Many of Schubert's “late” masterpieces – he died aged only 31 – are included in our editor’s selection of his top ten works. 

The Japanese pianist brings his own perspectives to less frequently played works, including his trademark Mozart. 

The European Union Youth Orchestra confirms its exceptional quality in Zubel and Tchaikovsky. In Chopin, Seong-Jin Cho shows why he is a rising star of distinction.

No 20th-century composer adapted his style as much as Igor Stravinsky. From his early ballets for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes to his neoclassical phase and serialism, Stravinsky’s music underwent many...

Roland Petit's Coppélia by The National Ballet of Japan was streamed to more than 30,000 online viewers, entertaining people forced to stay home during the holidays. 

James Gaffigan proves to be both a master of the intricacies in complex Prokofiev and an attentive accompanist in Rachmaninov.

In conversation with acclaimed Choral Director Simon Halsey, on choral traditions and on how important it is to be part of a large musical family.

Athletic accounts of Beethoven and Bruckner bring OIympic agility to the BBC Proms.

Klaus Mäkelä returns to Cleveland for a program of extremes in contrast and character: Mahler’s Fifth Symphony and a concerto for orchestra by Unsuk Chin.

“It’s a waste of time if you just sit there and move your fingers for the sake of practising.” Alice Sara Ott tells us about her distinctive approach to life as a pianist.

A delicious programme from glamour duo Gautier Capuçon and Yuja Wang, reuniting in Franck and Chopin with dynamism and depth – and a killer encore.

To help contain the coronavirus, the Philharmonie has been closed since 11 March. A last concert under the direction of Simon Rattle could still be given – but without an audience in the auditorium,...

NBJ's season opens with a successful new production of the 19th-century classic Giselle, directed by Miyako Yoshida and choreographed by Alastair Marriott.

As he prepares to leave Covent Garden, Antonio Pappano reflects on his time at the helm of The Royal Opera and the Santa Cecilia, the state of the opera industry and on “reinventing himself” at the...

Stripped of its ability to earn revenue, large swathes of the performing arts industries could be wiped out within six months. The silence from the UK government is deafening.

Gemma New conducts a fine Rhenish Symphony on her debut with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Van Cliburn winner Yunchan Lim, in his concerto debut with the Tokyo Philharmonic, shares the stage with Mikhail Pletnev to give a suave performance of Beethoven's “Emperor” Concerto.

The lack of a curtain has forced the director to employ a new inventiveness, if only with partially success.

One of the few upsides to the current Covid-19 pandemic for the classical music world in Japan is that it has given opportunities to young home-grown talent.

Conductor and organist prove their strong musical bond at Bridgewater Hall, peaking in Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony. 

Bachtrack polled 15 of the world's leading music critics and can reveal their 2023 list of the world's greatest orchestras and conductors. 

We spoke to Paavo Järvi, Chief Conductor of the NHK Symphony, ahead of their 2020 European tour.

The young Russian pianist once more bewitches, dazzles and excites in a wide-ranging recital.

National Ballet of Japan premieres Sir Peter Wright's Swan Lake, which had been postponed for a year due to Covid restrictions. 

New Year Ballet displayed the versatility of the National Ballet of Japan, from the 19th-century classic Paquita, to three works by Japanese choreographers and David Bintley's “Still Life” at the...

Dinis Sousa doesn't put a foot wrong as the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and Monteverdi Choir give a performance of startling virtuosity at the end of a European tour. 

Igor Levit has been a familiar companion to many during lockdown via live streams, but an all-Beethoven recital "in the flesh" at Wigmore Hall was outstanding.

Many of Schubert's “late” masterpieces – he died aged only 31 – are included in our editor’s selection of his top ten works. 

As part of the “Life is Live” summer festival, Igor Levit gives a stunning solo performance of four Beethoven sonatas.

“Father of the Symphony” Joseph Haydn composed 104 (numbered) symphonies which is a plenty large enough pool from which to select our top ten. 

Before launching his series Voices of Revolution with the Philharmonia Orchestra to mark the centenary of the Russian Revolution, Vladimir Ashkenazy recalls his experiences as a young Soviet pianist,...

A lovely recital of Schubert, Debussy and Beethoven by the Portuguese pianist in Aix’s Théâtre du Jeu de Paume.

Yunchan Lim joins Klaus Mäkelä and the Orchestre de Paris for a Rachmaninov Second Piano Concerto full of dynamic contrast. 

In the current climate where thousands of live performances have been cancelled and concert halls and opera houses closed, we've trawled the best of what's available to stream from the comfort and...

