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Esther Abrami Ryanair violin

‘I never expected this reaction’ – Esther Abrami refused boarding with 200-year-old violin on Ryanair flight

James Earl Jones reciting the US national anthem proves his voice was music

James Earl Jones reciting the US national anthem proves his voice was music

Videos

Maria João Pires in 1999, when she had learned the wrong piano concerto.

When Maria João Pires learned the wrong piano concerto, but had a ‘miraculous’ recovery

Mozart

Youth orchestra plays 'Harry Potter' music in Glasgow university cloisters

Indonesian orchestra plays magical ‘Harry Potter’ theme in Glasgow university cloisters

Williams

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Lucy improvises boogie-woogie duet with fellow ‘The Piano’ winner Brad Kella

Lucy improvises infectious boogie-woogie duet with fellow ‘The Piano’ winner Brad Kella

Discover the greatest classical music

10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

Hildegard von Bingen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edward Elgar among the greatest composers in classical music history.

The 30 greatest classical music composers of all time

From Mozart to Elgar: the best pieces of classical music for beginners

15 timeless pieces to begin your journey into classical music

The 20 best operas of all time, according to Classic FM presenters.

The 20 greatest operas ever written

The best classical music playlists to suit your every mood

The best classical music playlists to suit your every mood

Periods & Genres

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Music Theory

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What is an earworm?

What is an earworm and how do you get rid of one?

Maxim Vengerov – here’s why musicians use vibrato

Why do musicians always use vibrato?

How did music notation begin?

How did music notation begin?

What is a scale?

What is a scale?

Violinist name Ava Bahari plays with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

What’s the difference between a symphony, a concerto, and a sonata?

Humour

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Peter Schickele Beethoven 5 parody

PDQ Bach delivered the ultimate classical music and sport parody in this Beethoven performance

Beethoven

Rowan Atkinson, Mr Bean, performs during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012.

Mr Bean plays iconic ‘Chariots of Fire’ with London Symphony Orchestra at 2012 Olympics Ceremony

LSO

Cat wanders on stage during Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony at Istanbul Music Festival

Curious cat wanders on stage during Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony in Istanbul

Beethoven

Pianist Angela Hewitt is joined in a Brahms duet by dog, Sani.

Melodious dog joins star pianist Angela Hewitt in a howling Brahms duet

Angela Hewitt

A hand-embroidered bra was thrown at Ray Chen during applause, after his Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto performance in Munich with the RSNO.

Audience member throws bra at Ray Chen after a rousing Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

Ray Chen

Women in Music

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Who is Toshiko Akiyoshi? Meet the Japanese pianist and composer who transformed jazz music

Who is Toshiko Akiyoshi? Meet the Japanese pianist and composer who transformed jazz music

Four women conductors lead the Met Opera in one week – in historic first

Four women conductors lead the Met Opera in one week – in historic first

New York Metropolitan Opera

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The Donne Foundation has successfully set the Guinness World Record for the Longest Acoustic Music Live-Streamed Concert, with a 26-hour concert of music by women and non-binary composers.

Musicians break Guinness World Record with 26-hour concert of music by women composers

Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn

Who was Fanny Mendelssohn, the unsung composer whose music was published under her brother’s name?

Happy Birthday

5 famous melodies you didn’t realise were written by women... including ‘Happy Birthday’

Quizzes

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Can you answer these quiz questions using just the musical notes?

Can you answer these quiz questions using just music notes?

Lifestyle

Are you smarter than a musical 18-year-old? Find out below...

Can you answer these A-Level music questions? Find out if you would pass first time...

Lifestyle

Are you smarter than a 16-year-old? Find out below...

Can you answer these GCSE Music questions? Find out if you would pass first time...

Lifestyle

Who are Sideshow Bob and Bugs Bunny playing in these operatic parodies...

Can you guess the opera these cartoon characters are singing?

Lifestyle

What song did Olivia Olson sing in Love Actually? Take our quiz if you know the answer...

The Ultimate Christmas Movie Music Quiz

Lifestyle

Discover music features

Operatic soprano Maria Callas is considered one of the greatest singers of the 20th century

Who was Maria Callas, and what made her the world’s greatest opera diva?

Maria Callas

Jeneba Kanneh-Mason plays ‘The Lark’

10-year-old pianist plays Glinka-Balakirev with astonishing poetry and precision

Danny Elfman will write the score to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, with additional input from rock bands My Chemical Romance and Blink-182.

