BBC Music

The New Year party continues as Years & Years' Olly Alexander returns to the stage to perform more of his hits and collaborates with the legendary Pet Shop Boys on an all-time 80s classic.

A selection of Sondheim's finest songs performed by some of the world's greatest stars at the BBC, including Shirley Bassey, Sammy Davis Jr, Michael Ball and Liza Minnelli.

A look back at some of Dolly Parton's finest performances at the BBC, incorporating her greatest moments and hits such as Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream and Here You Come Again.

In a unique collaboration between BBC Introducing and BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk, Bruce MacGregor and Phoebe I-H bring you some of the finest and freshest talent emerging from the Celtic crossover music scene in Scotland today.

Elaine Paige: I’m Still Here is a special concert that was filmed at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall, and features ‘The First Lady of British Musical Theatre’, with the 60-piece BBC Concert Orchestra.

The Motown child prodigy who evolved into a true genius, Stevie Wonder is one of soul music’s all-time legends, a groundbreaking master blaster responsible for some of the best – and best-selling – songs to grace the pop charts. This collection gathers together some of Stevie’s best BBC moments, from huge hits like I Just Called to Say I Love You and Happy Birthday to fan favourites like He’s Misstra Know-It-All and Love’s in Need of Love Today. Together, these songs underline why Stevie remains one of the music world’s most respected artists and showcase how, even after all these years, this most aptly named star still leaves audiences with a true sense of wonder.

Franz Schubert's masterpiece, his song cycle Winterreise, bewildered his friends when he first played it to them. Two centuries on, it still challenges musicians of every generation. In this beautiful film, baritone Benjamin Appl and pianist James Baillieu make their own winter journey, reimagining Schubert's songs at the top of a mountain pass in Switzerland in a setting that emphasises the timelessness of the composer's music.

Presented by Annie Macmanus, this one-off special celebrates the twentieth anniversary of Ireland’s Other Voices Festival. Each winter since 2001, Other Voices has gathered music’s brightest voices together to perform to an audience of just 80 people in the tiny St James’ Church, located along the Dingle peninsula on the most westerly tip of Ireland. Everyone from Amy Winehouse to Young Fathers, and St. Vincent to The National, have made the musical pilgrimage to west Kerry to play intimate sets on the church’s iconic stage. This special anniversary film takes a look at the history and foundations of the acclaimed festival with never-before-seen interviews and stunning performances from Sam Fender, Sigrid, John Grant, Villagers, Dermot Kennedy and Kay Young. Annie will also open the Other Voices vault to showcase remarkable archive performances from Fontaines D.C., Little Simz and Arlo Parks.

An all-star concert event at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, honouring Kenny Rogers's historic 60-year career and featuring the final performance together by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, one of popular music’s most beloved duets of all time.

They’re Britain’s best-loved and most enduring boys-to-men band, and here we celebrate a selection of Take That’s greatest BBC appearances from their long and varied career. This collection contains all the biggest hits that you’ll never forget, from both phases of the band’s existence: the glorious early days of nonstop number ones, when Gary, Robbie, Mark, Howard and Jason were everyone’s favourite pop pin-ups; and then the 21st-century comeback that nobody expected, where the fans’ patience paid off and the band reinstated themselves at the top of the charts. Of course, everything changes over the years, and we capture them as a five-piece, a quartet and a trio, but what shines through at all times is the quality of the songwriting and performances, and that magical connection with the audiences that’s made them such a hit for so long.

To celebrate the singer who conquered the 1990s and changed the sound of pop and R&B forever, we delve into the BBC archives to bring you all of Mariah Carey's best-loved hits.

One of the finest of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas in a sumptuous production by Scottish Opera. Sunny, funny and with more 'tra-la-las' per square inch than any other opera in the canon, The Gondoliers is a joy from start to finish. This witty satire is jam-packed with unforgettable star roles, musical highlights and dancing, including numbers such as Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes, Regular Royal Queen and the Cachucha. The Gondoliers is a charming poke at the appeals and pitfalls of rulership, privilege and cronyism. Two happy-go-lucky Venetian gondoliers, Marco and Giuseppe, discover that one of them is, in fact, heir to the throne of a distant kingdom. True to their (adopted) republican roots, they set off together to rule in idealistic if somewhat chaotic style. Marco and Giuseppe have just chosen their brides, Gianetta and Tessa, when their lives are thrown into turmoil by the arrival of the grand inquisitor, Don Alhambra, who informs them that one of them has acquired the throne

She’s got one of pop’s most powerful voices and has belted out some of the greatest love songs of all time, so prepare to swoon as Celine Dion gets the At the BBC treatment. This collection of Celine’s best performances from the biggest shows includes all her most famous hits and moments, from the 1988 Eurovision performance that first introduced her to British audiences to the Oscar-winning soundtrack smashes she enjoyed with Beauty and the Beast and, of course, Titanic’s My Heart Will Go On.

She’s been one of the world’s most successful and talked about performers of the century, and last year’s triumph of the #FreeBritney campaign means she’s still relevant more than two decades after she first grabbed our attention. Her explosive arrival on the music scene aged just 16 made Britney a frequent visitor to some of TV’s biggest shows, and here we’ve captured the biggest and best of those performances, with hits including Crazy, Overprotected, Toxic and Oops! I Did it Again. So, why not join us and revisit her best BBC moments One More Time?

Created to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the consecration of Coventry Cathedral, Ghosts in the Ruin is a performance work that features original choral music, projections of archive imagery and poetry by local writers. The piece takes audiences on a physical journey between the new cathedral and the ruins of the original site, retelling the history of the space and exploring themes of reconciliation and sanctuary that characterise the city. This is the film of the site-specific performance, commissioned by Coventry Cathedral and the Coventry City of Culture Trust, and created by Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement recipient Nitin Sawhney CBE with the people of Coventry. Ghosts in the Ruins received its world premiere on 27 January 2022 in Coventry Cathedral.

The third day of the platinum jubilee celebrations continues with a spectacular evening of entertainment. The concert at Buckingham Palace features a glittering array of global stars and performers from the worlds of music and dance to celebrate 70 years of HM the Queen’s reign. As darkness falls, stunning projections illuminate the palace during the performances. Kirsty Young is in St James’s Park in London with special guests, and backstage Roman Kemp and Richie Anderson catch up with some of the performers taking part.

Join us for this celebration of pop’s greatest LGBTQ+ stars whose gender and sexuality are central to the story of their individual careers and the amazing songs they have created. Our rainbow alliance of amazing artists includes George Michael, Boy George, Freddie Mercury, Beth Ditto, MNEK, Lil Nas X and Barry Manilow. Some pushed boundaries and challenged gender stereotypes from the very start, others only revealed their true selves after years of success and speculation – but all have played their part in changing the world of popular music and the sounds that we listen to and love.

Welsh rock royalty Stereophonics return home to Wales to headline a special performance live from the iconic Principality Stadium.

When British pop star Charli XCX finds herself in quarantine in Los Angeles with her boyfriend Huck and best friend Sam, she embarks on an ambitious journey to create and release a new album during the 40 days of lockdown. Filming the whole process, Charli XCX: Alone Together captures the highs and lows of isolation, the anxiety of modern life, moments of intimacy and Charli’s digital relationship with her global fanbase. The project tests the artist’s emotional limits and unites her community of fans, referred to endearingly as Charli's Angels. The end result is the release of her acclaimed album How I’m Feeling Now.

Recorded in 2003

This programme captures a truly unique event in the long and eventful history of The Rolling Stones. On 20 May 2015, at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, the band performed the entire Sticky Fingers album live in concert for the first, and so far only time, in their career. The show celebrated the reissue of the Sticky Fingers album and was the opening night of the band's Zip Code Tour of North America that would run over the next two months. The intimate setting of the Fonda Theatre was in contrast to the huge stadiums in which the band would perform for the rest of the tour and made this an incredibly special occasion for those fans lucky enough to get a ticket.

A classic concert from 1978 - from a tour fans consider to be one of their best.

The Stones perform in Los Angeles in 2002, treating fans to a set heavy on rarities.

Celebrate the rich legacy of reggae legend Bob Marley in a concert filmed live at Birmingham Town Hall, featuring some of his most celebrated songs and special guests including his grandson Skip Marley. Presented by Trevor Nelson, this one-hour special reimagines Bob Marley’s greatest hits, including Get Up Stand Up, Exodus, Redemption Song and Waiting in Vain, all layered with new orchestration by Chineke!, Europe’s first majority black and ethnically diverse orchestra. Chineke! are joined by singer-songwriter JP Cooper, gospel and R&B legend Ruby Turner, and Skip Marley, who makes his debut UK solo performance. Featuring interviews with the performers and members of the Marley family, this concert both honours and brings fresh interpretation to the beloved music of Bob Marley.

An archive performance of Nina Simone playing at the 1976 Montreux Jazz Festival.

The band's headline set from the festival, which sees the band celebrating 20 years since their formation and their first appearance at Reading & Leeds since 2014. Featuring hits from their six albums including Do I Wanna Know?, R U Mine?, Crying Lightning and I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.

Enjoy the Thrill of It All and Dance Away the evening for this dive into the BBC’s archives to look over some of the finest performances from both Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry. As a band, they were innovative, helping create the look and sound of the 1970s, and Ferry’s solo career saw him hit new heights as the embodiment of sophisticated cool. Amongst the hits included are classics like Do The Strand, Avalon, Slave to Love and In Every Dream Home a Heartache... but the programme covers their entire careers, so do prepare for More than This.

A journey back in time for a selection of Kylie’s best and biggest performances on the BBC. It’s a journey from the early, girl-next-door days with Stock Aitken Waterman to the boundary-pushing dance sounds of the 90s, 00s and beyond.

One of the world's greatest singer-songwriters, Joan Armatrading, does what she does best. Filmed at Asylum Chapel, London, in 2021.

A tribute to the star, who died in August 2022 at the age of 73, after a music career spanning five decades, and years spent raising awareness of breast cancer and creating music to help those affected by the disease. It was the success of Grease that turned Olivia into an international sensation, but she was already familiar to BBC audiences thanks to appearances like many of those captured in this collection. These include her own TV specials, guest appearances on some of the biggest entertainment shows of the day, and the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, where Olivia represented the United Kingdom, going into battle with eventual winners Abba.

Coldplay fans will be in Paradise with this trip through the BBC’s archives, which follows the incredible journey that’s taken the band from promising new talents, whose first hits coincided with the start of a new century, right through to stadium-filling global superstars. With all the key songs and anthems taken from a selection of their finest TV performances, this Coldplay mix looks and sounds Magic.

A look back at the singer's finest moments on the BBC, shown to coincide with her 95th birthday. Britain's 'First Lady of Jazz" became a star after joining The John Dankworth Seven in the 1950s, later marrying the bandleader. Internationally renowned for her mastery of the scat singing style, Cleo has now enjoyed over six decades of success and acclaim here and across the world. Featuring renditions of Send in the Clowns and I Love You Porgy, and duets with John Williams, Dudley Moore, Tony Bennett and her late husband Johnny Dankworth.

A look back at the best BBC moments of Ed Sheeran, who’s been bringing his A game to viewers and listeners since before his first big hit, The A Team. Since that debut, he has enjoyed 13 number ones and had so many hits that the rules on how many singles could enter the charts had to be rewritten. It’s a career that’s seen Ed dazzle audiences on a huge range of BBC shows and special concerts, so prepare for Shivers with this selection of his most Perfect performances.

Chineke!, Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, perform the glorious music of two historic Black composers in a special concert filmed live at Birmingham Town Hall.

A look at the singer's extraordinary career that has stretched across eight decades and made her one of the our most popular, successful and enduring stars. This collection of Petula's finest moments at the BBC ranges from 21st century performances with Jools Holland on Later right back to 1940s - when 'Britain's Shirley Temple" as she was dubbed was just a teenager, showcasing her talents on early broadcasts from Alexandra Palace. Songs featured include Downtown, Don't Sleep in the Subway and This Is My Song.

Chronicling Jimi Hendrix’s visit to Maui in July 1970, this documentary tells the story of an ill-fated independent film produced by Hendrix's manager, Michael Jeffery. Originally released in 2020.

A collection of songs from the kings and queens of the keyboards, whose performances have captivated audiences over the decades across a selection of the BBC's best-loved music programmes. From piano pioneers like Little Richard, Nina Simone and Ray Charles, who showed the world that the new sounds of pop and rock didn't just revolve around guitars, right through to modern maestros like Elton John, Lady Gaga and Jools Holland.

Using previously unheard interviews and told in her own words, When Tina Turner Came to Britain is the story of Tina Turner’s 50-year relationship with the UK, also featuring interviews with British musicians and fans who shared her journey. From her first visit, alongside Ike Turner, supporting the Rolling Stones in 1966, to her legendary 1983 comeback performance on C4’s The Tube and working with Heaven 17, Tina has always had a soft spot for the UK. With powerful and revealing testimony from the likes of Martyn Ware, Glenn Gregory, PP Arnold, Arlene Phillips and Skin, this one-hour documentary charts Tina’s incredible journey, overcoming challenge after challenge to become the undisputed queen of rock with a little help from her many British friends

A chance to look back at an amazing 12 months of live music at the BBC. Lauren Laverne leads us through a year of unforgettable performances – from the 6 Music Festival to Glastonbury.