Known for his larger-than-life music and... appetite! How many courses could you keep up with?

Did you know… Mozart was just one centimetre taller than Napoleon?

Would you agree that “failure is the most important part of an artist's training”?

80 years have passed, but Bela Bartók’s music still shakes the soul. From folk-inspired rhythms to bold, innovative harmonies, he pushed classical music in bold new directions. Which Bartók piece do you return to most often?

Happy birthday to legendary British conductor Sir Colin Davis! Did you know he started out studying clarinet but couldn’t join the conducting class because he lacked piano skills? Instead, he founded his own ensemble, the Kalmar Orchestra.

Happy birthday to Dmitri Shostakovich, born on this day in 1906! Seems like the perfect day to put his First Symphony on repeat. What’s your favourite piece of his?

“Study Bach. There you will find everything.” 😇

Arnold Schoenberg feared 13… then died on Friday the 13th, at 76 (7+6=13). Talk about an unlucky trilogy.

Happy birthday to Gustav Holst, born on this day in 1874. Did you know he was a trombonist before becoming a composer, studied Sanskrit, and was a non-drinker and vegetarian?

Ever wonder how to impress others with your guitar skills? Alexandra Whittingham has a short guide you never knew you needed! Stay tuned for her upcoming release, Letters from Paris, on October 3rd!

Did you know...  Dvořák struggled with agoraphobia and was often afraid to go out alone?

Our "imagination can picture no fairer happiness than to continue living for art.” 🥹

Happy birthday to Antonín Dvořák, a celebrated Czech composer, born on this day in 1841! He is known for blending classical music with folk influences and creating masterpieces like “New World Symphony” and the opera “Rusalka.” Which of his works is your favourite?

A renowned German conductor, Christoph von Dohnányi, a true visionary, passed away just two days before his 96th birthday. Known for his exceptional precision, profound musical insight, and decades of leadership with major orchestras, he leaves a lasting legacy in the world of classical music.

When your assignment was due yesterday, unwind with the perfect album. Listen more and stress less with IDAGIO Premium. Now’s the time to join for 50% off for students.

Liszt didn’t just perform. He hypnotised the audience, and his recitals sparked total frenzy. Fans cheered during the performance, threw flowers on stage, and even fainted from excitement. The German poet Heinrich Heine called this phenomenon “Lisztomania.”

Top 12 new releases with @tenorkaufmann, @pjarvi, @maxrichtermusic, and more are here! With which album will you start your weekend?

Happy birthday to Itzhak Perlman, a world-famous Israeli-American violinist and 16-time GRAMMY Award winner, born on this day in 1945. What wishes would you send his way?

The best new releases are all right here, handpicked by our editors and ready to be discovered. Which album will you play first?

All the forces of nature come alive in Richard Blackford’s powerful new Cello Concerto. Written for Alisa Weilerstein and the Czech Philharmonic under Tomáš Netopil, the piece reflects on climate catastrophe and the resilience of humanity. Video credit: Czellor Films Producer: Jakub Mayer

Love. Loss. Drama. Joyce DiDonato leads as Dido, with Michael Spyres as Aeneas. Fatma Said and Beth Taylor join a stellar cast, accompanied by Il Pomo d’Oro under Maxim Emelyanychev. This new release is one you simply cannot miss! Have you listened to it yet?

After his First Symphony was poorly received – largely due to a disastrous performance conducted by Alexander Glazunov, who was possibly intoxicated – Rachmaninoff was devastated. He almost entirely gave up on symphonies and wouldn’t try again for nearly a decade.

Debussy didn’t just write music, he reshaped it. Did you know he had an alter ego, “Monsieur Croche” (“Mr. Eighth Note”)? A voice he used in journals to share bold, unorthodox takes on music and art.

“It is the special province of music to move the heart.” We couldn’t have said it better.

Is there a piece you love to hear while wandering through the forest? 🌳🍃

Dreamer, weary, or wild, which one sounds like you? Tell us in the comments! And don’t forget to find your match in the Wanderers Playlist.

Discover this week’s top new releases, carefully selected by our editors! Which release are you most excited about?

