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Beethoven and West Side Story

Leonard Bernstein borrowed a famous Beethoven melody for West Side Story’s most emotional scene

Bernstein, L

The Nation’s Favourite Carol with Viking on Classic FM

Vote for your favourite Christmas carol in The Nation’s Favourite Carol with Viking 2023

Christmas

Classic FM Live with Viking

Classic FM Live returns to the Royal Albert Hall for a night of classical music anthems

Events

Yannick Nézet-Séguin on teaching Bradley Cooper to conduct

‘He should pursue conducting’ – the real maestro who taught Bradley Cooper to conduct like Bernstein

Bernstein, L

Nicolò Foron won the 17th Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition with a programme of Wagner, Grieg and Berlioz.

25-year-old maestro wins competition with explosive Berlioz in joyous finale

LSO

Mary had a little lamb

What are the lyrics to ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’, the popular nursery rhyme?

Beethoven's great choral anthem is based on a poem by Friedrich Schiller

What are the lyrics to ‘Ode to Joy’, Beethoven’s triumphant choral anthem?

Beethoven

Sir Keir Starmer chooses Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’, the EU Anthem, as music that sums up the Labour Party

Sir Keir Starmer says Beethoven’s choral anthem ‘Ode to Joy’ sums up the Labour party

Beethoven

From John Rutter to Vivaldi: the best classical music for Thanksgiving

10 perfect pieces of classical music for Thanksgiving celebrations

England’s Lionesses stand for the national anthem ahead of a match against Scotland in the UEFA Women’s League.

The 10 best national anthems

Latest instrument features

Lucy Illingworth and her mother on stage at the King’s Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle in May 2023

Who is Lucy from The Piano? Blind and neurodivergent young pianist has a new documentary

Why are there so many violins in an orchestra?

Why do orchestras have so many violins?

Myleene Klass plays piano to raise money for Classic FM's charity, on Global's Make Some Noise Appeal Day

Myleene Klass: Classic FM presenter’s age, children, musical background and more facts

Can Emma Raducanu play piano? Tennis star shares videos of her practising at home

Can Emma Raducanu play piano? Tennis star shares videos of her practising at home

Hazel Scott performs on two pianos at once, in a 1943 film.

When Hazel Scott played two pianos at once in a jaw-dropping display of virtuosity

Videos

Best classical music

See more Best classical music

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.

30 of the greatest classical music composers of all time

Best pianists of all time

The 25 best pianists of all time

More instruments

See more More instruments

Violin

Piano

Guitar

Flute