Castrati were world's first real superstars. But the history behind the men who could sing like women has an interesting twist. Brian Chang explains.

Six pointers for getting the most out of your undergraduate music studies.

One of my favourite things to do is take a friend who is new to classical music to see an orchestra concert. Not only do they get to see a little bit of my world, but they also ask some great questions!

Orchestral concerts are a lot of fun, but for those who have never been, going to see a show can raise a lot of questions. After taking some classical music newbies to see the symphony, a few common queries emerged.

"French Horn" or "Horn?" The instrument with a name we can't agree on.

Ever wonder where the door knocking song comes from? We have the answer.

Ever wonder what the difference between a philharmonic and a symphony orchestra is? How about a chamber orchestra? Your questions answered.

Our digitally connected age is amazingly good at illuminating dark places. It is even better at perpetuating lies — some of which are centuries old.

But before we jump to multimedia conclusions, it may be worth taking a fresh look at that boring old orchestra. The big picture may be static, but, as is the case with a duck gliding across the mill pond, there’s an awful lot going on underneath.

We also don’t read aloud much, if ever, so even the natural rhythms of language and speech are not really natural in a big, 21st century city.