Every year, the holiday season brings a new assortment of fabulous and festive Christmas albums. Host Lisa Flynn guides us through 8 of her top classical Christmas recordings for 2018.

A Viennese Christmas would not be complete without the glorious sounds of the Vienna Boys’ Choir. We asked the choir members to select their favorite Christmas carols that they have performed.

Many composers and pieces were received enthusiastically upon their premiere, only to have been forgotten or overlooked years later. Esteemed conductor Leonard Slatkin shares 10 forgotten works that deserve greater recognition.

Andris Nelsons, Mariss Jansons, Kristine Opolais: when we think of classical music in Latvia, most are either conductors or musicians. But Latvia also has an abundance of composers whose works you will want to hear.

hough it seems like we can only count on our hands the number of times we see the saxophone in the concert hall, the instrument does have a robust and diverse classical repertoire.

When it comes to Czech composers, most are familiar only with Antonín Dvořák. Here are ten more Czech composers that we think you should know!

Corky Siegel is one of the world’s great blues harmonica players. He is also a composer, pianist, singer, bandleader, teacher, and author whose curiosity about classical music and American blues has inspired much of his distinguished half-century career.

What makes a piece popular? How does a piece survive its first few performances? What makes something a warhorse, played over and over again, easily marketed from decade to decade? Who decides what’s good, anyway? Here are 18 underrated concertos – ones that don’t get played all that much, but maybe should be more widely known.

While we all love the classics like the “Autumn” concerto from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” here are some works that are a little less… common to cozy up with this fall.

Here are just a few of our many favorite French composers, from medieval to modern, that might be new to you.

Though African Americans have faced oppression throughout American history and the arts, Black composers’ contributions to music have been nothing short of history-changing.

Samuel Adams and Elizabeth Ogonek shared 20 modern and contemporary works that have most inspired them in celebration of 20 years of CSO’s MusicNOW series.

If you’re looking to add a classical touch to your nuptials, but would like to avoid the ubiquitous “Canon,” we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite pieces to match the mood of each moment in the ceremony.

This article was originally published on February 23, 2016.

Few birds have inspired more composers than the cuckoo. Lisa Flynn selects some of her favorite works inspired by the cuckoo, from intimate chamber works to grand symphonies.

Composers have been inspired by all aspects of nature, and the changing of the seasons is no exception. As the weather warms up and the birds begin to chirp, here are some classical works to put a little spring in your step.

If you’re looking to set the mood this Valentine’s Day, here are 10 favorite romantic works that are sure to tug are your heart strings.

Osmo Vänskä, the Finnish music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, shared 10 Finnish composers that everyone should know who aren’t Sibelius.

These nine recordings are sure to make your spirits bright this holiday season.

The opera house can be a scary place – and we’re not talking about all those crazy singers and their shenanigans backstage! Many operas contain ghastly ghouls, ghosts, goblins, witches, dragons, and all kinds of crazy creatures. Here are some of the most frightening pieces from the history of opera.

Day of the Dead is about honoring friends and family who have left us. Enjoy these 13 pieces as you celebrate Día de los Muertos and remember your loved ones.

Whether you’re looking for spooky music as you wait for trick-or-treaters, or you need some music to accompany your own “danse macabre,” we have your perfect Halloween soundtrack.

Learn about some of Chopin’s signature compositions: his most important nocturnes.

Though Chopin did not compose many works for piano and orchestra — just six! — he kept them in his concert repertoire throughout his career.

Everyone loves the music of Frédéric Chopin, Poland’s most well-known composer. But, how many other Polish composers do you know?