Instrument: Bassoon

Jaap van Zweden commenced his role as music director of the New York Philharmonic with a première by Ashley Fure, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, and Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major featuring pianist Daniil Trifonov. 

Impressive Ravel from Benedetto Lupo, with pleasing Debussy and Delius, and a strong performance of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring from Juanjo Mena and the LPO.

A Dvořák-Schubert double bill at this year’s celebrated Schubertiade featured a host of extraordinary artists in a tight and dynamic performance.

A nameless octet competes with the big names and easily wins the silver medal in Salzburg.

Hong Kong Sinfonietta in a mixed bag of Messiaen, Mozart and Beethoven. 

It's likely that Mozart never actually heard his Clarinet Concerto performed. That fate, happily, has not been shared by Michael Gordon, who has heard Peter Whelan perform his new bassoon concerto Observations on Air four times this week. 

McFall’s Chamber brings a freshness to its repertoire as it revisits the Bongo Club years, and performs two newly commissioned pieces. Informal and very enjoyable.