Obra: Aria for Soprano, "Chi sà, chi sà, qual sia", K582

Melbourne-born soprano Sioghan Stagg returns for a one night stand with Kristian Bezuidenhout and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra as part of their Australian tour.

"Expect the unexpected" is a useful maxim for reviewers. Major last-minute changes to the advertised La Scala programme, with Chen Reiss in Mozart and Zubin Mehta in Beethoven and Schubert.

At the Barbican, Cecilia Bartoli and Rolando Villazón entertained a festive audience in a concert of bel canto highlights, determined not to let a cold put a chill on the evening.