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BBC Music Magazine - January 2026

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In this issue

Cover: Nicholas McCarthy
The acclaimed one-handed pianist tells Claire Jackson about meeting the many challenges of his unique career

Keys to enlightenment
Karishmeh Felfeli-Crawford reports from India, where the once-derided piano is enjoying a boom in popularity

The Great Journey
As he approaches 80, British composer Colin Matthews takes time to reflect in the company of Michael White

Clare voices
Andrew Stewart pays the Cambridge college choir a visit

15 pieces about US states
Brian Wise takes us on a nationwide musical tour

Stravinsky, Strauss and The Starman
David Bowie’s wide-ranging creative influences included a love of classical music, reveals Andrew Green

Lost Bach revealed after 320 years

Two organ works receive modern premiere in Leipzig

2 mins

Pianist Paderewski steps up as prime minister of Poland

‘I felt that I should like to kiss the hands that had awakened a new world of music for me.' The year was 1888, the occasion was the Paris debut of a 27-year-old pianist named Ignacy Jan Paderewski. And the lady expressing her enthusiasm was far from being the only member of the audience whose head was turned by the young Polish artist's playing. ‘Maestro! It was sublime!’, a French duchesse emoted. ‘Now that I have heard you, you can die!’

3 mins

Rhapsody in Bluey

There are endless debates about how best to introduce our youngest audiences to the wonders of classical music. And short of the simplest and most effective answer of all – putting music education at the heart of every child’s school experience, the solution that every government in this century has failed to grasp evidence that classical music is a birthright of our youngest generations can seem thin on the ground.

2 mins

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Pick a theme... and name your seven favourite examples

3 mins

America's contribution to the history of music is second to none

There's a big new word looming on the horizon. Trouble is, nobody can agree what it is. Some say it's semiquincentennial, others bisesquicentennial. There's also a fierce lobby holding out for sestercentennial. Very confusing for those of us who gave up Latin at 16.

3 mins

Single-handed Superstar

Following his stunning debut at last year's BBC Proms, one-handed pianist Nicholas McCarthy tells Claire Jackson all about repertoire, technique and challenging narrow-minded attitudes

9 mins

Keys to enlightenment

Once seen as an elite symbol of the West, the piano is today accessible to Indian people of all backgrounds, says Karishmeh Felfeli-Crawford

7 mins

The Great Journey

As he approaches his 80th birthday, composer Colin Matthews speaks to Michael White about his 50-year contribution to British musical life

7 mins

Clarevoices

At 700, Clare is one of Cambridge's oldest colleges, but its choir is youthful and full of life, finds Andrew Stewart

7 mins

15 pieces about US states

From Alaskan glaciers to Florida plantations, Brian Wise explores how composers have depicted the American landscape

6 mins

Thank you, Mr Holland...

As the Mr Holland's Opus Foundation approaches its 30th birthday, Michael Beek explores the charity's impact and the composer behind it

7 mins

Stravinsky, Strauss and The Starman

For David Bowie, who died ten years ago this month, classical music was one many important influences

7 mins

Strike up the band

Britain's illustrious brass band tradition delivers first-rate opportunities within local communities

6 mins

Hamamatsu Japan

The lakeside city is home to Yamaha and Kawai piano makers, a leading competition... and prized local eels

3 mins

Morton Feldman

Ivan Hewett marks 100 years of an American modernist whose complex, sometimes lengthy scores ultimately reward those willing to listen

6 mins

Johann Sebastian Bach Coffee Cantata

Paul Riley enjoys rich aromas aplenty as he filters through the tastiest recordings of Bach's comic take on an 18th-century caffeine obsession

6 mins

A bold statement in the face of censorship

Erik Levi praises Hyeyoon Park's compelling pairing of two composers suppressed and stifled by political forces

2 mins

Bold masterpieces brought to life

Steph Power is wowed by Richter de Vroe's orchestral experimentalism

1 mins

Virtuosic, expressive and immersive pianism

Jessica Duchen is captured by Francesco Piemontesi's compelling interpretations of Brahms's piano works

1 mins

An epic tale of worldly temptation

George Hall is impressed by the first complete recording of this forgotten work

1 mins

Bach's earliest cantatas in recordings of vivid clarity

Sébastien Daucé turns to Bach in accounts of fervour and tenderness

1 mins

Delightful settings of English texts

Christopher Cook enjoys the debut album from well-matched musical partners

1 mins

Stunning Debussy from a world-leading ensemble

Michael Jameson is entranced by the Belcea Quartet's brilliant pairing of French and Polish composers

1 mins

A seamless dialogue in piano works for two

Leif Ove Andsnes and Bertrand Chamayou play Schubert with exquisite sensitivity, says Misha Donat

1 mins

Subverting all genres

Tortoise's first new album since 2016 is an improbable yet utterly compelling success

1 mins

Operatic awakening

Charles Mackerras's mastery of Janáček is palpable in this centenary celebration

1 mins

Unboxed

This month's round-up celebrates Jodie Devos and dives deep into Schoenberg and Shostakovich

1 mins

The modern, affordable all-in-one CD player

UK CD sales peaked in 2001, when we bought 225.9 million discs worth £2.2 billion. Convenient, affordable and genuinely excellent in quality, the compact disc was, and remains, a format valued by listeners who want simplicity and reliability. These days, sales top out at 10.5 million, but there is renewed interest.

4 mins

Thomas Søndergård Conductor

Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård is music director of the Minnesota Orchestra and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He was a percussionist in the Royal Danish Orchestra, starting his conducting career with the premiere of Poul Ruders's opera Kafka's Trial, which opened the new Royal Danish Opera building. Music director of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales from 2012-18, Søndergård leads his second annual Nordic Soundscapes Festival in Minneapolis in January 2026.

3 mins

Read all Stories from BBC Music Magazine

BBC Music Magazine Description:

Publisher: Our-Media-Ltd

Category: Music

Language: English

Frequency: Monthly

BBC Music Magazine is a monthly classical music magazine published by Immediate Media Company. It was first published in 1992 and is the best-selling classical music magazine in the world.

The magazine covers all aspects of classical music, from news and reviews to features and interviews. It also features exclusive content from the BBC Proms and other BBC classical music events.

BBC Music Magazine is a popular read for many classical music lovers, and is known for its in-depth coverage and expert analysis. It has helped many classical music lovers discover new music and learn more about the genre.

Here are some of the things you can expect from BBC Music Magazine:

* News and reviews of classical music

* Features on classical music composers, performers, and conductors

* Interviews with classical music figures

* Exclusive content from the BBC Proms and other BBC classical music events

If you're looking for a magazine that will help you stay up-to-date on the latest classical music news and trends, then BBC Music Magazine is a good choice. Subscribe today and start exploring the world of classical music!