Cole also captures the wonderful harmonics and rhythmic vitality of Matthew Martin's organ solo work, St Albans triptych. The use of colour from the Ely instrument makes for an exciting performance. The sound engineering is excellent; the balance between voices and organ superbly captured in the acoustics of Ely Cathedral. This is a fabulous disc that deserves the widest possible audience

The process of artistic apprehension is relentless for Katharine Holmes, as if her landscape – the precipitous limestone terrain of Malhamdale – will only yield to endless scrutiny.

Spotify Wrapped has revealed that Taylor Swift was the most streamed artist in the UK of 2025, while internationally that crown went to Bad Bunny. However, there is no denying that those K Pop Demon Hunters - HUNTR/X became the surprise global phenomenon of the year, while Chappell Roan managed to build on her success of the previous year, but failed to deliver a new studio album.

The sad news that Chris Rea has passed away comes three days before Christmas, when his song, Driving Home for Christmas, remains one of the most played songs on radio at this festive time of year. Rea composed the song several years prior to its release.

Back in 1974, when the country was under the effect of the electrical blackouts with the three-day week imposed due to an industrial dispute with the miners, over on Top of the Pops on BBC1, Noddy Holder and the rest of Slade were igniting the nation with their brand of commercial pop – that is, if you had electricity in the first place to watch the programme.

A few weeks back at this year’s Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival, Lyse Doucet was the special guest at a packed literary l unch. The BBC’s renowned chief international correspondent captivated the audience as she shared reflections on her extraordinary career as a journalist and some of the stories behind her latest book, The Finest Hotel in Kabul.

This is a glorious, fresh account of Mahler's Symphony No. 7 in E minor with Gianandrea Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra. Recorded live, the work known unofficially as the Song of the Night journeys through contrasting worlds – night and day, darkness and light, melancholy and exuberance – blending poetic dreamscapes with irony, humour and Rabelaisian verve.

This is a fascinating release exploring the music of Lise Cristiani, timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of her birth this month. There is so much to enjoy, and Sol Gabetta's tribute to a musical trailblazer of great historic significance shines through with conviction in her playing.

The climaxes are electrifying, yet it's in the mesmeric, intense conclusion that the performance truly shines, illuminating the work's philosophical depths. Superbly recorded throughout, this is an impressive addition to what promises to be a landmark cycle

The virtuosic moments dazzle: Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy brims with technical brilliance and rhythmic energy, with wonderful dynamics in the Lento assai. Superbly accompanied by accordion, Benedetti pulls the listener into the recording with a warm violin tone and delicious phrasing. The richness of Carroll's cello adds much to the textures, whereas the excitement of the denouement showcases her technical agility.

Single-handedly responsible for establishing the popularity of the mazurka, Chopin wrote almost sixty of these works during his lifetime. The two sets presented here date from 1842 (Op. 50) and 1844 (Op. 56), composed while the composer was at the height of his powers and his popularity in the salons of Paris. Lortie performs them with lovely dynamic nuance and superb control, his technical skill deployed with characteristic elegance.

One of Yorkshire’s classical music festivals has announced its 2026 line-up. Now in its 32nd year, the Northern Aldborough Festival puts the North Yorkshire village at the epicentre of classical music for ten days, from 18 to 27 June, 2026.

As the Happy Mondays gear up for their massive 2026 UK tour celebrating 35 years of Pills ’n’ Thrills and Bellyaches, we caught up with the band’s iconic maraca-shaking, melon-twisting spirit animal, Bez. From his daily juicing routine to unexpected TV triumphs and the enduring magic of Madchester, he reflects on the last three decades — and why the Mondays are sounding better than ever.

If you happen to be a fan of Jamiroquai, it pays to be patient; the band has not released a studio album for eight years or toured the country for six years. All that is about to change, however, with the release of a new album in the new year and the current Heels of Steel tour, which arrived at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester.

Marc-André Hamelin has a bone to pick with those who dare classify his beloved instrument as mere percussion. In his eloquent program note for this ingenious Hyperion release, he insists the piano is a living, breathing, organic being—one that, despite its monochrome exterior, commands every colour on the spectrum and expresses every shade of human emotion. This captivating recital proves his point with electrifying conviction.