Everything you need to know about the ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ score, soundtrack and composer

When Mozart outsold Beyoncé in physical album sales

In 2016, Mozart outsold Beyoncé and Drake to become the most popular CD artist

Mozart

The 15 best film scores of the 21st century

Definitively the greatest film scores of the 21st century so far

11 places every classical music fan should visit in their lifetime

11 places every classical music fan should visit in their lifetime

10 greatest works by Dvořák

10 greatest works by Dvořák

Greatest Olympic music

Top 10 classical music performances at the Olympic Games

Lady Gaga’s Alejandro samples Monti’s Czardas; Bach provides inspiration for Muse

19 iconic pop songs you didn’t know were directly inspired by classical music

John Williams conducts at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony

The iconic time John Williams conducted his own ‘Olympic Fanfare’ at the 1984 LA Olympics

Williams

Who is Jakub Józef Orliński? Meet the breakdancing countertenor who sang at the Olympics

Who is Jakub Józef Orliński? The breakdancing countertenor who sang at the Olympics

Fijian athletes ‘sing like the ocean’ in Olympic village during overheard worship service

Fijian athletes ‘sing like the ocean’ in Olympic village during overheard worship service

Lang Lang at the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

When Lang Lang played piano for 2 billion people at the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

Lang Lang

2,008 people drumming to one beat at the Beijing 2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony

Monumental sound as 2,008 drummers beat in unison at Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

Videos

Han-na Chang, Maxim Vengerov, Daniel Barenboim: classical soloists who became leading conductors

12 great classical soloists who became leading conductors

Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason is one of today’s most in-demand soloists

Who is Isata Kanneh-Mason? Star pianist’s age, family, recordings and more facts

Instruments

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Discover music

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From Jurassic Park and The Lord of the Rings to Interstellar – the most epic film scores ever written

15 most epic film scores

8 days ago

Kamala Harris reveals to a group of Georgia high school students that she played French horn and percussion at school

Kamala Harris played French horn and percussion at school, and has a penchant for George Gershwin

8 days ago

Angelina Jolie (right) stars as legendary Greek soprano, Maria Callas (left) in the upcoming musical biopic about the singer

Maria Callas biopic starring Angelina Jolie: cast, plot release date and music in ‘Maria’ revealed

11 days ago

Maria Callas

Does Angelina Jolie sing in the Maria Callas biopic?

Does Angelina Jolie sing in the Maria Callas biopic? Actress reveals her operatic training

11 days ago

Maria Callas

Trumpet rental letter

Son finds touching note sent to his struggling mother ‘forgiving trumpet debt’

12 days ago

Angelina Jolie stars as iconic opera diva Maria Callas

‘Maria’: First clip of Angelina Jolie as opera star Maria Callas in new biopic

12 days ago

Maria Callas

Best classical music

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The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

Best symphonies: Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and Florence Price

The 15 greatest symphonies of all time

4 eras of classical music

The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

A young Marin Alsop, Sir Simon Rattle, and Seiji Ozawa conduct their respective orchestras.

The 25 greatest conductors of all time

Hildegard von Bingen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edward Elgar among the greatest composers in classical music history.

The 30 greatest classical music composers of all time

Classic FM Live Playlists

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Classical Summertime

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Latest on Classic FM

Classic FM Live returns in October 2024

Classic FM Live with Viking returns for a celebration of great British classics at the Royal Albert Hall

Events

Vote for ‘Best Music Learning Initiative’ winner in the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards!

Vote for ‘Best Music Learning Initiative’ winner in the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards!

Events

New study finds audience heartbeats and breath rates synchronise during a classical concert

New study finds audience heartbeats and breath rates synchronise during a classical concert
Greatest film soundtracks: Gladiator, Titanic, The Lord of the Rings

The 50 best film scores of all time

Howard Shore’s music for The Lord of the Rings has been voted as the nation’s favourite film score, in the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame 2024.

Howard Shore’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ voted No.1 soundtrack in the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame 2024
Errollyn Wallen appointed first Master of the King’s Music of new reign

Errollyn Wallen appointed first Master of the King’s Music of new reign

Boy soprano Ben Del Maestro’s breathtaking vocals for ‘Lord of the Rings’

Footage emerges of boy soprano recording breathtaking vocals for ‘Lord of the Rings’ score

Nicola Benedetti on what the government can do for music education

Nicola Benedetti: ‘I will be reaching out to Keir Starmer about the future of music education’

Nicola Benedetti

Nicola Benedetti on whether phones should be allowed at classical concerts.

Nicola Benedetti has ‘strong feelings’ on mobile phones at classical concerts

Nicola Benedetti

Violinist attracts turtles

Violinist summons turtles from water with his virtuosic playing