Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Smooth Classics at Seven with Zeb Soanes 7pm - 10pm

    Smooth Classics at Seven with Zeb Soanes

    Now Playing

    Piano Sonata No.14 in C# minor Opus 27 (1) Ludwig Van Beethoven Download 'Piano Sonata No.14 in C# minor Opus 27 (1)' on iTunes

    Piano Sonata No.14 in C# minor Opus 27 (1) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on X
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Discover Music

    • Discover Music Home
    • Periods & Genres
    • Occasions
    • Mood
    • Instruments
    • Music Theory
    • Learning
    • Humour
    • Women in Music
    • Lyrics
    • More Classic FM

    Composers have been putting on their best 'blue steel' - and we've rated them

    Turns out Zoolander's signature pose has a long history. Composers have been pouting at the camera (or painter) for centuries - but which one does 'blue steel' best? It's a walk off!

    1. Blue steel

      1. Blue steel - it's a walk off

      The contenders are lined up on the catwalk for this blue steel walk-off. Browse the gallery to see who will win.

    2. Blue steel Mozart

      2. No.10 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - 2/10

      Poor attempt Wolfgang. Ah well, to quote Derek Zoolander, there's a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking. Maybe try writing music?

    3. Blue steel Schoenberg

      3. No.9 Arnold Schoenberg - 3/10

      The Viennese modernist's sucked in cheeks are less taut, more sachertorte. Three marks, though, for the unequivocal glare.

    4. Blue steel Granados

      4. No.8 Enrique Granados - 4/10

      Nice full lips and come-to-bed eyes from the Spanish composer, but not ready for a walk off yet.

    5. Blue steel Shostakovich

      5. No.6 Dmitri Shostakovich - 6/10

      Young Dmitri's already sad at coming second in St. Petersburg's Harry Potter lookalike competition (Sue Perkins won). Still he has years ahead of him to perfect blue steel.

    6. Eric Whitacre Blue Steel

      6. No.6= Eric Whitacre - 6/10

      Don't have a whack attack for not winning, Eric. The looks couldn't be better. We just need to see more puckering.

    7. Blue steel Purcell

      7. No.4= Henry Purcell - 7/10

      Purcell's pout and eyebrows are perfect. Just ditch the Farrah Fawcett feathered wave.

    8. Blue steel Chopin

      8. No.4 Frédéric Chopin - 7/10

      This is a look that says "Don't knock the nocturne".

    9. Blue steel Liszt

      9. No.3 Franz Liszt - 8/10

      He may have modelled his style on Wurzel Gummidge in old age, but as a young man Liszt was the Lucky Blue Smith of his day.

    10. Blue steel Webern

      10. No.2 Anton Webern - 9/10

      An excellent attempt from the modern Austrian composer. Hotter than his music will ever be.

    11. Blue steel Hough

      11. No.1 Stephen Hough - 10/10

      Spot on for the polymath pianist/ composer with cheekbones perfectly complemented by the lemon-sucking pout.

    Latest humour

    See more Latest humour

    Mischievous cat steals owner’s music stand during flute practice.

    Mischievous cat repeatedly steals owner’s music stand during flute practice

    3 months ago

    Organist plays slurring Wedding March in timeless ‘drunk’ Mendelssohn parody

    Organist plays slurring Wedding March in timeless ‘drunk’ Mendelssohn parody

    3 months ago

    Mendelssohn

    Classical dogs

    21 pawfect dog names for classical music lovers

    4 months ago

    Piano-playing dog sings a melancholy tune at the piano, delighting owner’s guests

    Dog spotted confidently singing and playing at owner’s piano

    4 months ago

    A hopeful dog performs for a judging panel, during auditions in the search for performers for a rare Mozart symphony.

    Danish orchestra sets up panel to audition dogs for rare Mozart symphony

    5 months ago

    Latest on Classic FM

    Classic FM Auction: Bid to win a Yamaha piano and private lesson, and Cornwall manor house stay

    Classic FM Auction: Bid to win a Yamaha piano and private lesson, and Cornwall manor house stay

    Charity

    Classic FM announces new book ‘The Very Young Person’s Guide to Ballet Music’

    Classic FM announces new book ‘The Very Young Person’s Guide to Ballet Music’

    Everything you need to know about German film composer, Hans Zimmer.

    Inside Hans Zimmer’s greatest film scores, family, and awards so far

    Zimmer

    Tamar Greene sings to his baby

    Baby duets with Broadway star dad in video that’s bringing people to tears

    Videos

    The most memorable times classical music featured in the hit cartoon ‘Bluey’

    Bluey soundtrack: what are all the pieces of classical music used in the TV show?

    Yuja Wang is one of the greatest pianists of the 21st century.

    Who is Yuja Wang, and what makes her so good at the piano?

    Yuja Wang

    Maxim Vengerov, Lise Davidsen, Yo-Yo Ma: among today’s leading classical artists

    The 30 greatest classical musicians performing today

    A depiction of Jesus holding a lamb

    What are the lyrics to ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ and who wrote the hymn?

    Whitney Houston and Luciano Pavarotti stunned crowds with an opera duet.

    When Whitney Houston surprised the world with an extraordinary Verdi aria… with Luciano Pavarotti

    Luciano Pavarotti

    Royal Swedish Opera cancels all performances after tragic accident

    Royal Swedish Opera cancels all performances as stage technician tragically dies after fall

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Google Doodle
    • Quizzes
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • LBC News
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Saturday Night at the Movies
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on X
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2023
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager