BBC Music Magazine

BBC Music Magazine is a must for anyone with a passion for classical music. Classical music connoisseurs and new enthusiast alike will enjoy the fascinating features and reviews of over 120 new works in every issue.

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

Welcome

BBC Music Magazine

Have your say… • Write to: The editor, BBC Music Magazine, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST Email: music@classical-music.com Social media: contact us on Facebook and Twitter

LETTER of the MONTH

Fang Zhang strikes BBC Young Musician gold • Seventeen-year-old marimba player becomes the second percussionist to win the title

The Sacconi Quartet goes for a walk on the wild side

THE MONTH IN NUMBERS

Sound Bites

Rising Stars • Three to look out for…

Love does not come calling as Tchaikovsky ties the knot

Also in July 1877

We’re in the middle of a chain reaction…

DÉJÀ VU • History just keeps on repeating itself…

Shiva Feshareki

Studio Secrets • We reveal who’s recording what and where...

REWIND Great artists talk about their past recordings • This month: RINALDO ALESSANDRINI Harpsichordist

Buried Treasure • Violinist Benjamin Baker introduces favourite recordings from his collection

Is music good for you? • Since ancient times, many of us have liked to believe in music as a civilising force for good; Tom Service offers a more pessimistic view of music and its capabilities

FAREWELL TO…

Music to my ears • What the classical world has been listening to this month

CRITIC’S CHOICE

CRITIC’S CHOICE

Our Choices • The BBC Music Magazine team’s current favourites

Richard Morrison • For the sake of everyone’s sanity, let amateur bands and choirs resume!

The Flying Finn • After negotiating the tricky task of conducting 2020’s audience-free Last Night of the Proms with flying colours, Dalia Stasevska has been welcomed back to lead the First Night in this year’s festival. She looks forward to the occasion with Richard Morrison

The Proms’ First Night • An evolution from small beginnings

Very fine Finnish • Four BBC conductors

Randall Goosby

Lessons from the top • The Perlman Music Program

Queen of the opera stage • Following the recent death of Christa Ludwig, we present a gallery of photographs celebrating the much loved mezzo-soprano’s career

A chat with Ludwig • Beethoven’s conversation books, through which the deaf composer communicated with those around him, offer a fascinatingly detailed insight into his life. Michael Church takes a look at a new translation

Ludwig in the mind • An imaginary retelling

Opening thoughts • Overtures were once considered an essential feature of a typical orchestral concert. So, George Hall asks three of today’s leading conductors, why have they largely fallen out of favour?

Sir Antonio Pappano

Sir Mark Elder

Notes from the Emerald Isle • Terry Blain explores the richly varied classical music history of Ireland, from its folk roots in the 17th century to the brilliant young composers working today

A Celtic affection • Bax’s inner Irishman

A wheel pleasure • Brian Wise takes a look at new audio technology that is allowing car drivers to enjoy increasingly vivid Vivaldi, blazing Brahms and scintillating Sibelius

Warning chords • Bespoke in-car sounds

Devon United Kingdom • Paul Riley explores the English county’s vibrant music scene, heading from coastal towns and cathedral cities to tiny countryside churches

Matthew Locke

Julius Eastman • A brilliant pianist, composer, singer and dancer, Eastman’s wayward lifestyle hindered the success...