Instrument: Ensemble (vocal and orchestral)

The Birmingham Contemporary Music Group present an ambitious mixture of experimental chamber music and disquieting monodrama. 

Under Sir Simon Rattle’s baton, Andrew Norman’s children’s opera struggles to find either terrene or otherworldly land.

Until now I have been fairly sceptical about theatrical stagings of oratorios and other sacred works, so I was curious but cautious about the staging of Monteverdi's Vespers at the Holland Festival.

Overall a good performance of Handel's oratorio Esther at the Halle Festival, but some problems with the soloists unfortunately let it down.

A popular performance of Handel's oratorio Deborah, featuring Baroque opera singer Xavier Sabata and English soprano Rebecca Bottone, garners warm applause at the Halle Handel Festival.

Cal Performances and Philharmonia Baroque present a lavish modern-day première of the 1745 version of Rameau's Le Temple de la Gloire. 

Oliver Knussen and the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group excel in a cunningly linked group of works from the old (mid 1980s) to the brand new.