Have you ever wanted to learn about classical music without first having to absorb all the theory or wade through lots of tedious music? Well, your most effective introduction to classical music may be the intensely passionate and highly tuneful music of Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky. AMG's Blair Sanderson explains why this great Russian composer might be your ideal guide.

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New Yorkers were treated to a rare performance by Big Star on Wednesday night, when the iconic power-pop band -- whose touring lineup now comprises frontman Alex Chilton, longtime drummer Jody Stephens, and Posies members Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow -- performed at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. Highlights included a cover of Todd Rundgren's "Slut," a rendition of "I Am the Cosmos" with Auer on lead vocals, and such Big Star staples as "Thirteen" and "The Ballad of El Goodo." [RollingStone.com]

Dates for the annual Bonnaroo Festival have been announced. The festival will commence its ninth year on June 10th, 2010, and the 24-hour entertainment will run through the morning of the 13th. Start praying for dry weather and big-name headliners. [LiveMusicBlog.com]

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Sure, it was only three years ago, but we are still crazy about 2006's debuts (Lily Allen, Arctic Monkeys, Burial), breakouts (Amy Winehouse, Gnarls Barkley), bold makeovers (Christina Aguilera), and early farewells (J Dilla), not to mention the less eventful but nonetheless excellent releases from the established veterans (Ghostface Killah, Jarvis Cocker, Sonic Youth). Over a couple hundred favorite albums and singles of 2006 are listed by our editors. Maybe you'll discover, or be reminded of, a few that you missed. The AllMusic Loves series will continue to roll through this first decade of the 2000s during the next few weeks, as we will revisit 2007 and 2008 prior to looking back at 2009.

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