Find classical music concert reviews

Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts the Southbank Chamber orchestra in a programme dedicated to the interpretation of classical dance forms.

Fail to inject the composer's cathedral-sized symphonic structures with a sense of rapt wonder and they can sound dull.

Thomas Søndergård and the RSNO with a beguiling performance of Ravel’s Schéhérazade from Catriona Morison, vivid Peer Gynt from Grieg and a vibrant Rachmaninov’s First Symphony

Xian Zhang brought out the beauty of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s engaging sound and soprano Fatma Said gracefully beguiled us with Strauss.

Manchester's BBC Philharmonic packs a punch in an evening of orchestral greats.

Jun Märkl excels in an all-French program entitled “Vive la France”. 

Gianandrea Noseda conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Netherlands Radio Choir and an ideal team of soloists in a memorable performance of Britten's War Requiem.

Edward Gardner opens the Hallé's Thursday series with dramatic Strauss and Janáček.

Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra – premiered by the BSO under Serge Koussevitzky and a familiar calling card ever since – opens the new season.

Mahler's Resurrection Symphony provides both a thrilling opener and apt metaphor for the orchestra's new era under Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov.

Principal Guest Conductor Kazuki Yamada teases brilliant French sounds from the CBSO.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Karina Canellakis and with Pierre-Laurent Aimard as soloist, offer a scenic tour to territories once visualised by Sibelius, Dvořák and Bartók.

While the Tonhalle’s concert season officially began about a month ago, Paavo Järvi launched his own appointment here with demanding repertoire that met with great enthusiasm. 

After the UK première of Andris Dzenītis’ Māra and some Tchaikovsky operatic excerpts, the Gewandhaus returned to Mahler. 

The new Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester leads a passionate rendering of Mahler 5, while Håkan Hardenberger gives a masterclass in trumpet colour.

Anna Teresa De Keersmaeker's production of Six Brandenburg Concertos at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City disappoints

In his mesmerising London Piano Festival programme, Pavel Kolesnikov explores Couperin and Schumann.

Beethoven, Kurth and Grieg under the baton of Michael Stern.

An evening of unfailing interest that flagged up the wonders of both David Owen Norris and Lawrence Power in variable performances of classic scores by Vaughan Williams. 

Vladimir Jurowski led the LPO in a thoughtful and though-provoking concert that paired Beethoven's only full-length ballet, the joyous and energetic Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus with Stravinsky's cool and melancholy Orpheus.

Omer Meir Wellber makes his first appearance with the BBC Philharminic since the announcement of his appointment as Chief Conductor Designate.

This weekend’s performance of the Symphony no. 2 in C minor had innumerable beautifully detailed moments, with two excellent soloists and an immaculately prepared chorus. 

A glittering performance of Mason Bates’ recent “concerto for orchestra” was a thrilling journey wedged between pretty good Beethoven.

Fiery Prokofiev but lacklustre Britten with the National Orchestra of Belgium.

Bringing their residency to a close, Anderson and Roe perform Mozart’s concerto for two pianos. Anu Tali makes her RLPO debut with Bernstein, Tubin and Sibelius.

Ilya Gringolts brings his brand of unspectacular virtuosity to the ACO's latest programme, with the Paganini Violin Concerto no. 1 and Bartók's Divertimento clear highlights.

Stephen Layton returns to Auckland to continue his series of Bach's choral masterpieces with the APO. 

The Russian State Symphony Orchestra under Vasily Petrenko celebrates its heritage with an evening of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov

Sakari Oramo conducts the European première of a fine new work alongside familiar Grieg and Sibelius.

Kyung Wha Chung exceeds her already-legendary reputation, assisted by her brother, Myung-whun Chung, and the Tokyo Philharmonic. 

It was especially effective to hear the line “One ever hangs where shelled roads part” with the vast hanging crucifix with its portrait of Christ dominating the scene behind.

A semi-staged Dido from the Academy of Ancient Music and the speculative funeral music for a queen.

In the second of the two concerts this week to open the Philharmonia's season, Salonen excels in the Schoenberg, while leaving space for debate in the Bruckner.

Viktoria Mullova is dazzling in Sibelius' Violin Concerto but the audience of Sage Gateshead fail to make their mark when asked to sing along to Finlandia. 

The anticipation of an all-French program with Morlot was almost too delicious to contemplate.

Stuart Skelton and Sarah Connolly were the stars of the evening, lifting the performance to a new level in what Leonard Bernstein called Mahler’s “greatest symphony”.

In a program including both modernist and neoclassical works, Michael Tilson Thomas and the SFO emphasized the common traits characterizing Stravinsky's entire ouevre.

Franz Welser-Möst selected a Viennese-inspired program for The Cleveland Orchestra’s annual gala, with works of Strauss (both Richard and Johann II) and Ravel following a Mozart piano concerto.

Voltaire and Bernstein's wilful political incorrectness make Candide a challenge to behold, but the Sydney Philharmonia meets them in a concert performance in the opera house.

Kantorow had his work cut out for him, playing masses of cluster chords and arpeggios up and down the keyboard.

Jaap van Zweden led his new orchestra in a provocative premiere by the multi-talented Conrad Tao followed by a surprisingly bland Bruckner 8.

Manchester's highly polished Northern Chamber Orchestra is joined by Freddy Kempf to deliver a highly enjoyable performance, full of vim and vigour.

Finding wit and introspection with Psappha in their 2018/19 season opener

Conductor Alpesh Chauhan and pianist Pavel Kolesnikov returned to Birmingham with an Italian themed programme. Could they build on the success of their previous performances with the CBSO?   

In Bruckner Six, Salonen simply jumped the red lights and kept driving.

Stéphane Denève and the RCO gave a powerful, meticulously prepared performance of Honegger’s dramatic oratorio about Joan of Arc.

Yefim Bronfman was the powerful soloist in Bartók’s Second Piano Concerto. Welser-Möst’s expressionistic reading of Prokofiev’s Third Symphony evoked nightmares of tormented souls.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, conductor Mei-Ann-Chen, and pianist Lang Lang play a spectacular all-Mozart concert.

Commendably fine playing from the LPO conducted by Thomas Adès, and with Kirill Gerstein as soloist, three less than familiar works throw up overwhelming volumes of energy.

Blomstedt, in splendid form at 91, also paid tribute to his largely forgotten compatriot Franz Berwald, who died 150 years ago.