Guardian Music — Beranova/Paasikiv/Smith/Müller-Brachmann/Leipzig Gewandhaus Chorus and O/Chailly(Decca, 5 CDs)Riccardo Chailly and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra recently ended their London cycle of the Beethoven symphonies at the Barbican, having also given comp... more info

Guardian Music — Ahead of a new four-part series exploring how the symphony has shaped our history and identity, Mark Elder choses the form's five key works* Video: Simon Russell Beale introduces the BBC's new seriesHaydn, Symphony no. 22, 'The Philosopher' (1764)It'... more info

Guardian Music — Britain On The Fiddle | Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey | Educating Essex | Symphony: Genesis And Genius | Glee | ArgumentalBritain On The Fiddle8pm, BBC1If the tabloidish title of this Panorama investigation makes you wince, be wary indeed – it is b... more info

Guardian Music — Barbican, LondonWhen it comes to Beethoven's symphonies, how fast is too fast? Speed is turning out to be the defining feature of Riccardo Chailly's ongoing Beethoven cycle; it's what we expect from period-instrument conductors, but not from those he... more info

Guardian Music — Sage, GatesheadDownsizing is a fashionable concept in the current economic climate, though there are certain things that can't be skimped – late-Romantic Russian symphonies being a case in point. Nevertheless, Thomas Zehetmair's Tchaikovsky cycle s... more info

Guardian Music — Barbican; Coliseum, LondonIn the first movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony, whose famous "fate" motif propels us into a light-brigade charge from the off, there is one brief moment of repose: a solo oboe which, like the sudden appearance of a peac... more info

Guardian Music — For an instrument so alike in range to the human voice, Steven Isserlis found it remarkable that they had not been put together more. He decided it was time to change thatAs a cellist, I suffer a lot, and a large proportion of my sufferings are cause... more info

Guardian Music — Seven violinists nominate their favourite living artist in their fieldHilary Hahn on Ivry GitlisIvry Gitlis's playing has a virtuosic boldness and a warm, lyrical sound. He grew up in an era when there were few recordings and live music would only ha... more info

Guardian Music — Barbican, LondonRiccardo Chailly's Beethoven cycle with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, packed into five concerts spread across two weeks, is the musical highlight of the Barbican's autumn. The Gewandhaus is one of Europe's finest orchestras, whil... more info

Guardian Music — In going for the extremity of Beethoven's music, conductor Riccardo Chailly and the Leipzig Gewandhaus orchestra prove the infamous symphony still has the power to shockDoes anyone really believe in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony any more? The problem wi... more info