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Classical Music

Best concerts and opera in April

By Claudia Pritchard on 18/3/2024

An exciting new production of Carmen, an evening with author Kate Atkinson, and musical fun for the family

Carmen, Royal Opera House

Italian director Damiano Michieletto's new production of Bizet's evergreen opera stars the world's go-to Carmen, mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina (pictured) in the title role, until 12 May, when Vasilia Berzhanskaya takes over. Expect really well thought-through drama from the director of Covent Garden's award-winning Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci, and maybe something of the same village atmosphere...

WHEN

Fri 5 April to Fri 31 May 2024. 16 performances, start times vary. Running time 3hr 10min, including one interval

WHERE

Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD

The Creation, St John's Smith Square

Haydn's very vivid musical depiction of our plant unfolding into life is made visual with dancers in this collaboration between Orpheus Sinfonia, Scherzo Ensemble and choreographer Osian Meilir Jones. Soloists, choir, dancers and chamber orchestra are drawn from emerging artists, as befits this picture in sound and movement of new beginnings. Sounds unmissable

WHEN

Sun 7 April 2024, 6PM (note early start time)

WHERE

St John's Smith Square, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA

Once Upon a Tune, Milton Court

James Mayhew’s award-winning book Once Upon A Tune is brought to life by the Britten Sinfonia, with music including Grieg’s In The Hall of the Mountain King, Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Rossini’s William Tell. And on the big screen, images by the author and artist.

WHEN

Tues 9 April 2024, 11AM

WHERE

Milton Court, Silk Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS

Aci by the River, Handel Opera Studio

All aboard an operatic experience with a difference. Travel by boat to the Thames-side venue, with music on the way, or be guided from Canada Water tube by strolling players. At Trinity Buoy Wharf, a zippy performance of Handel's early opera, featuring Mary Bevan (pictured/Victoria Cadish) as Ace, Claudia Huckle as her young swain Galatea, and Callum Thorpe as jealous, gallumphing Galatea. Early music specialist Lawrence Cummings conducts, and Jack Furness directs. Definitely one to catch.

WHEN

Wed 10 to Sat 13 April; three performances at 7:30PM, one at 2:30PM

WHERE

Trinity Buoy Wharf, 64 Orchard Place, London E14 0JW

The Planets, London Philharmonic Orchestra

A live performance of Holst's magical suite for choir and orchestra, The Planets, is always a special event that no recording, however brilliant, can match. Edward Gardner (pictured) conducts the LPO and London Youth Choir, these young voices really suited to the final movement's ethereal top line. Also on the programme, Dvorák's lyrical Cello Concerto with soloist Nicolas Altstaedt. An excellent programme for families with budding musicians.

WHEN

Fri 12 April 2024, 7:30PM

WHERE

Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

Rachmaninov Symphony No 2, London Symphony Orchestra

From its first performance in 1908, Rachmaninov's mighty symphony was a triumph, with its spectacular orchestration and lush melodies. Forging his new relationship as music director of the LSO, Sir Antonio Pappano conducts this great work alongside Lili Boulanger's spring-themed D'un matin de printemps. Janine Jansen (pictured/Marco Borggreve) is the soloist in Samuel Barber's innovative and virtuosic Violin Concerto.

WHEN

Sun 14 April 2024, 7PM (note early start time)

WHERE

Barbican Hall, Silk Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS

Lucia di Lammermoor, Royal Opera House

Lucia is in love with Edgardo, but is forced to marry his enemy, to save the family's fortunes. Nadine Sierra and Liv Redpath share the title role in Donizetti's powerful tragedy, set in Scotland, in a striking production by Katie Mitchell. Famous for its demands on the soprano lead, the opera boasts some of the prolific Italian composer's most performed music.

WHEN

Fri 19 April to Sat 18 May 2024; nine performances, start times vary. Running time: 3hr 5min, including one interval

WHERE

Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD

Complete Mendelssohn Symphonies, Royal Festival Hall

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Sir András Schiff perform all of the prodigious composer Felix Mendelssohn's symphonies over three consecutive evenings. Pairing Symphonies 1 and 4 (24 April), then 3 and 5 (25 April), the musicians close with the Lobgesang Symphony No 2 (26 April), with sopranos Lucy Crowe and Madison Nonoa, and tenor Nicky Spence (pictured), and the evergreen Violin Concerto, with soloist Alina Ibragimova.

WHEN

Wed 24 to Fri 26 April 2024; three concerts, each at 7PM

WHERE

Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX

Kate Atkinson and the London Symphony Orchestra

What do writers listen to in the long hours at their desks? Kate Atkinson (pictured), the author of Life After Life, Case Histories and Behind the Scenes at the Museum, talks about the music that inspires her when she joins the BBC Symphony Orchestra for an evening of words and music. The orchestra plays extracts from her favourite pieces and the novelist reads from her own work.

WHEN

Fri 26 April 2024, 7:30PM

WHERE

Barbican Hall, Silk Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS

Best concerts and opera in April

An exciting new production of Carmen, an evening with author Kate Atkinson, and musical fun for the family

Carmen, Royal Opera House

The Creation, St John's Smith Square

Once Upon a Tune, Milton Court

Aci by the River, Handel Opera Studio

The Planets, London Philharmonic Orchestra

Rachmaninov Symphony No 2, London Symphony Orchestra

Lucia di Lammermoor, Royal Opera House

Complete Mendelssohn Symphonies, Royal Festival Hall

Kate Atkinson and the London Symphony Orchestra

Royal Opera House

Aigul Akhmetshina

Britten Sinfonia

London Philharmonic Orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Nicky Spence

Lucy Crowe

Kate Atkinson

Bizet

Donizetti

Handel

Mendelssohn

Jenufa, English National Opera review ★★★★★

The Barber of Seville, Wilton's Music Hall review ★★★★★

Best concerts and opera in March and for Easter

The Magic Flute, English National Opera review ★★★★★

Opera Holland Park 2024

Aigul Akhmetshina interview: 'It's Fifty Shades of Carmen!'

Best concerts and opera in April

An exciting new production of Carmen, an evening with author Kate Atkinson, and musical fun for the family

Carmen, Royal Opera House

The Creation, St John's Smith Square

Once Upon a Tune, Milton Court

Aci by the River, Handel Opera Studio

The Planets, London Philharmonic Orchestra

Rachmaninov Symphony No 2, London Symphony Orchestra

Lucia di Lammermoor, Royal Opera House

Complete Mendelssohn Symphonies, Royal Festival Hall

Kate Atkinson and the London Symphony Orchestra

Royal Opera House

Aigul Akhmetshina

Britten Sinfonia

London Philharmonic Orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Nicky Spence

Lucy Crowe

Kate Atkinson

Bizet

Donizetti

Handel

Mendelssohn

Jenufa​, English National Opera review ★★★★★

The Barber of Seville, Wilton's Music Hall review ★★★★★

Best concerts and opera in March and for Easter

The Magic Flute, English National Opera review ★★★★★

Opera Holland Park 2024

Aigul Akhmetshina interview: 'It's Fifty Shades of Carmen!'

Jenufa, English National Opera review ★★★★★