Sala: Bristol Beacon

The refurbished Beacon stages a world premiere of a large choral work which imbues complete empathy for one migrant and his story.

Kirill Karabits leads the BSO in music by Glazunov and Tchaikovsky, which prove more appealing that David Fray's Beethoven.

The conductor and soloist usually have a close relationship, but rarely are they the same person. Nikolaj Znaider demonstrated his musical prowess as both a violin soloist and as conductor commanding the London Symphony Orchestra.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra presented a space-themed concert in an exciting evening’s programme of many well-known pieces rolled into a couple of hours.

Sir John Eliot Gardiner conducts the English Baroque Soloists through three Mozart Symphonies in one evening, educating along the way.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra returned once again to the Colston Hall to perform three very different works. Steven Isserlis headlined the evening with a fantastic rendition of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto no. 1.

This was, by no doubt, the largest ensemble on stage at Colston Hall this season with five choirs and an orchestra that took over the stage. 

The 82-strong Philharmonia Orchestra, under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy, ruled the roost at one of the highlights of Bristol’s 2014-15 classical music season.