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Many of Schubert's “late” masterpieces – he died aged only 31 – are included in our editor’s selection of his top ten works. 

Cate Blanchett’s imperious performance has attracted praise and controversy. Yet in Germany, a woman chief conductor of Lydia Tár’s status seems distant.

How to select a top ten from over 600 works by one of the world's greatest composers? An impossible task...

The Russian pianist discusses the challenges in Rachmaninov's music, the imagery in the Études-tableaux and champions the lesser known concertos. 

How can orchestras respond definitively to the climate emergency? The Bamberg Symphony is one orchestra which is working to seriously reduce its carbon emissions.

Beginning in 2008, co-founder David Karlin explores Bachtrack’s first fifteen years of highlighting the best in classical music.

Isabella Steppan talks to the Spanish conductor about his plans in Vienna and Bayreuth, as well as items left on his personal bucket list.

In our statistics for 2022, Arvo Pärt is the most performed living composer. What might account for the enduring appeal of this highly personal and spiritual music?

Our statistics for 2022 show that the French composer's work has dethroned the great hits of classical music. Is this a one-off triumph or the start of a lasting dominance? We explain...

In 2022 we listed over 27,000 events! Our exclusive data provides valuable insight into what has changed in the classical music world over the past year.

Giacomo Puccini knew how to pull the heartstrings in his music. He made his soprano characters suffer... but also composed some of his best music for them. 

Exploring choral selections from Sweden, Chile, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Dominica and Nigeria, to bring a variety of festive splendour to the end of this year.

A slew of youthful soloists and conductors will appear with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in their 2023 season – alongside some venerable and prestigious elder hands.

How co-founder Rob Overman and Symphony.live are trying to create the Netflix of orchestral performance.

The George Enescu International Festival returns for its 26th edition in 2023, playing host to some of the most illustrious orchestras and soloists Europe has to offer.

Conductor Tomáš Netopil discusses his love of Czech music, and his upcoming program with the Czech Philharmonic in January, featuring an unusual work of Janáček’s and a world premiere from Miloš Orson Štědroň.

We imagine the teamsheets if England and France’s classical composers went head to head – via a sneak peak of Most Performed Composers from Bachtrack’s Annual Statistics 2022.

A Belgian in Paris, César Franck was a leading organist, composer and teacher in the 19th century, yet his music has slipped out of fashion in recent decades. There is much to enjoy in our playlist.

Orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists from all over the country flock to Saffron Walden for Saffron Hall’s new 2023 season.

Speaking to Alex Paxton and Kate Whitley, Elodie Olson-Coons discusses how composers have been influenced by working with schoolchildren, this “amazing, little gobbet of sonic humanity”.

Virtuosity and grace meet with impeccable provenance and immense value – in an all-Stradivarius concert at Cadogan Hall this December.

In the latest Arts Council England funding allocations, WNO’s funding has been cut by a third. Their General Director discusses what's happened and how to survive it.

The founder and CEO of classical platform Idagio talks streaming, immersive experiences and about getting a better deal for artists.

The tragedy of the invasion of Ukraine has rejuvenated interest in Ukrainian music for many across Europe. This playlist glances the surface of a musical culture that runs incredibly deep.

With events ranging from contemporary classical to early music and electronica, Kings Place’s Sound Unwrapped 2023 is a mind-expanding exploration of combinations of acoustic sound and electronics.

The German composer discusses the long awaited world premiere of his new work Prague Symphony with the Czech Philharmonic, which sets fragments of Franz Kafka for two singers and orchestra.

The 2022-23 ARTE Opera streaming season is available to watch now! Read our preview of the new season, featuring extraordinary opera stagings from across Europe.

The International Polish Music Competition returns to Rzeszów in 2023. From the spicy Roman Palester, to the fiery Grażyna Bacewicz, the competition uncovers a wealth of hidden gems in Polish chamber music.

The world stands agog as the US undergoes another election. These composers sought to reveal the brokenness of US politics – and the ability of the American people to come together in spite of it.

In 2018 Israeli conductor and pianist Lahav Shani was appointed chief conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic at the age of 27 – becoming one of the youngest chief conductors anywhere in the world. He discusses the orchestra’s musical adaptability, precision, and ability to dig deep.

From 2022-24, the opulent gold and marble of the Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall in London will host Regents Opera’s new production of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen – for a chamber ensemble of eighteen players.

For dance companies, the National Portfolio funding for 2023-26 reveals many new names, with winners for diversity and disability and losers for established companies in London.

An overwhelming feeling of “could have been worse” as orchestras receive the long-awaited news of their Arts Council funding.

Arts Council England have issued multiple funding reductions to contemporary music organisations across England, with some seeing total reductions in funding.

The biggest shock in today's round of ACE funding cuts was the news that ENO is no longer to be part of the National Portfolio. 

Bachtrack catches up with Zimbabwean-American conductor Vimbayi Kaziboni as he visits Manchester to conduct the BBC Philharmonic – in a project exploring interactions between the orchestra and artificial intelligence.

A musical exploration of the roots of Halloween (and associated festivals La Toussaint and El Día de los Muertos) – when the dead come alive and walk among us.

The composer tells us about Arche, his oratorio built on a massive scale, which receives its second ever performance at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw on 12th November.

A violinist since the age of four, Huang tells us about her journey to the Indianapolis final and the ironclad preparation discipline that led to her win.

This season, Henryk Górecki’s Third Symphony hits London’s stages twice: Crystal Pite expands Flight Pattern for a new work at The Royal Ballet, while Isabella Bywater presents it at English National Opera.

The star soprano describes the journey of change for young singers passing through Amsterdam's artist development programme.

The General Manager of Barcelona's opera house tells us about their new digital offering Liceu+LIVE, which launches worldwide on 5th November.

The celebrated Zurich International Orchestra Series returns to the Belgravia concert hall, featuring eight visiting orchestras from around the world.

We take in the atmosphere chatting to those behind the scenes and listen to highlights of this year's medalists.

The Flemish choreographer, who describes himself as a "travelling director", talks about his appointment as head of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève and details his future projects.

Mark Pullinger celebrates this quintessentially English composer with a list of RVW's most inspiring works.

How does this work by Vaughan Williams, an agnostic who composed hymns and was inspired by church music, cast its spell over audiences?

Ralph Vaughan Williams' nine symphonies represent one of the peaks of creative achievement in British culture. Enthusiast Chris Garlick takes us on a musical journey through the cycle.

Often dismissed on account of its popularity, The Lark Ascending divides audiences... and players. Our own Kevin Ng is a violinist and avoided it for years, but took advice from three violinists when adding it to his repertoire. 

John Bunyan's allegory occupied Ralph Vaughan Williams for a lifetime, culminating in the 1951 stage work, premiered at Covent Garden. Roy Westbrook follows the composer's progress...