United Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2016 (5) – Wagner, Das Rheingold (in concert): Mariinsky Opera/Valery Gergiev (conductor), Usher Hall, 15.8.2016. (SRT)
Festivals
Jades Bignamini Conducting Makes Ciro in Babilonia Bristle with Newfound Vitality
Italy Rossini: Ciro in Babilonia, Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Comunale of Bologna/Jader Bignamini (conductor), Teatro Rossini, Pesaro, 10.08.2016. (JB)

Aspen (12): Percussion Tour de Force, Arresting Pianism, and a Buoyant Quartet
United States Bazelon, Pereira, Kabelác, Wahlund, Ginastera, J.S. Bach/Brahms, Liszt, Schubert, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Tsontakis, Beethoven: Soloists, Daniil Trifonov (piano), American String Quartet. Harris Hall, Aspen, CO. 8-10.8.2016. (HS)
Speranza Scappucci’s Conducting of Il turco in Italia Impresses
Italy Rossini Opera Festival (ROF) (1) – Rossini, Il turco in Italia: Filarmonica Gioachino Rossini/Speranza Scappucci (conductor), Teatro Rossini, Pesaro, 9.8.2016. (JB)

Bravura Performance from Barenboim and West Eastern Divan Orchestra
Austria Salzburg Festival (7) – Widmann, Mozart, and Wagner: West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim (piano/conductor), Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 11.8.2016. (MB)

Outstanding Mozart Performances from Barenboim and West Eastern Divan Orchestra
Austria Salzburg Festival (6) – Mozart: West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim (conductor), Grosser Saal, Mozarteum, Salzburg, 10.8.2016. (MB)

Gardner Conducts First Rate Performance of The Apostles with Starry Cast
United Kingdom EIF 2016 (4) – Elgar, The Apostles: Soloists, Edinburgh Festival Chorus, NYCoS National Girls’ Choir, Royal Conservatoire Voices, Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Edward Gardner (conductor), Usher Hall, 14.8.2016. (SRT)
A Nicely Played but Uneven Don Giovanni at the 2016 Quincena Musical de San Sebastien
Spain Mozart, Don Giovanni: Orquesta Sinfónica de Euskadi, Coro Easo, Manuel Hernández-Silva (conductor), Kursaal Auditorium, San Sebastian, 13.8.2016. (JMI)