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Classical Music

Best concerts and opera in March and for Easter

By Claudia Pritchard on 25/2/2024

Music by Bach for Easter, comedy and tragedy at the opera, and Peter and the Wolf for all the family

Classical Vauxhall 2023

This long weekend of music is a real Culture Whisper favourite, for its innovative programming, choice of artists and appealing venues. Highlight of the five-event mini-festival include Adjoa Andoh (pictured) narrating Prokofiev's timeless fable in music, Peter and the Wolf, at Edinburgh House, Kennington Lane (Sun 3 March, 12PM).

WHEN

Thurs 29 Feb to Sun 3 March 2024. Five events, start and running times vary

WHERE

Various south London venues

The Rake's Progress, English Touring Opera

Britain's busiest touring opera company returns to London on its nationwide tour, this time with Stravinsky's acerbic opera based on Hogarth's satire. Expect the highs and lows of a young life lived recklessly, true love, and a bearded lady....

WHEN

Sat 2 March 2024, 7:30PM

WHERE

Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ

The Magic Flute, English National Opera

Mozart's knockabout opera has romance, adventure, musical magic and magical music. This revival of Simon McBurney's entrancing production has a really interesting cast, featuring many of the most exciting new artists today, among them Stephanie Wake-Edwards and Ossian Huskinson in smaller roles but with greater things to come. Catch them now, and revel in Mozart's sublime score, sung in English and conducted by German-born Erina Yashima, one of the new generation of women conductors.

WHEN

28 Feb to 30 March 2024: 11 performances, start times vary. Running time 2hr 55min, including one interval

WHERE

English National Opera
London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4ES

The Flying Dutchman, Royal Opera House

The perfect opera for those who want to dip their toes into Wagner but find the four-opera Ring marathon a little daunting. In this standalone piece, a man is doomed to sail the seas until true love liberates him from his accursed wanderings. In Tim Albery's atmospheric production, baritone Bryn Terfel is the lonely Dutchman, with Swedish soprano Elisabet Strid as Senta, the young woman who takes pity on him, and tenor Toby Spence as her rejected suitor, Erik.

WHEN

29 Feb to 16 March 2024. Six performances, start times vary. Running time 2hr 20min with no interval

WHERE

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

Christopher Gunning Remembered, with Philip Jackson

If you love the title music to TV's Poirot series you know the music of Christopher Gunning, a very gifted composer for small and large screen and the concert hall. In an evening of his music performed as a memorial after his death in May, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra play much-loved theme music as well as Gunning's Lament for Cello and Piano, written shortly before his death, and his Symphony No 10. The concert raises much-needed funds for Help Musicians, a charity which supports players and singers in need of a helping hand. Poirot's Chief Inspector Japp, actor Philip Jackson, is the presenter and guest artists include guitarist John Williams.

WHEN

Sun 10 March 2024, 6:30PM (note early start time)

WHERE

Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ

The Barber of Seville, Wilton's Music Hall

They have a real gift for comedy at Charles Court Opera, and when the company sets about a truly hilarious work by Rossini, laughs are guaranteed. Resourceful barber and fixer Figaro steps in when a nobleman plans to snatch a young woman from under the nose of her possessive guardian. Set in the Wild West, this is Italian opera as you have never seen it before. Cast includes Jonathan Eyers (pictured) as Figaro.

WHEN

Tues 12 March to Sat 23 March 2024; 14 performances, start times vary

WHERE

Wilton's Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, London E1 8JB

Jenufa, English National Opera

When a feckless lover deserts his pregnant girlfriend, she must bear the child in secret, and hope for happiness with the man's devoted half-brother. The wedding dances begin, but there is a terrible discovery.... Janacek's searing opera in a brilliant production at ENO is revived with a new cast, including soprano Jennifer Davies in the title role, and John Findon as brutish Steva. Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts.

WHEN

Wed 13 March to Wed 27 March 2024. Six performances, start times vary. Running time 2hr 35min, including one interval

WHERE

English National Opera
London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4ES

Beethoven and Bruch, Royal Festival Hall

Who better to play Bruch’s concerto-like Scottish Fantasy than violinist Nicola Benedetti (pictured)? The Philharmonia’s Featured Artist this season is one of Scotland’s great ambassadors for music and the Fantasy, which bursts with lively Scottish folksong, is a favourite of hers. You might think that Beethoven’s Symphony No 5, with its fateful da-da-da dah opening, has nothing new to say, but you would be wrong. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve heard it, it always comes up fresh when it’s played live. The evening opens with a rare chance to hear the dramatic Overture No 1 by unjustly neglected French composer Louise Farrenc.

WHEN

Thur 14 March 2024, 7:30 PM

WHERE

Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

Nicholas Collin and Aurora Orchestra, a big hit at the Proms, constantly rethink music. Photo: Mark Allan

Aurora Orchestra: behind the scenes

The ever inventive orchestra under Nicholas Collin revisits Schubert's Winterreise, the musical journey of a single man disappointed in love. With the superstar tenor Allan Clayton

WHEN

Thurs 14 and Sat 16 March 2024, 7:30PM. Running time 1hr 30min with no interval

WHERE

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

St Matthew Passion, Academy of Ancient Music

JS Bach's profound and dramatic retelling of the Easter story in music will be superbly performed by these early music specialists conducted from the harpsichord by Laurence Cummings with soloists including soprano Anna Dennis, counter-tenor Tim Mead, bass Rodney Earl Clarke (pictured) and Nicholas Mulroy as Evangelist.

WHEN

Good Friday, 29 March 2024 3PM. Running time c 3hr including one interval

WHERE

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

St John Passion, Oxford Bach Soloists

The Easter story unfolds with drama and passion in JS Bach's important piece for chorus, soloists and orchestra. The Oxford Bach Soloists continue their journey through Bach's great works with this Good Friday performance. Tenor Mark Padmore sings the Evangelist and Tom Hammond-Davies conducts what promises to be a powerful and moving interpretation in inspiring surroundings.

WHEN

Fri 29 March 2024, 7:30PM

WHERE

St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9LL