Music

Welcome to your new, continental playlist

We have to go far north, to the lands most closely identified with snowy festiveness, to find nations truly invested in Christmas music and embracing songs in their own language

As Hanukkah songs are sung throughout next week, they will forge a link to a difficult past even as they celebrate a living culture

Jerzy Połomski, one of the most-loved entertainers in Polish history, has died at the age of 89

ABBA’s back catalogue has found a new iteration thanks to a symphonic metal outfit from Finland

Classical music's challenge today is to revolutionise thinking and reinvigorate interest. A new, showy Messiah is one step

The German spent a lifetime seeking a creative place as far as possible from the vivid horrors of his past

The Italian's conducting was so intense a friend swore he'd seen a white glow around him

While influenced by American R&B, the emerging superstar’s eponymous “Raguwavy” is virtually unique

Another World Cup means another official song of the tournament

In a world beset by war, turmoil and climate panic, Schubert’s 200-year-old Winterreise seems more pertinent than ever

A combination of Covid, Hindu nationalism and low standards have caused a slump in the Indian film industry, prompting an exodus of stars and producers. Can Bollywood survive?

The birth of the singles chart signalled the future direction of British pop

Named after its creator, the theremin became one of the sounds of the 20th century, from The Day the Earth Stood Still to Scooby Doo

Italy's answer to Elvis has proven that it's often the most unlikely of experiments that make for a successful career

Ásgeir, as he is mononymously known, is a household name in Iceland for his warm soundscapes

The Swedish star surely claims the crown as the most uninhibited woman in pop

Liverpool has a long history with Eurovision, and not always a successful one

The Queen's death may have silenced live music, but a new monarch gives hope of a bigger public platform

The Norwegian trio’s new album arrives with their legacy secure - but it hasn’t always been that way

How an ex-WAG popstar brought and won a case at the European Court of Human Rights

Having spoken out against the war in Ukraine, Alla Pugacheva could influence the next chapter in Russian history

The Velvet Underground are the ultimate New York band. Yet in their brief lifespan and their afterlife as one of music’s enduring cults, they had a European heart

Kid Kapichi's new album is smart, fearless and reflects a broken and rudderless Brexit Britain

Jonas Fjeld kicked off his career by trying to make the worst record in history. This year, he now celebrates 50 years of success in the industry

Directness and realness makes Nathy Peluso stand out among the current crop of female rappers

Sophie and the Giants are virtually unknown at home - but bona fide disco royalty elsewhere

In 1992, Wales' most incendiary political rock band took to the stage of the Reading Festival for the first time

A film about the female conductor of a major German orchestra is set to light up the awards season this year. Unfortunately, it's fiction

This list puts an emphasis on the perfectly formed pop single

Jan Kiepura's ability to break down the barrier between performer and audience meant he was a shoo-in as a leading man as the talkie arrived

When Weller and co went all French on us