February 2010

Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
On his 200th anniversary, our 11-page special looks at the life, works and influence of the piano world's greatest composer

BBC Music Magazine Awards 2010
Time to vote! We reveal the details of the 18 discs nominated for the 2010 BBC Music Magazine Awards

Musical Destinations: Cape Town
Neil McKim visits the South African city and explores a vibrant classical music and jazz scene

Composer of the Month: John Field
Calum MacDonald on the Irish inventor of the piano nocturne

On the Cover Disc

Chopin masterpieces

To celebrate Chopin's 200th anniversary, this month's cover disc features a progamme of the Polish composer's piano masterpieces. Specially recorded by pianist Martin Roscoe for BBC Music Magazine, the radically structured Second Piano Sonata sits alongside a selection of nocturnes and the Polonaise in C sharp minor, Op. 26 No. 1. Plus the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Vassily Sinaisky, performs the ingenious orchestrations made by Glazunov and Stravinsky of several well-loved Chopin piano works.

Download Cover Disc Inlay Here