In 1906, just thirteen years after Tchaikovsky’s sudden, shocking death, British musicologist Rosa Newmarch wrote the first full-length biography of the Russian composer. In it, she includes a number of evocative details about his childhood. Today, we’re looking at some

I hate to say it, but classical music still suffers from an image problem; an image crisis, in fact. Despite the best efforts of performers, promoters, venues and music lovers, the art form is perceived by many as elitist and

When one thinks of classical orchestral conducting, a specific image often surfaces. We tend to see a tall, authoritative male figure wielding a baton, commanding an ensemble of dozens in a symphonic ritual. Into this traditionally male-dominated picture, Elim Chan

In 2025, we mark the centenary of the birth of Sir Charles Mackerras, a conductor who seamlessly combined erudition with vitality, and tradition with innovation. Born on 17 November 1925, Mackerras became one of the most dynamic, scholarly, and open-minded

I can’t remember when I first heard this piece, but it was almost certainly on BBC Radio Three’s Breakfast programme, and, as is often the way, the piece caught my attention and I decided to find out more about it.

The great classical music composers never wrote their music in a vacuum. The people around them always influenced what did – or didn’t – get composed. During their careers, some of these great composers were in romantic relationships that shaped

Every year, when National Clarinet Day rolls around on November 16, clarinettists everywhere polish their keys, warm their reeds, and raise their instruments in toast to one of the most expressive voices in music. But what if we thought of

Classical music is famous for its prodigies and young geniuses. However, more than a few composers have defied this stereotype. Many composers continued to write, perform, and inspire well past the age when most people retire. Some of them even