An impressive Proms performance from Chineke! in a programme of diversity, defiance and dissent

United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2025 [27] – Coleridge-Taylor, Coleman, Lee, Shostakovich: Chineke! Orchestra / Jonathon Heyward (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London. 5.9.2025. (CSa)

Jonathon Heywood conducts Chineke! at the BBC Proms © BBC/Andy Paradise

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Intense, unnerving, and compelling: Shostakovich celebrated at the Proms with a stellar Lady Macbeth of Mtensk

United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2025 [26] – Shostakovich, The Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District: Soloists, BBC Singers, Chorus of English National Opera (chorus master: Matthew Quinn), Brass Section of the Orchestra of English National Opera, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra /John Storgårds (conductor), Ruth Knight (stage director). Royal Albert Hall, London. 1.9.2025. (CSa)

Amanda Majeski (Katerina) and John Findon (Zinovy) © BBC/Andy Paradise

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The Art of Fugue: Schiff and Nosrati at the peak of their artistic powers ascend Bach’s musical ‘Everest’

United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2025 [20] – J. S. Bach, The Art of Fugue: Sir András Schiff (piano), Schaghajegh Nostrati (piano). Royal Albert Hall, London, 23.8.2025. (CSa)

Sir András Schiff and Schaghajegh Nostrati

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Breaking the code: Collon and his Aurora Orchestra unlock the secrets at the heart of Shostakovich’s Fifth 

United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2025 [16] – Shostakovich’s Fifth by Heart: A musical and dramatic exploration of Shostakovich’s Symphony No.5: Max Revell (actor/dancer), Polly Frame, Craig Stein, Sarah Twomey (actors), Samuel West (Voice of Stalin), Petroc Trelawny (Voice of Telephone Operator). Aurora Orchestra / Nicholas Collon (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London. 16.8.2025. (CSa)

Shostakovich’s Fifth by Heart with the Aurora Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Collon © BBC/Andy Paradise

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Yamada’s CBSO contrasts different strands of twentieth-century music in a courageous and compelling Prom

United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2025 [8] – Adams, Rachmaninov and Berio: Yunchan Lim (piano), BBC Singers, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Kazuki Yamada (conductor). Royal Albert Hall. London, 1.8.2025. (CSa)

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kazuki Yamada © BBC/Mark Allan

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The Barbican performance of Handel’s Jephtha took time to live up to its promise

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Handel, Jephtha (concert performance): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Il Pomo d’Oro / Francesco Corti (conductor). Barbican Centre, London, 7.5.2025. (CSa)

Joyce DiDonato (Storgé) with conductor Francesco Corti and Il Pomo d’Oro (chorus and orchestra) © Mark Allan

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LPO’s Ravel packs a punch and says hello to the circus

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ravel: Circa (Yaron Lifschitz [artistic director, stage and lighting designer], Libby McDonnell [costume designer]), BBC Singers, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London. 23.4.2025. (CSa)

Acrobats of Circa performing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra © Pete Woodhead

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