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Accordion features

How does the accordion work, and what’s the history of the instrument?

How does the accordion work, and what’s the history of the instrument?

Accordion and percussion emojis included in new 2020 emojis list

The world is getting accordion and percussion emojis in 2020

lady gaga telephone accordion

Listen to this funky version of Lady Gaga on accordion

Martynas

Sharon Shannon cows Irish jig

These cows are totally intrigued by an accordionist playing an Irish jig

Videos

Discover more musical instruments

Why do pianos have 88 keys?

Why does a piano have 88 keys?

1715 Stradivarius sold for $23 million becomes most expensive violin in history

1715 Stradivarius sold for $23 million becomes most expensive violin in history

Irish NASA astronaut plays 100-year-old Irish flute while floating in outer space

NASA astronaut plays 100-year-old Irish flute while floating in outer space

Maurice Ravel is one of the greatest French composers who ever lived.

The 10 best pieces of music by Ravel

Ravel

Jeneba Kanneh-Mason plays Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 at Classic FM Live

Who is Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, the rising star British pianist?

Lang Lang surprises audiences at Ed Sheeran’s China tour with ‘Perfect’ piano duet

Lang Lang surprises audiences at Ed Sheeran’s China tour with ‘Perfect’ piano duet

Lang Lang

284-year-old violin stolen from London pub leaves Philharmonia musician distraught

Philharmonia musician distraught after rare 285-year-old violin stolen from London pub

Philharmonia

Jeff Goldblum plays poignant jazz piano solo at BAFTA Film Awards

Jeff Goldblum plays poignant jazz piano solo ‘As Time Goes By’ at BAFTA film awards

Did you know Jeff Goldblum is actually a world-class jazz pianist?

Did you know Jeff Goldblum is actually a world-class jazz pianist?

The Irish composer John Field is credited with the invention of one of the most popular classical genres.

Meet the man who invented the Nocturne – and no, it wasn’t Chopin...

A Stradivarius violin made in 1714 has the potential to become the most expensive musical instrument ever sold.

1714 Stradivarius violin could fetch $18 million and become most expensive instrument ever sold

Everything you need to know about Víkingur Ólafsson – the Icelandic pianist who won a Grammy award for his recording of Bach's famous Goldberg Variations.

Who is Víkingur Ólafsson, the Grammy-winning Icelandic pianist?

Gustavo Dudamel is one of today’s most celebrated orchestral conductors

Who is Gustavo Dudamel, Grammy-winning Venezuelan conductor?

Gustavo Dudamel

Winning a job in an orchestra is one of the hardest challenges that musicians face.

How do musicians actually win a job in an orchestra?

Rising star Brazilian violinist Nathan Amaral performs Ralph Vaughan Williams' peerless 'The Lark Ascending' accompanied by the Philharmonia Orchestra under conductor Ben Palmer.

What is the history of The Lark Ascending, and why is it still so relevant today?

Vaughan Williams

Jacqueline Du Pré

Who was Jacqueline du Pré, the legendary cellist who brought the Elgar Cello Concerto to the masses?

Jacqueline du Pré

Discover music

See more Discover music

Felix Mendelssohn was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period.

10 of Felix Mendelssohn’s greatest works

9 hours ago

Mendelssohn

10 beautiful pieces of classical music for Mother’s Day

10 beautiful pieces of classical music for Mother’s Day

1 day ago

Ed Sheeran performs at old school after making £250m music education plea to Keir Starmer

Ed Sheeran performs at old school after making £250m music education plea to Keir Starmer

1 day ago

Music Education

Wigmore Hall partners with Classic FM to offer £5 tickets for under 35s

Classic FM’s £5 tickets for under-35 audiences at Wigmore Hall – explore upcoming dates

2 days ago

What is happening at the Kennedy Center and why are musicians cancelling US concerts?

What is happening at the Kennedy Center and why are musicians cancelling US concerts?

3 days ago

Young penguin steals the show with Puccini in Happy Feet Two

When a tiny penguin sang Puccini’s impassioned ‘E lucevan le stelle’ in Happy Feet Two

3 days ago

Puccini

Best classical music

See more Best classical music

The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

Best symphonies: Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and Florence Price

The 15 greatest symphonies of all time

4 eras of classical music

The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

A young Marin Alsop, Sir Simon Rattle, and Seiji Ozawa conduct their respective orchestras.

The 25 greatest conductors of all time

Hildegard von Bingen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edward Elgar among the greatest composers in classical music history.

The 30 greatest classical music composers of all time

Classic FM Live Playlists

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Essential Classical

Classic FM’s Baby Bedtime

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Latest on Classic FM

Why the Severance theme music is so terrifyingly catchy

Why the Severance theme music is so terrifyingly catchy

Hans Zimmer is interviewed by Jonathan Ross in a Classic FM at the Movies special.

Hans Zimmer says the Lion King score was a requiem for his late father

Zimmer

Pachelbel’s Canon in D is one of the most famous canons

What is a canon?

Former Les Mis star performs surprise ‘On My Own’ in Covent Garden busking spot

Former Les Mis star performs surprise ‘On My Own’ in Covent Garden busking spot

Videos

US marine band forced to cancel concert with students of colour after Trump Kennedy Center takeover

US marine band forced to cancel concert with students of colour after Trump Kennedy Center takeover
What are microtones in music?

What are microtones in music?

Did you know the Duchess of Kent secretly taught music at a primary school for 13 years?

When the Duchess of Kent went undercover as a primary school music teacher for 13 years

Kennedy Center audience boos JD Vance before Shostakovich violin concerto

Audience boos JD Vance at classical concert following Donald Trump’s Kennedy Center takeover
Steven Spielberg, Bill Clinton and Tina Fey all played in their school orchestras

11 famous figures you never knew could play a musical instrument

Traitors star Alexander Dragonetti joins Classic FM for new Friday night series

Traitors star Alexander Dragonetti joins Classic FM for new Friday night series