Instrument: Accordion

In Zurich’s new and provisional Tonhalle Maag, Omer Meir Wellber recently conducted a triple bill of works from the Baroque, Romantic and modern periods.

A restless score, a stylish modern setting and gripping central performances from David Butt Philip (trading Laertes at the festival for the title role here) and Jennifer France (Ophelia) do much to commend this new work

Conductor Han-Na Chang and the Oslo Philharmonic impressed with a fiercely fast overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila and an exciting new piece by Norwegian composer Jan Erik Mikalsen.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo glistened and shimmered in Dutilleux and presented a 'no holds barred' Beethoven's Fifth while Håkan Hardenberger provided zing and reflection in HK Gruber.

HK Gruber's wit shines through this concert centred on Brecht and Weill's bitingly sarcastic songs from The Threepenny Opera; Håkan Hardenberger thrills with magical playing of trumpet and flugelhorn.

The beginning of Prom 23 was utterly surreal. I found myself confronted by sounds I had never heard before in a concert hall.

For those more familiar with grim-faced matronly Salvation Army accordion players, voluptuous virtuoso Ksenija Sidorova certainly breaks the mould.