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.

Please Note: Our digital edition does not include the cover mount items or supplements you would normally find with printed copies

Welcome

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

BBC Music Magazine

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Canellakis leads the way

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Mäkelä named as new Chicago Symphony conductor • Flying Finn adds prestigious ‘Big Five’ music director position to European posts

Chicago forebears • Mäkelä’s CSO predecessors

Heavenly Holst or cosmic Cox? The choice is yours…

THE MONTH IN NUMBERS

SoundBites

RisingStars • Three to look out for…

After 145 years, Haydn welcomes back his head

Also in June 1954…

Michael Berkeley • A multi-faceted composer, broadcaster and member of the House of Lords, Berkeley followed in his father Lennox’s musical footsteps to become one of Britain’s most revered composers. His latest album, Collaborations, features new works written for friends alongside classic live recordings and is released on Orchid Classics on 14 June.

Music to my ears • The BBC Music Magazine team’s current favourites…

REWIND • Great artists talk about their past recordings

MyHero

Thrills and chills

FAREWELL TO…

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN • This month, composer Gabriela Ortiz selects her favourite Latin-infused classical works

Richard Morrison • How many orchestral appointments should a single conductor take on?

English master • A famous concert in 1910 inspired conductor John Wilson’s latest triumphant recording, this time of four composers close to home

Newcomer Award George Xiaoyuan Fu

Concerto Award Bomsori Kim

Premiere Award John Andrews

Vocal Award Jakub Józef Orliński

Instrumental Award Sean Shibe

Opera Award John Wilson

Choral Award Raphaël Pichon

Chamber Award Calidore Quartet

Annamirabilis • Anna Lapwood’s career skyrocketed in 2023, thanks to a happy instinct for connecting with her army of fans, writes Rebecca Franks

Anna Clyne

Picture this… • Links between art and music

A false start • In 1922, the first public performance of Walton’s Façade provoked disgust and ridicule. Michael White tells the story of the challenging work’s conception

Ridiculous to sublime • Edith Sitwell the poet

A path to… The Planets • Rick Jones dons Gustav Holst’s Edwardian suit and round spectacles to re-create a walk from Colchester to Thaxted in 1913 – as an astrological work formed in his mind

The best of times • As the Kronos Quartet reaches its 50th year, leader David Harrington speaks to Simon Broughton about transforming the quartet model and repertoire

No stone unturned • Kronos Festival 2024

Verbier Switzerland • From breathtaking mountain scenery to the world’s best musicians, this upmarket Swiss resort has it all, as Michael Church discovers

Isaac Albéniz • Though best known for depicting the colours of his homeland, the Spaniard was in fact a truly cosmopolitan figure, says Jessica Duchen

Albéniz’s style

ALBÉNIZ Life&Times

Charles Ives Three Places in New England • Terry Blain looks for a picture-perfect performance as he takes in the best recordings of Ives’s vivid orchestral snapshots from his home patch

Ives with impact and insight

Three other great recordings

Continue the journey… • We suggest works to explore after Ives’s...