Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Festive Overture in A major for orchestra, Op.96

Visiting Russian players offer sophisticated Brahms and sensitive Elgar in Istanbul.

Stephen Hough stuns with an emotive reading of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, while the Ulster Orchestra under Rafael Payare were on fine form for the season’s finale.

The Hallé brings its Nottingham concert season to an end with a programme of popular French and Russian works.  

The Sinfónica Juvenil de Caracas tackled a brooding Romantic programme in a showcase of impressive power.

The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland's Symphony Orchestra is touring to China, a momentous event for our young musicians. The Bon Voyage concert presented their touring programme to a home crowd before setting off.

Leopold Tobisch's future expectations have been raised to a dizzying high by Kristjan Järvi and the Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic at the Theatre des Champs Elysées.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra offered a rich performance of works by Holst, Shostakovich, Grieg and Marquez. Conductor Robert Moody brought out the lyrical side of the orchestra, even if its members were nearly over-shadowed by an over-enthusiastic soloist.

As the audience assembled in Roy Thomson Hall on Wednesday, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Members of the orchestra were taking their seats on the stage, getting ready to tune their instruments. However, anyone paying close attention to the setting would have seen a fixture hanging high above the stage.

Rarely have I seen a conductor so excited! On completion of Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, Michael Seal looked like the cat that got the cream – and rightly so. He had just launched his audience into this concert with a terrific bang.

Pablo Heras-Casado se presentó en el Festival de Granada al frente de la Philharmonia Orchestra. A través de un sugerente programa de autores rusos y junto a la violinista Esther Yoo, director y orquesta ofrecieron una vibrante noche llena de virtuosismo, frescura y emoción.

Das junge Orchester konnte zwar nicht immer mit seiner Solistin mithalten, erntete aber viel Respekt vor so viel Talent und Können.