Instrument: Orchestra

A spirited and seamless production of Strauss’s Ariadne is aided by some excellent singing and playing at London’s premier summer opera festival.

Astonishing virtuosity for the clarinet along with one of the great wartime symphonies ensured a fascinating evening at the 2018 Proms.

Muti unlocks the immense dramatic potential of Verdi's revolutionary score, providing a wealth of colour and detail capable of conjuring mysterious Shakespearean worlds with no need for staging.

With a smaller programme and a humbler premise, the stars of the show – those young, immensely talented performers – could have shone even brighter

Under the baton of John Storgårds, Vilde Frang made her Cleveland Orchestra debut in Britten's Violin Concerto, with works of Antheil and Schumann rounding out a diverse selection.

Petrenko's Puccini is bracingly alert, filled with colour and has a romantic sweep that is utterly transporting.

Polished but ultimately tepid performances that kept the emotional temperature under wraps despite some fine individual playing and singing.