Composers. Cats. Beards. That is all.

Nicola Benedetti MBE is one of our 'rising stars' on the Full Works Concert tonight. This follows the fantastic news of her new honour, recognising the young violinist's fine work in music education, as well as her great playing (which you can hear from 8pm tonight - Vivaldi by the way). Brava, Nicola!

Hello from John Brunning. Join me for Classic FM Drive from 5 & enjoy a classic from the 'Father of Film Music' His name?

Earlier this afternoon I had a request for a young man who was celebrating passing his driving test. Well done to him! My memory of the whole experience was of being terrified. Maybe good music would have eased the nerves (like in this more relaxed car with Britten, Pears, Vishnevskaya & Rostropovich) How was your driving test for you? Jamie

Morning! In just over 3 weeks, I'll be playing with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Blimey! It's becoming more and more frightening by the day. Hope I don't embarrass myself. Do you think I'll be ready? Judge for yourself after seeing how my training is going. John SuchetJohn Suchet on his love affair with the trombonewww.classicfm.comOur very own John Suchet has a secret past - it's about a brassy blonde from his school days…

For the Chelsea Flower Show, the very best classical pieces about buds, blossoms, and blooms!Classical music inspired by flowerswww.classicfm.comComposers through the years have been inspired by the natural world - have a look at the best flowery classical music

MORNING. And first...a puzzle. The #Enigma : it's a clue to a musical work. I am willing to give more clues, today, as it could be a little trickier. In fact, first one now. The composer is a birthday boy. Best, Tim

We've been talking about tea this morning, including a strange concoction unique to Hongkong which is a mixture of tea and coffeee topped with evaporated milk and a dash of syrup. Sounds horrible! Having just come back from India my favourite tea has to be Chai, which is basically an exotic builder's! What's your favourite tea? Nick

Good evening, I've got a former number one in the Hall of Fame to get Smooth Classics underway this evening and a little later a trip to the ballet with Tchaikovsky. I hope it will be a perfect start to a relaxing night for you. Margherita x

Wagner opera and Lego - it's the best! We've had a great day celebrating Wagner's bicentenary. For the evening, here are a few condensed (and sometimes quite silly) versions of the composer's masterful Ring Cycle. Enjoy!The top 10 alternative Ring Cycleswww.classicfm.comWagner's Ring Cycle too long for you? See if we can change your mind with a selection of our favourite condensed versions - including a Lego version and a Bugs Bunny cartoon!

Good evening from John Brunning. I hope you're enjoying the Smooth Classics at 7 I've chosen this evening. My favourite French composer is coming next!

Today we're celebrating 200 years since Wagner was born and I've discovered he was quite a wit - he said 'I write music with an exclamation point' and 'Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them'. I'm playing something from Tristan & Isolde as my Smooth Classic at 3:30 - I hope you enjoy it. Jamie

We always knew that the music of John Williams has superhero qualities. Here's the proof...John Williams and YouTube save Brazilian Symphony Orchestra seasonwww.classicfm.comWilliams' music and YouTube are the perfect tools to sell tickets, according to the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra

Wagner was born 200 years ago today. Are you a fan? What's your favourite work by this wonderful composer?

Amazing to have the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's Vasily Petrenko on our web chat right now. Any questions for the conductor, or do you just want to say hello? Join us here:Petrenko in Tim Lihoreau's Wednesday Web Chatwww.classicfm.comConductor Vasily Petrenko will be here taking your questions from 9am on Wednesday 22 May

It doesn't look like Wagner was too happy about his surprise party. Happy 200th birthday!

Who would have thought that, one day after saluting the plaque to Eric and Ernie, we would be saying goodbye to their great comedy writer, Eddie Braben. So many great lines: ERIC: I can recommend it — it's the '83. DAME FLORA R: 83? ERIC: Yes – 83 bottles for fifteen and nine. And...of course...HAPPY WAGNER DAY. #Wagner200 Best, Tim

MORNING, morning! Hope you're in fine fettle today. How about...an #Enigma - a clue to a musical work - to get you going? And a clue already. It's especially for today! (Ive said too much already!) Composer clue after 7. And DONT give it away. Just post...TOP of the MORNING!...when you get it. Best, Tim

Psst! Have you heard the latest? Women are less likely than men to enjoy retirement because they miss the office gossip, according to a study. Would you miss it if you retired? Nick

We hope you're tuning in to Margherita Taylor on Smooth Classics - she's got a great selection to help you unwind at the end of the day. You can get to know the person behind the silky and sonorous voice here...It's Margherita Time - a year in the life of Margherita Taylorbit.lyDiscover the glamorous life of Smooth Classics presenter Margherita Taylor with our selection of pictures

Brava, Nicola Benedetti MBE. All the pictures from today's ceremony at Buckingham Palace...Nicola Benedetti receives MBE at Buckingham Palacebit.lyPhotos from Nicola Benedetti's MBE ceremony, recognising her achievements in the fields of music and charity work

Congratulations to Nicola Benedetti MBE! This afternoon the very talented young violinist visited Buckingham Palace to receive the honour. You can read more here:I've got her playing some sparkling Saint-Saëns just after 5:30. John Brunning

I've just returned from an amazing weekend in Vienna. As well as the great cafes, delicious pastries & four opera houses, it has been home to so many great composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms. It's a place full of music and memorials, as you can see from my picture. Which great musical cities have you visited? Tell me your favourites! Jamie

It's been great to play two classical arrangements of classic rock this morning. First it was The Doors Concerto (for the late Ray Manzarek), and just now The Genesis Suite. Have you enjoyed them? What do you think about an orchestra and soloist doing a classic rock tune? John SuchetClassical Music Rocks! 20 of the best rock and classical crossoverswww.classicfm.comRock music and classical music might seem like they would be completely opposed to one another, so join us as we explore the crossover!

