London classical music 2017: the best orchestras and soloists, live

By Claudia Pritchard on 21/12/2016

The capital is a magnet for the world's finest artists, performing compositions from Bach to Berio. Here is our pick of must-hears

Trumpeter Alison Balsom is a Royal Albert Hall favourite. Photograph: Paul Sanders

Love Classical, Festival of Classical Music, Royal Albert Hall

Nigel Kennedy, Lang Lang and the trumpeter Alison Balsom top the bill at the Royal Albert Hall's festival of classical music which also features yoga to music and some unusual spaces.

WHEN

04 Mar 2017 – 15 Mar 2017, Times vary, 18 events

WHERE

Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP

Yuja Wang made her breakthrough with the Tchaikovsky concerto she plays in London. Photograph: Norbert Kniat

Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Royal Festival Hall

The Accademia di Santa Cecilia's journey from Rome to London in May is a big event that has a distinctively glamorous and Italian air enhanced by the solo piano playing of Yuja Wang.

WHEN

On 11 May 2017, 7:30 PM – 9:45 PM

WHERE

Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

New York Philharmonic Residency, Barbican Centre

The prestigious New York Philharmonic plays Bartok, Mahler, Berlioz, Beethoven, John Adams ... in short, their range is limitless, as this stellar concert series will demonstrate.

WHEN

On 31 Mar 2017, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
On 01 Apr 2017, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
On 02 Apr 2017, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM

WHERE

Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Steven Osborne is the piano soloist in Messiaen's dizzying Turangalîla Symphony. Photograph: Ben Ealovega

BBC Symphony Orchestra, Messiaen, Barbican Hall

The colossal Turangalîla Symphony by Messian is in 10 movements, and calls for, on top of a gigantic symphony orchestra, two soloists. Performances are rare, so catch this.

WHEN

On 24 May 2017, 7:30 PM – 9:45 PM

WHERE

Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Ekaterina Semenchuk sings songs by the composers known as The Five. Photograph: Sheila Rock

Ekaterina Semenchuk, Wigmore Hall

The Russian mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Semenchuk in one of the most exciting singers on the operatic and concert stage today, and a recital in London by this star of the Mariinsky Theatre will be a special occasion.

WHEN

On 12 Mar 2017, 7:30 PM – 9:45 PM

WHERE

Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP