Guardian Music — "Twenty eight years and 91 days!" said the elated east Berliner I met walking up the Friedrichstrasse soon after the wall was breached. On the day the Berlin Wall went up, 13 August 1961, his parents had wanted to go to the cinema in west Berlin, but... more info

Guardian Music — Beethoven's 'Razumovsky' string quartets were never meant to be easy listening – and they are even harder to play. But the Tákacs Quartet are up for the challengeBeethoven's three "Razumovsky" string quartets left both their first performer... more info

Big Stereo — Baby Monster’s “Ultra Violence and Beethoven” proved to be quite popular last month — not only was it one of the most downloaded tracks of October but it also has become a personal fav. Let’s see if we can continue the trend with this new r... more info

The concert, a mix of works by Beethoven and Bernstein, indicated that a growing bond between Alan Gilbert and the Philharmonic players continues to yield substantial dividends. more info

Big Stereo — 1. Midnight Juggernauts – “This New Technology” (Memory Tapes remix) 2. Uffie – “Pop The Glock” (Mirwais Pop remix) 3. Baby Monster – “Ultra Violence and Beethoven” 4. Drop the Lime – “Devil’s Eyes” (Classixx remix) 5. Shaza... more info

Guardian Music — Ever wondered what 37 different-sized wine glasses would sound like if they were played? Well, so did science boffin Benjamin Franklin in the mid-1700sWhat is it? The glass harmonica, or "armonica", is a beautifully steampunky spinning instrument mad... more info

The Independent — With help from Beethoven and Brahms, the United States and Vietnam will engage in musical diplomacy this weekend when the New York Philharmonic debuts in the communist nation after a historic visit to Stalinist North Korea last year. more info

Mercury News, California — The prestigious Gilmore Artist Award is bestowed every four years on a pianist somewhere in the world without any sort of overt competition.The organization that oversees it gathers tips from knowledgeable music people around the world and then sends... more info

NME - The Daily Download — We first came across Oregon's Baby Monster in July through their excellent mix of Wolf Gang's 'Pieces Of You' but now they have something of their own to offer. Fans of that mix, dreamy electronic pop and pencil taches would do well to click through ... more info

Guardian Music — City Halls, GlasgowIt was an evening of new beginnings in Glasgow as Donald Runnicles gave his first concert as chief conductor of the BBCSSO. Reflecting the occasion, this was a programme of new thoughts: the first symphonies of Beethoven and Mahler... more info