What a delight it was to see and hear the talented young NYO musicians in stormy Wagner and epic Mahler

United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 30 – Wagner, Mazzoli, Howard, Mahler: Musicians from NYO Inspire, The National Youth Orchestra / Alexandre Bloch (conductor), Tess Jackson (conductor, Howard). Recorded (directed by Rhodri Huw) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 10.8.2024 and available for a limited time on BBC iPlayer. (JPr)

Alexandre Bloch conducts the National Youth Orchestra © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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Glorious Proms Fairy Queen delivered by excellent musicians and singers, and astonishing break dancers

United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 24 – Purcell, The Fairy Queen: Le Jardin des Voix, Compagnie Käfig, Les Arts Florissants / Paul Agnew (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 6.8.2024. (AK)

Purcell’s The Fairy Queen at the Proms © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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Suk’s ‘Asrael’ symphony brings the Bamberger Symphoniker’s residency in Edinburgh to a spectacular close

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [6]Dvořák, Suk: Kateřina Knĕžíkova (soprano), Adam Plachetka (bass-baritone), Edinburgh Festival Chorus (director: James Grossmith), Bamberger Symphoniker /Jakub Hrůša (conductor). Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 9.8.2024. (GT)

Jakub Hrůša with the Bamberger Symphoniker in the Usher Hall © Andrew Perry

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Breathing life into Beethoven: a thrilling Triple Concerto and vibrant Fourth Symphony at Tanglewood

United StatesUnited States Tanglewood Festival 2024 [10] – Beethoven: Kirill Gerstein (piano), Joshua Bell (violin), Steven Isserlis (cello), Boston Symphony Orchestra / Alan Gilbert (conductor). Koussevitzky Shed, Lenox, 4.8.2024. (CSa)

Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis, and Kirill Gerstein perform Beethoven’s Triple Concerto at Tanglewood © Hilary Scott

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More diverse Queen’s Hall music at the EIF from Raphaël Feuillâtre and Stephan Dohr (and friends)

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [5]: Raphaël Feuillâtre (guitar, 9.8), Stephan Dohr (horn, 10.8), Carolin Widmann (violin, 10.8), Dénes Várjon (piano, 10.8). Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 9 & 10.8.2024. (SRT)

Guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre © Stefan Hoederath

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Consolation and utter serenity from Ton Koopman’s magnificent performance of the St John Passion

FranceFrance Itinéraire Baroque en Périgord, 2024 [5] – Bach, Johannes-Passion, BWV 245 (1724): Amelia Berridge (soprano), Sophia Faltas (mezzo-soprano), Tilman Lichdi (tenor), Klaus Mertens (bass), Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir / Ton Koopman (conductor / harpsichord). Église de Saint-Astier, Dordogne, France. 4.8.2024. (CC)

Klaus Mertens (bass) and Ton Koopman (harpsichord) © Jean-Michel Bale

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