Haunted by Isherwood's shade, the British musician flirted with fascism, then became a hero to the youth of the communist East

There is an extraordinary fit between Japanese musical tastes and German Lieder

The Triumph of Music by Tim Blanning

British politicians anxious to combat juvenile obesity should learn from China, and rediscover an old dance

Young people can be inspirational in the audience, problematic on stage

Unlike rock's phoney rebelliousness, classical music still has the power to challenge entrenched ideas

Radio stations and record companies are finally giving our native composers some exposure - now it's up to us to listen

Art is not culture or entertainment, it is complexity, the 'I' in life, ambition, the ambiguity of humanity, serious about itself

Intimacy, authenticity and domescity combine to make for a great performance

Slick and professional popular productions have many merits, but the gap between Les Mis and opera is very wide