News
  • Login
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Worklife
  • Travel
  • Reel
  • Future
  • More
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
No Result
View All Result

NEWS

3 °c
London
8 ° Wed
9 ° Thu
11 ° Fri
13 ° Sat
  • Home
  • Video
  • World
    • All
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • US & Canada

    Australian Open: How former junior champion Oliver Anderson is trying to rebuild career after match-fixing ban

    ‘Now there’s the threat of executions’ in Iran

    Afcon 2025: Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane rivalry renewed as Egypt face Senegal

    Juvenile justice system letting them down, say experts

    Singer Julio Iglesias faces Spanish inquiry into sexual assault allegations

    Five severed heads displayed on Ecuador beach

    More than 2,000 people reported killed as Trump says ‘help is on its way’

    Greenland chooses Denmark over US, island’s PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen says

    Alyssa Healy: Australia great to retire from cricket after India series

  • UK
    • All
    • England
    • N. Ireland
    • Politics
    • Scotland
    • Wales

    How much are tuition fees in the UK and is university worth it?

    Who are the winners and losers from the Scottish budget?

    Top Welsh restaurant Ynyshir told food safety needs ‘major improvement’

    School heads warned of ‘painful cuts’ due to budget

    Starmer’s change of heart another ‘almighty backtracking’

    Inquest hears that gambler thought he would be ‘better off dead’

    Safe spaces needed for drug-addicted children, say grieving mums

    How many firefighters does it take to rescue a swan from ice?

    Lying ban for politicians in Welsh elections prompts free speech fears

  • Business
    • All
    • Companies
    • Connected World
    • Economy
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Global Trade
    • Technology of Business

    US approves sale of Nvidia’s advanced H200 chips to China

    World central bank chiefs declare support for US Fed chair

    Trump announces 25% tariff on countries that do business with Iran

    Heineken boss steps down as beer sales slow

    Trump faces extraordinary moment in spat with Fed chair Powell

    Why luxury carmakers are now building glitzy skyscrapers

    US Fed Chair Jerome Powell under criminal investigation

    The real impact of roadworks

    AI robots and smart lenses among Cambridge Science Park plans for 2026

  • Tech
  • Entertainment & Arts

    Dancers say Lizzo ‘needs to be held accountable’ over harassment claims

    Freddie Mercury: Contents of former home being sold at auction

    Harry Potter and the Cursed Child marks seven years in West End

    Sinéad O’Connor: In her own words

    Tom Jones: Neighbour surprised to find singer in flat below

    BBC presenter: What is the evidence?

    Watch: The latest on BBC presenter story… in under a minute

    Watch: George Alagiah’s extraordinary career

    BBC News presenter pays tribute to ‘much loved’ colleague George Alagiah

    Excited filmgoers: 'Barbie is everything'

  • Science
  • Health
  • In Pictures
  • Reality Check
  • Have your say
  • More
    • Newsbeat
    • Long Reads

NEWS

No Result
View All Result
Home Newsbeat

How Lux got us talking about classical music

November 27, 2025
in Newsbeat
11 min read
250 3
0
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Barbara George and Srosh KhanBBC Newsbeat

Getty Images Rosalía is laying down in a white dress with a black background. It looks as though she is on stage, she has a microphone in her right hand. Getty Images

Rosalía is one of the biggest Spanish stars in music

The day before Rosalía announced her fourth studio album, Lux, she posted a video of herself on Instagram with classical music playing in the background.

It was a teaser for how her new album was going to sound. In the opening seconds of lead single Berghain, violins are followed by a choir singing.

The popular Spanish singer, who is classically trained herself, collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) on the project.

It’s also sparked suggestions that it could switch a new generation of young listeners on to classical music.

But, as BBC Newsbeat’s been finding out, many of them were already well aware of it.

‘Really inspired’

“I think a lot of people are always like: ‘Oh, classical music is so boring’,” says 15-year-old Si.

“But when I’m playing classical music… I feel like I want to continue because it’s just really fun.”

Si is speaking to BBC Newsbeat at the LSO East London Academy, which aims to give 11 to 18-year-olds a chance to learn an instrument.

It’s a free programme, with coaching delivered by professional musicians.

Si says hearing Rosalía’s album has left him feeling “really inspired”.

“It’s really cool to see modern music turn more creative and different to what we normally think of as pop music,” he says.

“So, having these classical instruments in modern music is a lot more fun.”

Si is standing up with his black colour clarinet in his right hand. He is smiling with a white hoodie on. In the back there are chairs and instruments.

Si is a member of the LSO East London Academy

Although Rosalía’s album has fueled a mainstream conversation about classical music, with younger listeners getting involved, she’s not the first pop artist to employ orchestral sounds in her work.

Hattie Butterworth, a cellist and editor of Choir & Organ and Opera Now magazines, believes that more pop stars are taking an interest in classical music.

“I think there’s something about artists being more inherently connected to their musicality that audiences really respond to,” she says.

Authenticity is important to modern audiences, and Hattie says this could help to explain the appeal.

“If you know an artist has that background in singing, or in clarinet, or in a orchestral instrument, it feels like there’s a bit more validity to it.”

Philippa Butterworth Hattie wears glasses and has blonde hair. She is wearing a black sweater vest with a white t shirt underneath.Philippa Butterworth

Hattie Butterworth is the editor of two magazines about classical music

According to TikTok, Rosalía’s Lux has driven a wave of new videos on the platform, with top tracks La Perla and Berghain being used in 600,000 posts that have generated three billion views.

But there’s evidence to suggest that some parts of the audience were already acquainted with classical music.

TikTok told Newsbeat use of the ClassicalMusic hashtag had increased by 60% over the past 12 months.

And certain creators, such as organist Anna Lapwood, who shares videos of her performing to her 1.4m followers, are social media stars in their own right.

But research conducted for TikTok this September, based on a small survey of 1,001 UK respondents aged 16 to 25, reported that 35% felt classical music could be “exclusive and unwelcoming”.

Ayaana is standing up with the cello in her hand. She is smiling with a grey hoodie on. In the background there are scattered chairs and instruments.

Ayaana has been playing the cello since she was 11-years-old

It’s a feeling Ayanna, 18, can relate to.

She’s also a member of the LSO East Academy and has been playing cello since she was 11.

She confesses she “kind of hated” the instrument when she first started, but says she grew to love it.

“After you become immersed in how it sounds, it changes the way you think about it,” she says.

“Now, I’d love to have a career in music.”

Ayanna says she felt like that was going to be difficult for her.

“You need a lot of money, and a lot of the people are a lot more wealthy,” she says.

“It’s quite biased ethnically and sometimes you’ll see a lot of people being able to play music because it’s just privilege.”

Ayanna says that being part of the Academy, and a larger, younger audience getting switched on to classical music, helps her to keep playing.

“Seeing a lot of other ethnic minorities being able to play music just creates a community amongst everyone,” she says.

One day, young musicians like Ayanna could end up performing alongside an international pop star, which is exactly what happened with one member of the LSO who spoke to Newsbeat.

Getty Images Rosalía wears a black off-the-shoulder dress. She is singing into a microphone stand while performing on stage. There are musicians with guitars sitting behind her. Getty Images

Rosalía’s album has fueled a mainstream conversation about classical music

Belinda McFarlane, known as Bindi, has been part of the orchestra for 35 years and is currently its second violinist.

She was part of the team that helped Rosalía in the studio, and says the nature of the recording process meant they only heard parts of each song.

“The finished product was thrilling to hear,” says Bindi.

“How she’d woven all the music that we’d recorded in and out of her tracks. It really is a fantastic album.”

And Bindi says meeting the singer was “fantastic”.

“She was in the sessions and her ideas were present and she was really friendly,” she says.

“I don’t know if she’ll remember my name, but, anyway, it was pretty much a thrill to work with her.”

A footer logo for BBC Newsbeat. It has the BBC logo and the word Newsbeat in white over a colorful background of violet, purple and orange shapes. At the bottom a black square reading "Listen on Sounds" is visible.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here.



Source link

Tags: classicalLuxmusictalking

Related Posts

Grand Theft Auto workers refused pay relief amid legal action

January 14, 2026
0

Tom RichardsonBBC NewsbeatBBCWorkers claim they were sacked for trying to form a union - something Rockstar strongly rejectsA group...

Doomsday is coming. What do we know so far?

January 11, 2026
0

Getty ImagesAfter playing Tony Stark and Iron Man in 10 Marvel films, Robert Downey Jr is back in a...

Could gamers be the secret weapon of a modern UK military?

January 9, 2026
0

Peter GillibrandBBC NewsbeatMinistry of DefenceDrones are becoming a key feature of modern warfare"All the lads here play Call of...

  • Australia helicopter collision: Mid-air clash wreckage covers Gold Coast

    522 shares
    Share 209 Tweet 131
  • UK inflation: Supermarkets say price rises will ease soon

    515 shares
    Share 206 Tweet 129
  • Ballyjamesduff: Man dies after hit-and-run in County Cavan

    510 shares
    Share 204 Tweet 128
  • Somalia: Rare access to its US-funded 'lightning commando brigade

    508 shares
    Share 203 Tweet 127
  • Google faces new multi-billion advertising lawsuit

    508 shares
    Share 203 Tweet 127
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Australia helicopter collision: Mid-air clash wreckage covers Gold Coast

January 10, 2023

UK inflation: Supermarkets say price rises will ease soon

April 19, 2023

Ballyjamesduff: Man dies after hit-and-run in County Cavan

August 19, 2022

Stranger Things actor Jamie Campbell Bower praised for addiction post

0

NHS to close Tavistock child gender identity clinic

0

Cold sores traced back to kissing in Bronze Age by Cambridge research

0

Cold and data centres drive up US greenhouse gas emissions

January 14, 2026

How much are tuition fees in the UK and is university worth it?

January 14, 2026

Grand Theft Auto workers refused pay relief amid legal action

January 14, 2026

Categories

Science

Cold and data centres drive up US greenhouse gas emissions

January 14, 2026
0

A very cold start to 2025 and the growing power demands of data centres and cryptocurrencies saw US emissions...

Read more

How much are tuition fees in the UK and is university worth it?

January 14, 2026
News

Copyright © 2020 JBC News Powered by JOOJ.us

Explore the JBC

  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Worklife
  • Travel
  • Reel
  • Future
  • More

Follow Us

  • Home Main
  • Video
  • World
  • Top News
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Tech
  • UK
  • In Pictures
  • Health
  • Reality Check
  • Science
  • Entertainment & Arts
  • Login

Copyright © 2020 JBC News Powered by JOOJ.us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
News
More Sites

    MORE

  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Worklife
  • Travel
  • Reel
  • Future
  • More
  • News

    JBC News