Autumn Classical and Opera Highlights
From traditional classics at the Royal Opera House to innovative new commissions, the opera and classical concerts coming up this season in London
Cosi Fan Tutte, Royal Opera House
A promising new production of Mozart’s comedy of crossed relationships, staged by the exciting young German director Jan Philipp Gloger and starring a cast young enough to be believable as lovers whose eyes wander.
Read more ...Oreste, Wilton's Music Hall
Handel’s opera is made of offcuts - a pasticcio - but this production, outside the Royal Opera House’s usual Covent Garden home, will be more than a curio: it promises to put a relevant new spin on the classical story of a person landless and dispossessed.
Read more ...Norma, Royal Opera House
The first new production of Bellini’s great drama for 30 years features Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva in the title role, and the action is moved from ancient Rome to a contemporary civil war.
Read more ...Don Giovanni, English National Opera
The curtain-raiser for English National Opera’s new season is a production by Richard Jones of Mozart’s masterpiece. A strong cast led by Christopher Purves as the serial seducer of the title role sets about some of the finest music in the opera repertoire. Worth it for the overture alone.
Read more ...Tosca, English National Opera
Welcome revival of an eyecatching production of Puccini’s tragedy set in a dangerous Rome, where an artist and his friends are under the scrutiny of a vicious tyrant, whose pursuit of the singer Tosca becomes a deadly affair.
Read more ...English Touring Opera, Hackney Empire
Opera on an intimate scale at Hackney Empire suits works sometimes neglected by the big houses. The hardworking ETO bring to vivid life operas by Handel, Cavalli and Monteverdi
Read more ...Joyce DiDonato Recital, Barbican Centre
The American mezzo-soprano combines the showbiz knowhow of Streisand with the technique of the finest opera singers. Recently admired at the Royal Opera House in Massent’s Werther, here she lets rip on her own in a programme of classical and lighter music.
Read more ...Complete Prokofiev Symphonies, Cadogan Hall
Valery Gergiev conducts the five symphonies by his countryman Sergei Prokofiev over three nights, interspersed with the same composer’s violin concertos in the repertoire. Collect the set or pick your favourite: many people love the Symphony No 1, nicknamed the Classical, for its pure lines and instant appeal.
London Piano Festival, Kings Place
Budding pianists, those of us who just wish we could play, and the capital’s many brilliant keyboard players will all find something to love and to learn from at this weekend devoted to the piano. Among the highlights, a recital by Alfred Brendel on 7 Oct.
Read more ...And London Burned, Temple Church
Part of the commemorations for the 350th anniversary of the great fire of London, a specially composed opera is stage in the atmospheric Temple Church, not far from the seat of the fire and itself a survivor of the catastrophic fire that reshaped London.
Read more ...James MacMillan's Stabat Mater, Barbican
Harry Christophers conducts The Sixteen singing James MacMillan's Stabat Mater, a beautiful new composition from an exciting contemporary composer, reflecting not only the sorrow of Mary at the Crucifixion, but plight of all women who are confronted with the suffering of a child.
Read more ...