Your essentia l companion to the big gest and best events in the UK and beyond 40-PAGE SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS GUIDE! The world’s best-selling classical music magazine s be lling classical world best selling a world’ est selli l The w The w best-sel al music magazine l music magazine Full May listings inside See p140 How World War II shaped the sound of British music VE DAY 80th ANNIVERSARY cYcYc Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau 100 years of the iconic baritone Death at the keyboard Death at the keyboard The tragic tale of Simon Barere The tragic tale of Simon Barere Dona Nobis Pacem Vaughan Williams’s plea for peace Cherubini’s Medée Opera’s most shocking bloodbath Cherubini’s Medée Opera’s most shocking bloodbath Dr Sian Williams The healing power of music Violinist James Ehnes Violinist James Ehnes How to convert classical naysayers How to convert classical naysayers Also in this issue… Classical music’s key role in the Nazi war machine Why pianist Myra Hess was more than a WWII hero How Sibelius crafted beauty from personal turmoil