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Contents
MAY 2026
FEATURES
24 Cover: And the winners are The readers' votes have been counted. Now we reveal the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2026!
36 Piece of Mind Cellist Alisa Weilerstein tells Ariane Todes about her audience-challenging new solo project
40 Fit for a Queen Claire Jackson explores the musical passions of Marie-Antoinette, ill-fated queen of France
46 Shock tactics Sex, violence and much besides: Ash Khandekar relives the most outrageous opera productions
50 A change of tempo Five leading musicians tell Anne Templer about the importance of knowing how to take time off
56 Festival Guide 2026 Diaries ready? It's time to check out the best classical music events in the UK and beyond
EVERY MONTH
8 Letters
12 The Full Score
23 Richard Morrison
94 Musical Destinations Charleston, US, welcomes Charlotte Smith
96 Composer of the Month Roger Thomas salutes 100 years of Miles Davis
100 Building a Library Alexandra Wilson immerses herself in the bloody passion of Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana
132 Radio & TV
136 Crossword and Quiz
138 Music that Changed Me Actor and comedian Chris Addison
BBC RADIO
COVER: CHRIS O'DONOVAN THIS PAGE: NICOLA CORBISHLEY, ALEXANDER PIPER, DOVILE SERMOKAS
May Radio highlights See p132
Subscriptions £64.87 (UK); £65 (Europe); £74 (Rest of World) ABC Reg No. 3122 EDITORIAL Plus the global music festival we would most love to visit Editor Charlotte Smith Tanglewood, US Deputy editor Jeremy Pound Australian Festival of Chamber Music Reviews editor Miranda Bardsley Epicenter Venice Music Festival, Italy Content producer Steve Wright West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Ireland Cover CD editor Alice Pearson Salzburg Festival, Austria
Art editor Dav Ludford Thanks to Jenny Price, Rachel Hathaway Hannah Nepilova
MARKETING Head of acquisitions Clive Evans-Morris Campaign strategist Chloe Somerville
ADVERTISING Advertisement manager Rebecca Janyshiwskyj +44 (0)117 300 8547 Commercial brand leads Rebecca Yirrell +44 (0)117 300 8811 Rebecca O'Connell +44 (0)117 300 8814 Andy Williams +44 (0)117 476 7313 Client partner
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24 Awards winners 2026
B B c music MAGAZINE
