Classical and Opera 2022: our pick of the year

By Claudia Pritchard on 6/12/2022

In another bumper year for outstanding musicianship, singers and players seemed to reach ever greater heights. Here is the Culture Whisper pick of people and events

Favourite instrumentalist: Sir Stephen Hough

The first British-born pianist to be knighted since 1977, Sir Stephen Hough is loved by audiences for his skilful communication, whether playing or talking about music. Outstanding CDs of Brahms, Schubert and Chopin released this year will be joined in February by a memoir entitled Enough. Catch a starry line-up performing the pianist and composer's own songs at Wigmore Hall on 2 Jan, and the pianist in Beethoven with the Philharmonia at the Royal Festival Hall on 4 May

Favourite orchestra: Chineke!

Founded by double bass player Chi-chi Nwanoku, Chineke! orchestra has chalked up a magnificent seven years of championing black and ethnically diverse players, conductors and composers. Thanks to Chineke! (the name means creator in the Igbo language), audiences have seen talented new players and discovered works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Florence Price. Catch Chineke! in 2023 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 9 March and on 24 June, playing those composers on both occasions.

Favourite conductor: Sir Simon Rattle

As he embarked on his final year as music director of the London Symphony Orchestra it was impossible not to grieve the loss to London in 2023 of this fantastic ambassador for music. Sir Simon Rattle has a rare gift for unpacking music for newcomers while revealing new depths to those familiar with the repertoire. See what we mean at one of the LSO's early evening one-hour concert series, Half Six Fix, on 19 April, when Rattle explains and conducts music by American modernist John Adams.

Favourite production: Orfeo, Garsington Opera

This year saw two spectacular productions of Handel's magical opera Alcina, at the Royal Opera House and at Glyndebourne Festival Opera , but it was an earlier opera in a deceptively simple production that streaked to the top. Monteverdi's Orfeo, with the English Concert directed by Laurence Cummings and tenor Ed Lyon singing – and dancing – the title role, was a lesson in purity by director John Caird. Players, actors and singers were inseparable, a vision in white – even the audience dressed to match. It's the second year in a row that Garsington has topped the lot. Look out for more showstoppers in its 2023 season.

Favourite opera company: English National Opera

Arts Council England, doing a departed culture secretary's bidding, slashed ENO's budget and told it to move to Manchester. That city was as surprised by the announcement as everyone else. ENO has had endless administrative problems, but the passion of the music-making and the vision to grow new singers and audiences cannot be faulted. Opera-lovers are rallying round and putting pressure on the government. Join in: sign Sir Bryn Terfel's petition. And catch a show. Both The Yeomen of the Guard and It's a Wonderful Life (pictured) are terrifically entertaining. You only know what you've got when it's gone.

Favourite female singer: Natalya Romaniw

Welsh-born Natalya Romaniw recalls singing with her Ukrainian grandfather as a child, a formative musical experience that adds to her distinctive tone and passion. With many successes already chalked up at Opera Holland Park, English National Opera and Garsington Opera, her Covent Garden debut in the title role of Puccini's Tosca this December is a big moment in a thrilling career. She returns to Garsington in July 2023, in Richard Strauss's Ariadne aux Naxos. Can't wait.

Favourite male singer: Freddie De Tommaso

The explosive moment when Freddie De Tommaso took over from an ailing Bryan Hymel in Puccini's Tosca at the end of 2021 was a landmark in vocal history. In December he resumes the role, as painter Mario Cavaradossi (pictured), opposite Natalya Romaniw, having already returned to the Royal Opera House in the summer as Lieutenant Pinkerton in another Puccini opera, Madama Butterfly. Watch out for him at every opportunity in 2023.

Favourite venue: Coliseum

Home to English National Opera, this magnificent theatre designed in 1904 by Frank Matcham has been usefully updated over the years, but now its future is shaky, after Arts Council England's swipe at ENO. With more than 2,300 seats (the biggest auditorium in London), it's anyone's guess who will fill those without ENO. Given its prominent St Martin's Lane location, it will say everything about the state of the nation if it ends up being mothballed.

Favourite recording: Theodora, Il Pomo d'Oro

Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato (pictured) was magnificent in Handel's opera Theodora at Covent Garden this year, but let down by a harsh production. Relive her astonishing singing as devout Irene in this phenomonal recording. Soprano Lisette Oropesa, Culture Whisper's favourite female artist of 2021 takes the title role, with versatile American Michael Spyres as Septimius. Il Pomo d'Oro orchestra and choir are conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev. Scintillating. And the perfect Christmas gift for the opera-lover in your life. Photo: Simon Pauly

Favourite surprise: Candide, Blackheath Halls Opera

After several hits, it should have been obvious that Blackheath Halls Opera's production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide would be a total delight. But settling back for two hours of unalloyed pleasure in a grim year was a surprising sensation indeed, and there was no end to the inventiveness of this bubbly staging. A starry cast led by Nick Pritchard (pictured, centre) and Ellie Neate, joined by musicians from the community, turned in a performance to remember. Look out for the company's 2023 offering. Or take part!