Twenty-five performances by some of the greatest organists represented on YouTube, here listed in roughly chronological order of recording. While subjectively chosen, these are nevertheless widely acknowledged as groundbreaking and standard-setting milestones in interpretation. The majority reflect the influence of

With over 100 film scores to his credit, John Williams has composed some of the most popular, recognisable, and critically acclaimed film scores in cinematic history. I am sure we all remember Jaws, the Harry Potter series, Star Wars, and

Credit: Classical Music Humor

Overtures are designed to grab your attention, setting the stage for whatever drama that follows. But over time, many of these musical curtain-raisers have broken free from their operatic roots to become stand-alone concert favourites. Today, thanks to YouTube, overtures

Encore pieces hold a special place in the violin repertoire. Unlike concertos, sonatas, or large-scale showpieces, violin encores are played in a casual atmosphere and designed to speak plainly and directly, over the course of just a few minutes. Over

For centuries, women composers have shaped the history of opera, but hardly ever received the recognition they deserved for doing so. Today, we’re surveying that remarkable history. From the earliest surviving opera (written by a woman in 1600s Italy) to

For nearly three centuries, the string quartet has been celebrated as the most intimate kind of classical music: a simple, heartfelt conversation between four equal voices. Because of that intimacy, composers have often turned to writing string quartets when reacting