Guardian Music — This iconic symphony and the message it conveys is supremely relevant – even on a desert islandMore castaways on Desert Island Discs have chosen Beethoven's ninth symphony for company than any other piece. The symphony's 97 desert island fans rang... more info

Guardian Music — Queen Elizabeth Hall, LondonIt is not easy to specify which quality, exactly, is responsible for the Takács Quartet's current pre-eminence. I can think of other ensembles with a greater unity of tone, others better disposed to plumb the depths of we... more info

Detroit Free Press — It's not every day that the maestro doubles as an usher. But between pieces during Thursday night's Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, a latecomer wandered so close to the podium that music director Leonard Sl... more info

The Telegraph — Alina Ibragimova (violin), Cédric Tiberghien. Rating: * * * * more info

Guardian Music — From the epic to the intimate, classical music has been at the centre of some of the most ambitious films at the Cannes festivalI've been especially interested this year in the striking use of classical music in scores for films in contention for the... more info

Guardian Music — Concentrate on the things that really matter, says Sir Colin Davis – the music and the people who are playing it. One of our greatest living conductors talks to Tom ServiceColin Davis doesn't want to be a guru. But that's what the 83-year-old condu... more info

Guardian Music — Violin soloist with the postwar HalléThe Budapest-born violinist Endre Wolf, who has died aged 97, spent most of his career in northern Europe. For a decade he was active in Manchester and appeared at the Henry Wood Proms in London. Before and afte... more info

Guardian Music — The Dome, BrightonAung San Suu Kyi is guest director of this year's Brighton festival – albeit at long distance, due to concerns she might not be permitted to return to Burma should she leave. A keen admirer of Beethoven, she requested the festival... more info

Guardian Music — Jacob Barnes, who has died of leukaemia aged 21, was a gifted pianist. Whether in chamber ensembles, as an accompanist, or as a solo performer, he loved making music and he won many prizes. In 2008, he was awarded scholarships to all the major conser... more info

Guardian Music — (C Major)The tragedy of the conductor Carlos Kleiber was that he was just too talented. In some musical ways a miracle, in other personal ways a monster, Kleiber was the greatest conductor of our age. This sober documentary comes on the heels of anot... more info