Classical music

Changemakers of Uzbekistan

Behzod Abduraimov: a childhood dream hits the world’s stage

In partnership with Agency of Information and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan

Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov describes his musical journey, from humble beginnings in Tashkent to performing in storied venues around the world.

05/08/2025

Culture news

Italy disinvites pro-Putin classical conductor from Caserta concert

The news of the cancellation of the performance by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, who is known to be very close to President Vladimir Putin, has been hailed as a victory by Kremlin critic Yulia Navalnaya and Ukrainian associations in Italy.

21/07/2025

Culture news

Chopin, Sand, Scheffer and Delacroix: music, art and friends in Paris

Ary Scheffer’s Paris studio was a vibrant meeting place for painters, writers, and musicians - Chopin among them. A true centre of Romantic life in 19th-century Paris, its spirit has been revived at the Frederic Chopin Museum in Warsaw in a new exhibition.

21/06/2025

Culture news

Renowned pianist and writer Alfred Brendel dies aged 94

Over a six-decade career, Brendel became known for his interpretations of classical masters including Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert.

18/06/2025

Culture news

Strauss' Blue Danube waltz beams into space for his 200th birthday

To mark the 200th birthday of Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, the country is sending his iconic waltz, The Blue Danube, into space - decades after it was left off the Voyager Golden Record.

30/05/2025

Cult

Violin virtuosos shine at inaugural Classic Violin Olympus in Dubai

In partnership with Classic Violin Olympus

In this episode of Cult, we go behind the scenes at the first Classic Violin Olympus in Dubai, where world-class performers competed for top prizes and a handcrafted violin.

12/05/2025

Cult

Dubai’s InClassica festival hosts major names in classical music

In partnership with InClassica International Music Festival

In this episode of Cult, we’re in Dubai at InClassica, where international orchestras and soloists gather for two weeks of classical performances and new works by composer Alexey Shor.

29/04/2025

Culture news

Haik Kazazyan wins top prize at Classic Violin Olympus in Dubai

From 12-to-1, Armenian violinist Haik Kazazyan has triumphed at the first-ever Classic Violin Olympus competition at Dubai’s Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, beating a world leading collection of classical music performers to win the coveted prize.

29/04/2025

Cult

Fiddle me this: Classical violinists play for prestigious world crown

A dozen of the world’s finest violinists are locked in a fierce bow against bow battle to become the first-ever winner of the Classic Violin Olympus in Dubai.

23/04/2025

Cult

5 things you need to know about the Classic Violin Olympus International Competition

In partnership with Classic Violin Olympus

Ahead of the finals for the Classic Violin Olympus International Competition in Dubai, here’s everything you need to know about one of the most prestigious and competitive musical competitions this year.

22/04/2025

Cult

Dubai’s InClassica International Music Festival returns with composer Alexey Shor at centre stage

The city of superlatives is a symphony of triumphs – and now classical music is in the Dubai spotlight once more.

16/04/2025

Cult

Watch violin virtuoso Gil Shaham live at InClassica Festival 2025

In partnership with InClassica International Music Festival

Join us for a night of Mozart, Mendelssohn and Shor with one of the world’s finest violinists Gil Shaham for InClassica International Music Festival.

14/04/2025

Culture news

Queen, Herbie Hancock and Barbara Hannigan win 2025 Polar Music Prize

For only the second time in its history, three acts have been awarded the Polar Music Prize. Queen, Herbie Hancock and Barbara Hannigan have received the prestigious award, known as the “Nobel Prize of Music”.

18/03/2025

Culture news

Surprise secrets: Katharina Wagner presents 'Lohengrin' with a twist

175 years since it was first performed, Katharina Wagner presents 'Lohengrin' at Barcelona's Teatre Liceu - with a surprise twist...

15/03/2025

Culture news

Space Waltz: ESA to put Strauss among the stars on his 200th birthday

The Waltz King's Blue Danube was left out of the 'Golden Records' attached to the Voyager probes in the 1970s. The city of Vienna, with the help of the European Space Agency, is correcting the mistake in 2025.

10/03/2025

Culture news

British Library acquires long-lost draft for Elgar masterpiece

The British Library has secured previously unknown drafts of Edward Elgar’s 'Introduction and Allegro for Strings', shedding new light on the composer's creative process.

24/02/2025

Modern Nomads

Meet the rising stars of Kazakh ballet taking centre stage in Astana

In partnership with MDQ

In this episode of Modern Nomads, we meet Kazakhstan's brightest ballet stars, who are blending classical techniques with Kazakh traditions and making Astana a global hub for the art form.

19/02/2025

Culture news

One of the world’s finest violins just sold for $11.3 million

A rare 1714 Stradivarius violin, once played at the premiere of Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major, sold for $11.3 million (€10.96m) at Sotheby’s - falling short of a record-breaking bid but still marking a historic sale.

10/02/2025

Culture news

Rare Stradivarius violin puts spotlight on unknown Polish composer

Janusz Wawrowski, a professor of music and a violinist, is using the only Stradivarius violin in Poland to showcase the works of composer Grażyna Bacewicz.

07/02/2025

Smart Regions

Chopin: Thousands of pages of his life and work available with a click

In partnership with the European Commission

Tens of thousands of scores and objects belonging to Frédéric Chopin, the most famous French-Polish composer in history, have been digitised at the Frédéric Chopin Institute in Warsaw, thanks to a European project that helps to raise awareness of the figure of the genius of Romanticism.

03/02/2025