In the National Ballet of Japan's Sleeping Beauty, the fulfilment and joy of being able to dance was apparent in the whole company and the result was glorious. 

Chailly's energy and vitality is inspirational on his return to Amsterdam for an all-Rachmaninov concert. 

Star organist, conductor and broadcaster Anna Lapwood is our guest curator, presenting her top ten – for today – favourites works for her instrument. 

The Turkish pianist wants a grounded relationship with music, and isn’t afraid to put the hard miles in to get there.

We look back at 2018 to view the most performed composers and find some surprising entrants in the top 10. We survey the situation for women composers across the world and discover that life for some...

Over a century after its premiere, Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring still has the power to shock. Vasily Petrenko offers insights, while Tamara Rojo reflects on one of the most powerful choreographi...

As he prepares to leave Covent Garden, Antonio Pappano reflects on his time at the helm of The Royal Opera and the Santa Cecilia, the state of the opera industry and on “reinventing himself” at the...

The British tenor, partnered by Mitsuko Uchida, closed Wigmore Hall’s three-week festival of lunchtime recitals with a peak of the vocal repertoire.

Our editors have chosen their favourite ten from his 600+ Lieder. Warning: don't expect a jolly time, until we get to no. 10... and even then things turn out badly if you're a fish. 

If Mozart and Beethoven are the Son and the Holy Ghost of classical music’s Holy Trinity, it is surely Johann Sebastian Bach who is the Father. 

Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland proves to be one of the greatest recent successes at the National Ballet of Japan, promising a feast of delights, an enjoyable night at the ballet for both...

Live music-making returns to the UK as Stephen Hough performs Bach and Schumann in a streamed lunchtime recital

Claude Debussy disliked the label “Impressionism”, which was used to describe many of his compositions. Impressionist or minutely detailed, enjoy our playlist of “top ten” Debussy masterpieces.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin made his debut as piano concerto soloist with Montreal's Orchestre Métropolitain.

A strange metallic sound rises outside, from St Martin’s Lane. I had just asked Sir Harrison Birtwistle, 85, if he still composes all the time. “Like at this moment, you mean? Yes.” Not quite what I...

Martha Argerich returns to the Enescu Festival for one of the pillars of her repertory, Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto, in a buoyant performance. 

His symphonies are now mainstays of orchestra seasons, but during his lifetime Gustav Mahler was more famous as a rigorous conductor, his music misunderstood and scorned. 

The Korean pianist gives his first solo recital at the Barbican, focussed around Handel, Brahms and variation form. 

After going viral with Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto at the Cliburn two years ago, soloist and conductor tackle his Second with a balance of lyricism, wit and fire.

The doyen of the the early music movement talks about his long association with JS Bach, and how he always tries to show Bach’s many sides in his concerts.

Kanneh-Mason's tone was luminous, his accuracy formidable, his commitment complete.

The NHK Symphony has pioneered Mahler performance in Japan – so it’s fitting that Mahler’s gargantuan Eighth Symphony will mark their 2000th subscription concert in December.

Bachtrack’s operations will be reduced while the Covid-19 pandemic persists. Founders David and Alison Karlin explain what’s happening.

A last-minute cancellation resulted in a blazing performance of Tchaikovsky from LSO leader Roman Simović, paired with Strauss' orchestral masterworks.

The Estonian takes to the Tokyo podium for his final season as Music Director before handing over to Fabio Luisi, who also features prominently in the 2021-22 season. 

Beginning in 2008, co-founder David Karlin explores Bachtrack’s first fifteen years of highlighting the best in classical music.

The Swedish conductor reflects on his long career, from young rebel to grand master and on his child-like curiosity. 

His symphonies are now mainstays of orchestra seasons, but during his lifetime Gustav Mahler was more famous as a rigorous conductor, his music misunderstood and scorned. 

Introducing a relatively unknown young pianist to Birmingham Symphony Hall and performing an old standard of the symphonic repertoire, could Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia Orchestra produce...

What a day to hear an all-French programme, and with this fragile moment at its heart criticism feels futile, disrespectful even.

A much beloved production with magical charm, National Ballet of Japan's Cinderella, choreographed by Fredrick Ashton, is successfully performed to a full house audience, thanks to coaching by Miyako...

Igor Stravinsky once described Sergei Rachmaninov as "a six-and-a-half foot scowl". His Second Symphony – often a lugubrious affair – was here turned into something urgent and vital. 

In the latest Arts Council England funding allocations, WNO’s funding has been cut by a third. Their General Director discusses what's happened and how to survive it.

Spanning over a hundred years, this highly charged, sensuous programme of López Bellido, Ravel and Scriabin proved that composers’ fascination with orchestral colours has not faded.