Happy birthday to Georges Prêtre, the French conductor born on this day in 1924, renowned for conducting lengthy works from memory, with acclaimed recordings of Ravel’s La valse or Debussy’s Nocturnes and Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune. Photo credits: 2. Reinhold Möller 3. Picture-alliance/dpa

Should music be “emotional first and intellectual second”?

"A man like Verdi must write like Verdi." A timeless reminder to stay true to your voice.

Dmitri Shostakovich was a Soviet composer known for his bold, emotional music and sharp sense of irony. His work captured the tension, fear, and complexity of life under a repressive regime. Which of these facts about Shostakovich surprised you the most?

Can’t attend the Salzburg Festival this year? We’ve got you covered! Tune in to our Salzburg Festival 2025 playlists and experience the magic of the festival wherever you are.

Do you agree with Schubert that "there is no such thing as happy music"? 👀

It’s Friday, and that can only mean one thing: new top releases, hand-picked by our editors. Head over to IDAGIO now and let us know your top picks!

Discover Manami Suzuki in 4½ Questions, the first Japanese and first female winner of the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition. She is a rising star in classical music and sure to be a mainstay of the concert hall for years to come. Photo credits: The Hamamatsu International Piano Competition

They weren’t even born when Martin Engstroem founded the Verbier Festival in 1994. And already, they’re making their mark. Meet the New Generation of Verbier who are capturing hearts worldwide. Photo credits: 1. Marco Borggreve; 2. Mathias Benguigui; 3. Mahaneela; 4. Sony Cassical

To mark their 30th anniversary, the Miró Quartet brings together all three of Alberto Ginastera’s string quartets. From folk-inspired rhythms to bold modernism, it's a captivating journey through one of Latin America’s most original voices. Video credit: Gold Sound Media

The best new releases this week, handpicked by our editors, are here! Head to IDAGIO and start your week with great music.

Happy birthday to Ernest Bloch, a Swiss-American composer known for blending classical traditions with Jewish themes and deep emotional expression. Which of his pieces is your favourite?

Did you know...  Sir Roger Norrington was a leading voice in the historically informed performance movement?

Happy Birthday to Maria João Pires, a pianist of rare sensitivity and poetic depth. Her performances of Mozart, Schubert, and Chopin show a deep understanding of style, structure, and expression. Share your favourite album of hers with us 🎧

Chloe Chua: “I believe that ‘good music’ has a healing power.” Read our exclusive interview with rising star violinist Chloe Chua, winner of the 2018 Junior Yehudi Menuhin Competition, and known for her expressive depth well beyond her years, as she shares her top musical inspirations.

Friday’s Top 12 New Releases > Everything Else Listen now to this week’s top new albums, handpicked by our editors, and discover your next favourite. Which album were you awaiting the most?

What makes you most excited about the First Night of the BBC Proms 2025? Here are some of our top highlights. Did we miss anything? Swipe through and let us know your thoughts! 🎶 Get into the Proms mood with our new playlist: BBC Proms First Night.

What are your picks for the Ten Most Famous Piano Concertos? 🎧 Check out the Ten Most Famous Piano Concertos playlist on IDAGIO to see our choices. And let us know your favourites in the comments!

"Life would be flat without music. It is the background to all" we do. 🎶

Born in the US, raised in Sweden. Trained in both physics and music. A conductor still leading orchestras at 98! Which of these Blomstedt facts didn’t you know? Photo credits: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Andreas Herzau, Suntory Hall, Matthias Creutziger.

Discover the newly released album from this year’s Summer Night Concert 2025 with the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Tugan Sokhiev and featuring tenor Piotr Beczała - now available on IDAGIO. Video credits: the Vienna Philharmonic/Sony Classical/ Tugan Sokhiev

It wouldn't be a happy Friday without new releases! Handpicked by our editors: 12 top albums of the week you won’t want to miss. ▶️ Press play now and let us know your favourites!

Happy Birthday to Jonas Kaufmann, a voice that defines modern opera. A celebrated tenor known for his powerful performances in Wagner, Verdi, and Puccini.  Photo credits: 1. Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Music 2. Salzburger Festspiele, 2012