An outstanding and moving centenary tribute to György Kurtág at the Salzburg Festival

AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival 2026 [4] – ‘Hommage à Kurtág’: Brahms, Kurtág, R. Schumann, and Ligeti: Noah Bendix-Balgley (violin), Tabea Zimmermann (viola), Daniel Ottensamer (clarinet), Stefan Dohr (horn), Kirill Gerstein (piano). Grosser Saal, Mozarteum, Salzburg, 22.8.2026. (MB)

Tabea Zimmermann (viola), Kirill Gerstein (piano) and Daniel Ottensamer (clarinet) © SF/Marco Borrelli

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Looking back, moving forward: Măcelaru opens the Enescu Competition

RomaniaRomania George Enescu Competition 2026 [1] – Various: Mayumi Kanagawa (violin), Yo Kitamura (cello), Roman Lopatynskyi (piano), Romanian Radio National Orchestra / Cristian Măcelaru (conductor). Romanian Atheneum, Bucharest, 23.8.2026. (ES-S)

Cristian Măcelaru conducting the Romanian Radio National Orchestra © Cristina and Petrica Tanase

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Amy Harman steals the show at her first, and hopefully not last, BBC Prom

United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2026 [20] – Britten, Mozart, Musgraves, Elgar: Felix Klieser (horn), Amy Harman (bassoon), Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Benjamin Marquise Gilmore (leader). Royal Albert Hall, London, 23.8.2026. (LJ)

Felix Klieser (horn) with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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Nelson Goerner captures magic in Ravel in his Cleveland Orchestra debut at Blossom

United StatesUnited States Blossom Music Festival [7] – Various: Nelson Goerner (piano), Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus (chorus director: Daniel J. Singer), The Cleveland Orchestra / Antonello Manacorda (conductor). Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, 22.8.2026. (MSJ)

Pianist Nelson Goerner plays Ravel with conductor Antonello Manacorda and The Cleveland Orchestra © Roger Mastroianni/TCO

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Disappointment elsewhere but much to relish in Hadelich’s Brahms Violin Concerto in Salzburg

AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival 2026 [3] – Brahms: Augustin Hadelich (violin), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Christian Thielemann (conductor). Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 22.8.2026. (MB)

Violinist Augustin Hadelich, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Christian Thielemann © SF/Marco Borrelli

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Jamie Barton and Clay Hilley shine in a fine Das Lied von der Erde at the Proms

United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2026 [19] – Bushra El-Turk, Haydn, Mahler: Jamie Barton (mezzo-soprano), Clay Hilley (tenor), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Anja Bihlmaier (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 21.8.2026. (CK)

Anja Bihlmaier conducts the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra © BBC/Chris Christodoulou 

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Cheung’s scaling of Mahler’s Second is an impressive feat and will surely deepen over time

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mahler, Symphony No.2, ‘Resurrection’: Elizabeth Watts (soprano), Jennifer Johnston (mezzo), Brighton Festival Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Mandle Cheung (conductor). Alexandra Palace Theatre, London, 21.8.2026. (CC)

Mahler’s Symphony No.2, ‘Resurrection’ at the Alexandra Palace Theatre

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