United Kingdom Britten, The Rape of Lucretia: Soloists, HGO Orchestra / Oliver Cope (conductor). Jacksons Lane Theatre, London, 22.4.2026. (MB)
Another triumph for HGO with their excellent The Rape of Lucretia
Mark Berry
Distinguished and thought-provoking Wigmore Hall recital by Pavel Kolesnikov
United Kingdom R. Schumann, Feldman, and Schubert: Pavel Kolesnikov (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 16.4.2026. (MB)
Another encounter with Kirill Serebrennikov’s production of Parsifal at the Vienna State Opera
Austria Wagner, Parsifal: Soloists, Actors, Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Axel Kober (conductor). Vienna State Opera, 8.4.2026. (MB)
Rheingold is an auspicious start to the new Ring cycle at the Salzburg Easter Festival
Austria Salzburg Easter Festival 2026 [3] – Wagner, Das Rheingold: Soloists, Performer Compagnie Baninga, Actors, Performers, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Kirill Petrenko (conductor). Felsenreitschule, Salzburg, 6.4.2026. (MB)
Daniel Harding leads a splendid account of Die Schöpfung in Salzburg
Austria Salzburg Easter Festival 2026 [2] – Haydn: Hanna-Elisabeth Müller (soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), Konstantin Krimmel (baritone), Bavarian Radio Chorus (director: Peter Dijkstra), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Daniel Harding (conductor). Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 5.4.2026. (MB)
Kirill Petrenko’s outstanding Salzburg performance of Mahler’s Eighth sweeps all before it
Austria Salzburg Easter Festival 2026 [1] – Mahler: Jacquelyn Wagner, Sarah Wegener, Liv Redpath (sopranos), Beth Taylor, Fleur Barron (mezzo-sopranos), Benjamin Bruns (tenor), Gihoon Kim (baritone), Le Bu (bass), Berlin Radio Chorus (director: Justus Barleben), Salzburg Bach Choir (director: Michael Schneider), Salzburg Festival and Theatre Children’s Choir (directors: Wolfgang Götz and Regina Sgier), Tölz Boys’ Choir (director: Marco Barbon), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Kirill Petrenko (conductor). Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 3.4.2026. (MB)
A pleasant LSO St Luke’s concert, but one that skated on the Mozartian surface
United Kingdom Mozart: Benjamin Marquise Gilmore (violin), Eivind Ringstad (viola), Daniel Jemison (bassoon), Timothy Jones (horn), LSO Chamber Orchestra / Jaime Martín (conductor). LSO St Luke’s, London, 29.3.2026. (MB)
Iestyn Davies and colleagues celebrate Dowland’s 400th anniversary at Wigmore Hall
United Kingdom Dowland: Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Daisy Bevan (soprano), Thomas Hobbs (tenor), Neal Davies (bass-baritone), Thomas Dunford (lute). Wigmore Hall, London, 28.3.2026 (MB)
