Introduction

You love them, so we play them! The Classic FM Hall of Fame is the definitive countdown of Britain’s favourite classical music.

Nimrod, Gabriel’s Oboe, Jurassic Park … admit it, you’re humming them already! Classic FM’s Myleene Klass hosts, as conductor Michael Seal and the full CBSO present a whole evening of great melodies.

Presenter change

We're sorry to announce that John Suchet has had to withdraw from this evening's concert due to recovering from surgery. We are grateful to Myleene Klass who will take his place as presenter.

Classic FM Hall of Fame Fun Facts

How it began
The Hall of Fame was first broadcasted in 1996 and has been a staple on Classic FM ever since, giving listeners the opportunity to vote for their favourite pieces of classical music.

A chart-topper
In 2020, Classic FM counted the top 300 most voted-for pieces of classical music since the Hall of Fame’s beginning. Coming out in top place was Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2 – in close second was Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending.

Did you know?
Gabriel’s Oboe, written by Ennio Morricone, was written for the 1986 film The Mission and played on screen when Father Gabriel plays his oboe to try and befriend natives so that he can carry out his missionary work in the New World. The Tribe approach Gabriel for the first time, however the chief breaks the oboe despite their intrigue with the instrument.

Celebrating British Gardens
Debbie Wiseman’s The Glorious Garden is a set of compositions inspired by poems written by the renowned gardener and Classic FM presenter Alan Titchmarsh.

Inspired by an Italian Architect
Karl Jenkin’s The Armed Man came out on the top spot in 2026’s Hall of Fame. In this concert we play his piece Palladio, inspired by a sixteenth-century Italian architect Andrea Palladio. Known for his beautiful villas and churches, Jenkins’ music showcases the influence of his architectural frameworks throughout the piece, remaining fairly conventional, conservative and unchallenging.

Honouring a dear friend
We all know Elgar’s Nimrod from his Enigma Variations as a piece that reflects remembrance, with its powerful and emotional climaxes. The name ‘Nimrod’ is taken from the Bible, referring to a great hunter. In German, hunter translates to Jäger, which is rumoured to have been played on as a word by Elgar, referencing his close friend and music publisher August Jaeger, reflecting their warm friendship throughout the piece.