Heinz Holliger, born on 21 May 1939, achieved worldwide fame as an oboist, performing and recording some of the earworm pieces from the Baroque and Classical periods. Yet, as he explained on the occasion of his 80th birthday, “composing has

Gabriel Fauré’s mélodies represent a pinnacle of French art song, distinguished by their lyrical refinement, harmonic subtlety, and profound sensitivity to poetic texts. Fauré’s vocal compositions number over 100, and they demonstrate a melodic inventiveness that balances emotional expressivity with

I’ve always felt Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) was something of a “Marmite composer”: you either love his music or you don’t. It’s not the easiest music to listen to. I remember playing one of the movements from Messiaen’s extraordinary Vingt Regards

Classical music sometimes has a reputation of being solely for elderly people. If that’s true (spoiler alert: it’s not), it’s certainly strange how many pieces of classical music are about childhood and youth. Today we’re looking at classical music inspired

From ancient times, humankind has not just relied on the sun; we have worshiped it. It’s no surprise then that the sun has been a potent inspiration for artists and musicians across the centuries. So put on your sunglasses and

The famous pianist Stephen Hough writes, “the nocturnes are Chopin’s most intimate and personal utterances. Some are wistful, some reflective, some melancholy, some faintly troubled and some serenely joyful. All are sensuously beautiful, suffused with elegance and deeply poetic impulses.”

The short piano pieces by Sergei Rachmaninoff are a treasure trove of Romantic brilliance. They stand as some of the most electrifying and soul-stirring works in the repertoire. Rachmaninoff blends jaw-dropping virtuosity with heart-wrenching emotion, ranging from thunderous chords to

Here comes a real treat for all piano lovers! Let’s dive into the magical world of Claude Debussy, the genius composer who turned notes into pure poetry. His piano music weaves a spell of shimmering colours and fluid textures, turning