soviet system, Vasily Petrenko is today a passionate cheerleader for British music, as the conductor explains to Clive Paget

Chalk and cheese? • Mahler and Strauss

Siren songs • For centuries, Greek myths have inspired great composers – but, asks Rebecca Franks, how do female characters fare in these heroic tales?

Britten goes Greek

Different wavelengths • For neurodivergent people, music can provide a shield from unwelcome noise and a way to make sense of the world, writes Lillian Crawford

Soothing sequences • Five calming works

NEW SEASON GUIDE • LIVE CONCERTS & OPERA 2026/27

Europe

North America

Rest of the World

Andermatt Switzerland • The Swiss resort town has undergone a remarkable rebirth, and can now boast its very own resident orchestra, reports Charlotte Smith

Frédéric Chopin • For all his mastery of the piano, one of the Polish composer’s most ardent passions was the human voice, as Jessica Duchen explains

CHOPIN Life&Times

Claude Debussy La Mer • Miranda Bardsley takes a deep breath and plunges into the finest recordings of Debussy’s vivid orchestral depiction of the ocean waves

Tranquil...