Love a good classical CD store! We're doing our bit for High Street music shops around the country. This week we're getting to know Prelude Records in Norwich...For The Record: Prelude Records, Norwichwww.classicfm.comWe chat to owner of Prelude Records, Andrew Cane, about his favourite Strauss recording and making a Canadian customer's day

Eric and Ernie have been honoured with their own blue plaque, together. (pic) I'm playing them a great musical DUET every hour on breakfast this morning. And a question - who was your favourite E&E guest? And why? Tim (ps, breakfast in our house...not unlike the great 'Stripper' breakfast sketch!)

GOODLY morning. Hope you are well. A quick #Enigma - and I've tried to make it easier today. As ever, don't give it away but, in honour of their new blue plaque, perhaps post ERICandERNIE when you get it. Best, Tim

Up till now gnomes have been banned from the Chelsea Flower Show, but in the show's one hundredth year they've been given a special concession for one year only. Can you see any similarities between these gnomes and Classic Fm presenters? Nick

Hi Margherita here, I've got 4 hours of the most beautifully soothing music on the way in Smooth Classics. Are you able to relax tonight or are you up late revising? M x

Classical music & art always go very well together. Great news as the National Portrait Gallery appoints a choir in residence. We're talking to them about it here:

Classical music & art always go very well together. Great news as the National Portrait Gallery appoints a choir in residence. We're talking to them about it here:

Hello from John Brunning. Here's a restful photo I took to go with our Smooth Classics at 7. Can you name the location?

Afternoon, it's Anne-Marie here for Jamie today. In the week of the Chelsea Flower Show it's been revealed that the nation's favourite flower is ... the rose. Second was the fuchsia followed by lavender. Geraniums and tomato plants also made the top five. As someone who can only grow daisies & weeds I'm not even sure I know what a fuchsia even looks like!

Do you see and hear colours in your favourite piece of music? A new study has confirmed a link between emotion, classical music, and colour. You can read more about it here:...tell us what you think.

It was the Arlesford Watercress Festival at the weekend. Was there anything going on near you? Or if not, how DID you spend your weekend? Best, Tim

Good Morning, good morning! Hope you are refreshed after the weekend. Let's kick off with an #Enigma. Remember not to give it away if you get it. Just post 'Monday' when you get it. Best...good weekend? Tim

Remarkable photo of 18th century Dutch composer Van den Budenmayer - that can't be right! Actually, he's the fictitious alter ego of Polish film score composer Zbigniew Preisner (Three Colours series, Secret Garden etc) whose birthday it is today. The Dutchman was created because Preisner and director Krzysztof Kieślowski liked Holland. And why not. Hi from Bob (Real name).

More quotes from great composers here:

It was a sensational Classic FM Chart last week, with saxophonist Amy Dickson straight in at number one with her new album. This week there's another new release that could be vying for the top spot. Join me now to hear the drama unfold! John Brunning

Today at 3, Charlotte Green explores the brilliant but often tragic life of Tchaikovsky. Of all the works by this wonderful composer, which speaks to you the most?

Cole Porter enjoys a little musical assistance from his canine friend. More great pictures of composers with their dogs in our gallery here:

Morning! I hope you're having a great Sunday morning. What do have planned today? Aled x

Morning & welcome to More Music Breakfast. Being a Sunday, time to reveal our moments of happiness from the past week. Mine include talking gardening with Alan Titchmarsh, making minestrone soup & spotting some field-grown British strawberries on sale for the first time this year. What about you? Anne-Marie

Congrats to the Danes for winning Eurovision! Wonder how some of the musicians from yesteryear might have fared? Great Danish composer Nils Gade (pictured) v. Beethoven or Mozart maybe? My money's on Puccini. Bob

Eurovision's classical connection?! ...are you watching the great contest tonight? Here are the moments when things got more than a little classical:- we hope you enjoy them!

At 5pm, Howard Goodall introduces Classic FM's 'A Night At The Movies' concert, which was recorded at London's Cadogan Hall last Sunday. Fantastic film scores, spectacularly played (and great pictures of the performance here too:

Do you realise I dragged myself away from Lord's and the New Zealand test match to sit in for Jamie this afternoon. Don't worry it was getting boring! However I was there yesterday when James Anderson took his 300th wicket. Can you think of any suitable tunes we could play him? Un Bal from Symphonie Fantastique maybe. Nick

Very interesting - A new study has confirmed a link between emotion, classical music, and colour.Classical music, colours and emotions linkedbit.lyWhat colour is Mozart's Requiem or his flute concerto? A new study has some interesting findings.

Our resident gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has kindly shared a few tips for those heading to the Chelsea Flower Show next week. It's the show's 100th anniversary, and it should be glorious. Will you be there? And tune in now for Alan's show!Alan Titchmarsh's guide to the Chelsea Flower Showbit.lyClassic FM presenter and gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh shares his tips on what to expect from the show, in its centenary year

Morning! Anne-Marie back with you for More Music Breakfast. Can we talk napping please & is it an age thing? I've found now that every weekend afternoon there's usually a 40 minute doze at some point. Worryingly, it's also regardless of where I happen to be. In the past few weeks, siesta locations have included a bus, (missed my stop), a friend's kitchen & the local park after a run. Hope I'm not alone in this ..