Our 2016 - 2017 classical music and opera festival guide is the perfect place to find listings from some of the best festivals in the UK, Europe and around the world. Whether you're looking for big festivals like the BBC Proms, opera festivals in beautiful castles or small and intimate chamber music festivals - we've got them all!
FEATURED FESTIVALS
Kilkenny Arts Festival
August 11 - 20 2017
August 11 - 20 2017
Glyndebourne Festival
May 20 - Aug. 26 2017
May 20 - Aug. 26 2017
Chopin and his Europe
Aug. 12 - 31 2017
Aug. 12 - 31 2017
BBC Proms
July 14 - September 9 2017
July 14 - September 9 2017
Karwendel Music Festival
August 14 - 27 2017
August 14 - 27 2017
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ARTICLES
A day at the Palace – not Buckingham, but Rundāle in Latvia
Good music is good music no matter where it comes from or when it was written. For 23 years, the International Early Music Festival in Riga proves the point with sold-out seasons leaving legions music-loving locals clamouring for more.
“Unusual": the 45th Istanbul Music Festival
Now in its 45th year, the Istanbul Music Festival embraces and celebrates an extraordinary city, bringing together Turkey’s musical heritage with music from around the world.
Guide to Opera Festivals 2017
Opera with the stars or under the stars? Country house picnics or rare repertoire in smaller venues? Our 2017 opera festivals guide has something for everyone!
Giovanni Antonini takes the reins at Wratislavia Cantans Festival
Giovanni Antonini's latest challenge is the Artistic Directorship of the Wratislavia Cantans Festival in Wrocław Poland, intending to raise its profile on the European scene.
BA…CHopin and his Europe international festival 2017
For nearly three weeks in August, renowned international performers and rising stars take to the stage to play the music of Bach and Chopin, and much, much more in this the thirteenth edition of the Chopin and his Europe International Festival, presented by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute in Warsaw.
Jonathan Crow takes the reins in Toronto
This year’s edition of the Toronto Summer Music (TSM) marks two milestones: along with a celebration of Canada’s Sesquicentennial, it will inaugurate Jonathan Crow’s tenure as new Artistic Director. Crow, 40, is an internationally acclaimed violinist who has served as concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 2011.
Click here to read more postcards from around the world
Postcard from Wrocław
The hardest task facing foreign visitors to the fascinating Polish city of Wrocław is how to pronounce it.
Postcard from Valldemossa, Majorca
The site of Chopin and George Sand's unhappy winter – still containing Chopin's Pleyel "pianino" – makes for a delightful short visit.
Postcard from St Petersburg
With great music, exceptional palaces and unique architecture, if you have any pretensions to knowing the great cities of the world, Saint Petersburg just has to be on your bucket list.
REVIEWS
Bayreuth
Musically sublime, packed with ideas
The label “most opera directors” does *not* apply to Barrie Kosky, who makes his Bayreuth debut with a Meistersinger that pulls no punches.
Lucerne
Supreme command: Haitink in Lucerne
Close to the start of this summer’s Lucerne Festival, Bernard Haitink conducted an outstanding performance of Mozart and Mahler works that span the centuries.
London
An exotic banquet to savour from Les Siècles
It was truly magnifique to welcome French period instrument orchestra Les Siècles and François-Xavier Roth to the BBC Proms for a highly perfumed programme of exotic sweetmeats.
Edinburgh
Late night food for the soul at the Edinburgh Fringe
At the Edinburgh Frings, a niche festival of late night classical music thoughtfully programmed at Old St Paul’s Church nestling off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is food for the soul.
Salzburg
Netrebko triumphs as Aida
Muti's reading of the score is extraordinary, both for its sophistication and originality.
Pesaro
A new critical edition of Le Siège de Corinthe
Roberto Abbado leads a strong cast in an inspired production by La Fura del Baus.
MORE FESTIVALS
Top festivals
Baltic Sea FestivalBBC PromsBeethovenfest BonnBirmingham International Piano FestivalChopin and His EuropeI Suoni delle Dolomiti – Sounds of the DolomitesInnsbruck Festival of Early MusicKarwendel Music FestivalKomische Oper FestivalLondon Piano FestivalMozartwoche SalzburgMusic in Old CracowOxford Chamber Music FestivalRobeco SummerNightsRotterdam Philharmonic Gergiev FestivalSuntory Hall Chamber Music GardenValletta International Baroque FestivalVaraždin Baroque EveningsWilliam Alwyn FestivalWindsor FestivalWratislavia Cantans
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