The 25 greatest british composers of all time

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We asked 167 top musicians to vote for the best composi

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BBC Music Magazine

11 July, 2023

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BBC History Magazine

Air raids and arias

Glasgow, 1942. The Carl Rosa Opera Company was in town to perform Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Tickets had been snapped up by local people – including many who didn’t really know what an opera was. The

BBC Music Magazine

Capturing light and time in sound

Sun Triptych Maxim Rysanov, Dasol Kim, Roman Mints et al; BBC Concert Orchestra/ Dobrinka Tabakova ECM 4878558 64:61 mins This is the second ECM disc to feature the extremely accessible music of Bulga

BBC Music Magazine

Books

Edward Brooke-Hitching Simon & Schuster 978-1-398-53240-3 256pp (hb) £30 This is a fascinating compendium of classical curiosities, thoroughly researched and charmingly written by Edward Brooke-Hitchi

BBC Music Magazine

Baroque masterpieces rearranged

Works by Bach arr. for clarinet Martin Fröst (clarinet); Jonas Nordberg (lute) et al Sony Classical 19802814742 41:45 mins The album B.A.C.H. from Swedish clarinettist and conductor Martin Fröst conti

BBC Music Magazine

The pain of unrequited love, vividly depicted

Works by Gesualdo & composers of Naples Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini; Monica Piccinini (soprano); Maria Chiara Gallo (mezzo) et al Naïve OP8677 62:13 mins Don’t be deceived – Carlo Gesualdo

BBC Music Magazine

Walton’s exquisite colours brought vibrantly to life

Cello Concerto; Symphony No.1; Scapino Jonathan Aasgaard (cello); Sinfonia of London/ John Wilson Chandos CHSA5328 76:38 mins A fervent romantic liaison with Baroness Doernberg inspired Walton’s First

BBC History Magazine

Air raids and arias

BBC Music Magazine

Capturing light and time in sound

BBC Music Magazine

Books

BBC Music Magazine

Baroque masterpieces rearranged

BBC Music Magazine

The pain of unrequited love, vividly depicted

BBC Music Magazine

Walton’s exquisite colours brought vibrantly to life