Best classical and opera this summer
Country house opera, memorable concerts, and the entire BBC Proms make up a soundtrack for the sun
Glyndebourne Festival Opera 2024
Two new productions and three revivals for Glyndebourne Festival Opera 2024 include a new Carmen, conductor John Wilson and director Cal McCrystal collaborating on The Merry Widow and, of course, Mozart – Glyndebourne's calling card. Bizet’s Carmen opens the festival on 16 May, and there are two casts, the second (1-24 Aug) headed by the go-to mezzo Aigul Akhmetshina (pictured). Tickets are available, and it's always worth calling for returns.
Read more ...Beethoven's 'Choral' Symphony No 9
Beethoven's mighty, ambitious and idealistic final symphony is performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Christopher Warren-Green with soloists including Katie Bray (pictured) and Samuel Dale Johnson. Opening the programme, the same composer's powerful Piano Concerto No 5, with soloist Danny Driver.
Read more ...Opera Holland Park 2024
The terrifying opening chords of Puccini’s dramatic Tosca herald Opera Holland Park 2024, a summer season of operas dominated by the composer, in the year that marks 100 years since his death, and by his countryman Rossini, A long-awaited revival of Stephen Barlow’s highly-acclaimed 2008 production off Tosca stars Amanda Echalaz. They to catch the hilarious Il Segreto di Susanna (pictured) too.
Read more ...Garsington Opera 2024
At Garsington Opera, the stupendous garden often blends with the production on stage in the glass-sided theatre where shows unfold in daylight and embrace sunset. Expect a perfect fit, then, with Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, a highlight of this season, with Iestyn Davies and Lucy Crowe as Oberon and Tytania.
Read more ...Grange Park Opera
At the Theatre in the Woods, at West Horsley Place, the main productions, with long dinner intervals are Donizetti's comedy The Daughter of the Regiment, Janacek's searing Katya Kabanova, with Natalya Romaniw (pictured) in the title role, and a new opera, Island of Dreams. The season opens on 6 June with a fascinating double bill: Rachmaninov's Aleko and Puccini's entertaining Gianni Schicchi. Bryn Terfel sings in both.
Read more ...West Horsley Place, West Horsley, Leatherhead, KT24 6AW
75th Aldeburgh Festival
Founded by composer Benjamin Britten and tenor Peter Pears, this summer festival of music and art is popular with Londoners escaping to the coast. Events include a concert with Braimah, Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason and friends, an opera by master of the King's music, Judith Weir, and a recreation of the festival's opening night in 1948, which includes Britten's enchanting St Nicolas, with tenor soloist Nick Pritchard (pictured).
Read more ...Bach B Minor Mass
Among the world's greatest interpreters of the music of JS Bach, Collegium Vocale Gent perform a work which reaches into the furthest corners of what it means to be human. With moving solos by artists including tenor Guy Cutting (pictured) and under the masterly direction of conductor Phillippe Herreweghe, this profound work is never to be missed.
Read more ...James McVinnie Ensemble: American Minimalism
Southbank Centre artist-in-residence and keyboard player James McVinnie plus friends present a beguiling programme of American minimalist music. Items include Gabriella Smith's invitingly entitled Imaginary Pancake and works by the giants of US minimalism, Philip Glass and John Adams. Be prepared to slow down and tune in to some of the most compelling music of the modern era.
Read more ...Quentin Blake's Box of Treasures, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Join Jack, Nancy and Mrs Armitage (plus bike and dog, of course) on a fantastical adventure. Stefano Cabrera’s music and 80 musicians of the BBC Symphony Orchestra go along for the ride, with two films from CBBC’s Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures.
Read more ...Mozart Requiem, London Philharmonic Choir
The perfect evening for lovers of Mozart. To open, the overture from his masterpiece opera, The Marriage of Figaro, then Daniel Lebhardt is the soloist in the Piano Concerto No 21. After the interval, the poignant Requiem, the composer's last work, sung by the LPC and played by the Royal Philharmonic Choir, conducted by rising conductor Lee Reynolds. Soloists include Idunnu Münch (pictured).
Read more ...The 12 best BBC Proms 2024
And finally... the big one, as the world's greatest music festival attracts international artists to South Kensington. Spoilt for choice? Try these, our pick of the BBC Proms 2024. Many are ideal for introducing younger people to live orchestral music, and all promise to be outstanding performances. Booking opens on Sat 18 May.
Read more ...