Festivals

Compelling revival of Billy Budd at Glyndebourne

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Britten, Billy Budd: Soloists, Children’s Chorus (chorus master: Nicholas Mulroy), The Glyndebourne Chorus (chorus director: Aidan Oliver), London Philharmonic Orchestra / Nicholas Carter (conductor). Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes, East Sussex, 5.7.2026. (JR)

Captain Vere (Allan Clayton) © GFO/Tristram Kenton

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A Lincoln triptych as prologue to the Boston Symphony’s Tanglewood summer

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United StatesUnited States Tanglewood 2026 [1] – Glass, John Williams, Copland: Zachary James (baritone), Alec Baldwin (narrator), Boston Symphony Orchestra / Karen Kamensek (conductor). Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox, 5.7.2026. (ES-S)

Philip Glass on stage with baritone Zachary James and conductor Karen Kamensek © Hilary Scott

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The Cleveland Orchestra launches the 2026 Blossom Festival despite a severe storm

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United StatesUnited States Blossom Music Festival 2026 [1] – Various composers and works: Russell Thomas (tenor), The Cleveland Orchestra / Edwin Outwater (conductor). Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, 3.7.2026. (MSJ)

Tenor Russell Thomas with the Cleveland Orchestra under Edwin Outwater © Roger Mastroianni/TCO

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A vivid, dramatic performance of Das klagende Lied at the Cheltenham Music Festival

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Cheltenham Music Festival. Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler: Lee Bissett (soprano), Claudia Huckle (contralto), Elgan Llŷr Thomas (tenor), Aidan Smith (bass), South Cotswold Big Sing Group, British Sinfonietta / Adrian Partington (conductor). Tewkesbury Abbey, 4.7.2026. (JQ)

Conductor Adrian Partington © Michael Whitefoot

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New stars enthuse a brilliant chorus and orchestra as Macbeth joins the LFO season’s successes

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Longborough Festival Opera 2026 [3] – Verdi, Macbeth: Soloists, Longborough Festival Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Nil Venditti (conductor) Longborough, Gloucestershire, 1.7.2026. (CP)

Mark Stone (Macbeth) and Viktoriia Balan (Lady Macbeth) © Matthew Williams-Ellis

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Grange Park Opera’s sparky Das Rheingold augurs well for its forthcoming Ring cycle

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Grange Park Opera 2026 [2] – Wagner, Das Rheingold: Soloists, Orchestra of English National Opera / Harry Sever (conductor) Grange Park Opera, West Horsley, 26.6.2026. (JR)

Rheinmaidens (Ailish Tynan, Olivia Rose Tringham and Charlotte Bateman) and Alberich (David Stout) © Marc Brenner

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A semi-staged Turandot is yet more distinguished Puccini from Opera Holland Park

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Puccini, Turandot: Soloists, Opera Holland Park Youth Chorus (chorus master: Joe Cummings) and Chorus (chorus master: Richard Harker), City of London Sinfonia / Naomi Woo (conductor). Opera Holland Park, London, 23.6.2026. (MB)

Anne Sophie Duprels as Princess Turandot and Josè de Eça as Calaf Turandot © Pablo Strong

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