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For the new season's curtain-raising programme, Seattle Symphony finds reassurance in milestones from its history led by Conductor Emeritus Ludovic Morlot.

The star tenor is clearly under the weather, but the young house-favourite mezzo shines in an impressive role debut in a revival of Benoît Jacquot's cinematic staging. 

John Doyle's emotional staging of Werther gets to the heart of Massenet's engagement with Goethe in memorable performances.      

In their role debuts, Tassis Christoyannis and Véronique Gens make for an incredible pair in this concert performance of Massenet's opera.

Massenet, Smyth and Rota are unlikely bedfellows, but in the Guildhall School's Autumn production, a one-act opera by each contributed to a most convincing triple bill, all set around the La Scala Picturehouse in the 1920s.

One of the greatest launching pads for an opera singer’s career, the Neue Stimmen once again proves its ability to attract the best operatic talents the world has to offer. 

Olivier Py's new production at La Scala is inspired by art depicting the Temptation of St Anthony, but turns out to be disappointingly tame.

In Verbier's Salle des Combins, despite the change of programme, Ambrogio Maestri and Maria Bayankina deliver stand-out performances. 

Enea Scala and Rihab Chaieb impress in a concert performance of Massenet's Werther in Ghent. 

Bach, Beethoven and a virtuoso showstopper from Bomsori Kim in recital in Singapore's Victoria Hall. 

The whole Company exudes bravura and panache in gala programme headlined by a Zucchetti premiere and a Wheeldon classic.

The London Mozart Players produce effervescence in Prokofiev while cellist Maciej Kulakowski shines in a clean and expressive Schumann Cello Concerto.

After a few streamed events with chamber forces, the full orchestra and chorus returned to the House – albeit not in their usual positions – for an entertaining fundraising gala.

Beatrice Rana and Mario Brunello provide live music for seven internationally renowned dancers, including Paris Opéra Ballet’s Hugo Marchand and Spanish flamenco whizz Sergio Bernal, at the 15th-century Rocca Brancaleone.

The two French singers convince in a programme including French late Romantics, Richard Strauss and a Verdi world premiere!

A terrific opening to the 68th festival with Aigul Akhmetshina's sultry Dulcinée the standout in a great cast. 

The Royal Ballet season opens with a MacMillan favourite, his ballet adaptation of a novel more familiar for its operatic treatment. 

Laurent Pelly’s darkly stylish production of Manon is revived with a strong cast of singers. In the title role, Lisette Oropesa demonstrated elegant and incisive singing, while Michael Fabiano was her virile and powerful partner.

Edward Gardner brings out the Wagner influence in Massenet's opulent score, Juan Diego Flórez give a persuasive performance in the title role.

Cinderella undergoes psychoanalysis on the Sussex Downs as Fiona Shaw's production is revived for the Glyndebourne Festival. 

Juan Diego Flórez was impressive in his first portrayal of a lovesick soldier/priest in Manon, with Nino Machaidze's accomplished heroine. Andrei Serban's modern and thoughtful production was still fresh and arresting.

What a day to hear an all-French programme, and with this fragile moment at its heart criticism feels futile, disrespectful even.

The real triumph of Michael Fabiano's role debut as Werther lay in controlling the bold intensity of his voice in favour of a sweet and lower-key level of passion – a match for Massenet's frequent choice of the cello.

Jurgita Dronina impresses as the heroine in this matinee performance of Sir Kenneth MacMillan's ballet at the Coliseum. 

A performance that overflows with rich detailing in every role

Here was singing and playing to live long in the memory.

In her anxiety to be ‘new’, Shaw slaps a sackload of semi-comprehensible ideas onto a sort-of present day update.

A century on from its birth, one of Switzerland’s leading orchestras finally makes its Proms debut in a scintillating programme of French and Russian music.

Dorset Opera Festival's bold decision to programme Massenet's obscure opera about a medieval Castilian hero proves to be a major success.

Willy Decker's enduring production gets smart treatment in a handsome revival.

In a highly effective stage presentation, the Minnesota Opera tells Jules Massenet’s story of two personalities whose spiritual journeys are like two ships passing in the night.

Organised by Berlin State Ballet audience’s darling, the principal dancer Polina Semionova, the gala Polina & Friends and its stellar cast literally left the house roaring from enthusiasm.

Laurent Pelly’s staging provided some of the most memorable moments in this performance of Cendrillon. 

Maxim Vengerov and Polina Osetinskaya’s marathon of Brahms sonatas showed off the composer at his most lyrical and dramatic. 

Hakhnazaryan’s programme was rich with meaty music.

Yet another revival of MacMillan's signature ballet.  Enlivened by tremendous performances, not least in the title role, and still a classic. But, how long will that pertain?   

Massanet’s Don Quichotte is mounted by Opera Australia, in a production which creaks but is held together by fine singing from Ferruccio Furlanetto and Warwick Fyfe.

This production fell just short of brilliance but showed how relevant and thought-provoking opera as an art form can be when tapping into today's headline debates.

Debussy's newly unearthed Première Suite d’orchestre, hitherto unheard in the UK, was presented in the context of music that may have inspired him.

Ailyn Pérez draws every eye and ear to her in an easy-on-the-eye production that doesn't solve some of the work's inherent contradictions.

Aspiring Perth (WA) company Opera Box provides an enjoyable night at the opera, cementing their willingness to perform major mainstream works, challenging the dominance of the established companies and their less imaginative choices.

Just what the doctor ordered: a programme of Franco-Iberian musical delights to advance the cause of a Mediterranean lifestyle, with Charles Dutoit and the RPO in commanding form.

Outstanding performances from Nicole Car and Etienne Dupuis turn Opera Australia's unstaged production of Thaïs into a triumph at Sydney Town Hall.

A memorable Manon in Budapest 

Ivan Magrì's exemplary technique and strong delivery in his London recital debut left his audience hoping for a return visit to the Rosenblatt series in the imminent future.

Juan Diego Flórez stars as Goethe’s archetypal Romantic poet in Massenet's Werther in Zurich. 

Cellist Gautier Capuçon and pianist Frank Braley are artists I have previously admired in many chamber ensemble concerts, but their recital at Kings Place was the first time I heard them as a duo.

Younger generations have still a lot to learn from the 76-year old singer

From the moment he stepped on stage as our ill-fated title character, Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo seemed as if he may burst at the seams. 

Beczała's "Pourquoi me réveiller" stops the show in Willy Decker's thoughtful Werther at the Liceu, expertly conducted by Alain Altinoglu.